I often ask children what they want to be when they grow up, because I am still looking for ideas.
Much has changed in the life of a young adult. In the past the career that an individual chose as a young adult was what they did everyday until they were able to retired. Today often what a student goes to school for does not always end up being what they choose as their career.
I think young adults are influenced with what their parents want them to do in life. This is usually because the parents did not follow through with their own dreams. They want their children to step into the dreams they gave up on years ago. So they can vicariously live though their children’s accomplishments.
Then you have the questions of will you make enough money to support yourself, make yourself a name, what will people think and other status qualifying thoughts. But it is very rare that you are asked what is your passion? What do you like and want to do? You are to go to college and learn a skill to make money to compete with the rest of the world as you start that climb up the imaginary ladder to the “better” life. What happen to going to school to learn something for the sake of learning and to become a better person?
When I was at the age to go to college I wanted to go to school for Art, My family gave me the “speech” that people with art degrees do not make money and I was wasting my breath setting myself up for a horrible life of being sad and poor. If I was to make it in the world I had to go to school for Business. (So as a side note I took three years of Art classes in high school and received an “A” in each class. I took one semester of Accounting and failed horribly.) They were certain that the only ways I would ever make it was with a Business Degree. My folks never had the chance to attend college and I know they were proud that I was the first to go, but Business College was not the fire to push me into.
I moved away and went to college for Psychology and Journalism; it seemed a good compromise. Two years later I dropped out because I ran out of money, and I was not eligible for finical aid.
Twenty years later I went back and got my degree in Art and passed with high honors and a GPA of 3.85. I have been doing art ever since. I admit it does not pay all of my bills but it feeds my soul and makes me happy. Money does not buy happiness, but following your dreams does. When you are given a choice always follow your heart, embrace what you are most passionate about. You will never be navigated wrong.
Even thought I have known since I was young that art is where my passion lies. I still want to continue to learn all that I can. I am always looking for other things to learn. Children know that you can achieve anything you put your mind too. I would rather learn their dreams. What do you want to be when you grow up?
