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What do you want to be when you grow up?

February 14th, 2008 at 08:57 pm

That is a frequent question asked of children..easily answered by most small fry...avoided by most teens..why is that? Is it the feeling of being locked in? at 5 there is 'eons' of time before you will start to narrow your training to your chosen career...at 15 schools are starting to push you into courses based on your answers..and the question is more like a test than a fun practice in imagination!

While I do think it is an important question (and fun) I think too much hurry is put on going to college for your choice, and not enough in testing it out...

If a 5 year old says he wants to be a firefighter (my sons frequent pick, along with most other boys!)..we take em to a fire hall. Why don't we do the same with 15 year olds? They can get some info and consider the jr volunteer position (though you may need to be 16, some allow it at 14)?

If a 5 year old wants to be a Dr we get some fun books on anatomy and Drs (JCs current pick)...a 15 year old just needs different books, and may be old enough to volunteer in a hospital to get at least some idea of what it is like. Not to mention old enough to talk with a Dr or two about more details of the job (and the college necessary)

If a 5 year old says they want to be a Pastor(GMCs other pick), out come the books and dinner with the pastor, plus some consideration of service projects that mirror pastor like visits (crafts to hospital patients and shut ins)...why not the same for a 15 year old? Add in some volunteer work in Sunday school, and even ask if you can tag along for some of the pastors visits to shut ins....you will of course need the right kind of pastor.

In almost any career choice a bit of time actually doing the work helps make a huge difference in knowing if the path is right for you......or wrong.

I guarantee I would not be a teacher today if I had not had the need to volunteer in a classroom at 17 (helping family out)....I discovered the career I was avoiding was the right one for me!

Jumping straight to college when you really don't know what your chosen path is like is a recipe for disaster... one that many teens follow.

Posted in Complaint department | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

  1. denisentexas Says:
    February 14th, 2008 at 09:02 pm 1203022934
    1203022934

    In Germany they still have apprenticeships or they did in the late 80s. The woman who babysat my sons now and then had four daughters. The oldest was 15 and was in a hair styling apprenticeship program. After a few months in that, she realized she didn't want to 'do hair' for a living so she went into another program. It took two or three programs and apprenticeships but she finally found her niche and is very happy in it all these years later. I wish we had programs (or more programs) like that...

  2. princessperky Says:
    February 14th, 2008 at 09:06 pm 1203023189
    1203023189

    That would be nice..

  3. miclason Says:
    February 14th, 2008 at 10:02 pm 1203026533
    1203026533

    ...hm, a lot of teenagers resent the question because it implies they're not "grown up"...others have started realizing that growing up and "being X" is not just fun and the freedom to do anything you want, but it carries responsibilities, as well...responsibilities some of them would rather avoid...they are at that stage where they demand to be treated like adults, but pull the "Im just a kid card" if convenient!... Frown

  4. Caoineag Says:
    February 14th, 2008 at 10:59 pm 1203029993
    1203029993

    I think time in the field helps tremendously and having the kid research the field also helps. I know actually researching fields is what lead my stepbrother to decide what he wants to major in and what he doesn't want.

    I think a lot of parents don't make sure to keep talking about what the kid is interested in. Sure lots of people ask their kid at age 5, but then they wait until the kid is 15 before asking again. My mother wanted to know constantly what my interests were and that allowed me to develop a better idea of my interests.

  5. luxlivingfrugalis Says:
    February 15th, 2008 at 05:24 am 1203053045
    1203053045

    BINGO - TWO POINTS to you as this was the very topic at breakfast this morning and at supper with CashHappySon. At 19 he's still all over the map - heck I can't blame him, I've got quite a few years on him and I can't locate the map, much less pick a spot! EEEEKKKK!!

  6. nanamom Says:
    February 15th, 2008 at 01:44 pm 1203083042
    1203083042

    Excellent, your children are truely blessed to have you as their parents. I have two grandchildren one of which has been exploring career options at technical school. The other one told me his aspirations and I suggested what he could do to explore the field now and he said he didn't have time, wants to work and make money for a car. I think the key is that interim between 5 and 15. If you stop the field trips and exploring they won't want to go back to it. I think it would be fun to plan some they haven't expressed an interest in also so that they know more of what is out there. It never occurs to most kids how many different jobs there are in a museum, or a zoo, or a hospital.

  7. jIM_Ohio Says:
    February 15th, 2008 at 07:30 pm 1203103812
    1203103812

    Even working summers when in college will help a person choose a career better than any one day visit somewhere in HS.

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