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what did you want to become when you grow up?
I am to become a professional footballer like Robert Lewandowski
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7 answers
Updated
Joy’s Answer
Hi Joel!
That's a great question! When I was younger, my dream was to become a medical doctor. I was fascinated by the medical field and wanted to help people. Although I didn't end up becoming a doctor, I still pursued a career in healthcare and became an Optometrist (still a doctor, right? Lol). I also discovered a new passion for language and also work as a freelance proofreader and editor.
It's okay if your dreams evolve or change over time. What's important is that you stay true to yourself and explore opportunities that align with your passions and skills. Remember, it's never too late to pivot or try something new. Keep working towards your goals, and don't be afraid to take unexpected paths – you never know where they might lead you!
That's a great question! When I was younger, my dream was to become a medical doctor. I was fascinated by the medical field and wanted to help people. Although I didn't end up becoming a doctor, I still pursued a career in healthcare and became an Optometrist (still a doctor, right? Lol). I also discovered a new passion for language and also work as a freelance proofreader and editor.
It's okay if your dreams evolve or change over time. What's important is that you stay true to yourself and explore opportunities that align with your passions and skills. Remember, it's never too late to pivot or try something new. Keep working towards your goals, and don't be afraid to take unexpected paths – you never know where they might lead you!
Updated
Giorgi’s Answer
Hey Joel! When I was a child, I wanted to be an actress, a mom, and someone who works on a computer and could type fast, like a secretary. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a human rights attorney, but had many other interests, and felt overwhelmed by the idea of choosing one path.
Upon graduating high school and needing income, I became a full-time, live-in nanny, and worked at a grocery store on the weekends to earn enough to pay for school (somewhat) and have money to live off of. Because I didn't have a set major in mind, and was still very undecided, I started off at a community college. with a major in General Studies. Since I was taking general courses, and learning so many interesting new things, I quickly changed my mind, and then changed it again many times. After my first science class, I wanted to become a lab scientist, but also loved my psychology class, and thought I might want to be a psychologist. I was also very interested in teaching, professional writing, the medical field, and many other careers, all which seemed to have a theme of helping others.
My first internship was in Public Relations for a communications company, and there I learned so much about event coordination (and loved it), so I thought I might want to be an event planner. Once I graduated, I landed a role as an Executive Assistant in a law firm, and I absolutely loved it. I was fulfilling multiple dreams at once- typing fast, doing computer work, and was in the legal field, and learned about how the law works, and even got to learn about medical claims as I learned about the different roles within the firm. Eventually I was asked to take over the HR department (with no HR experience!).
In my free time, I'm involved in my state's (United States) Parent Panel, which is a group of parents that meet monthly to give their thoughts and input on upcoming programs/events/changes taking place in my state. I have also completed a certificate program in business with a non-profit, and am beginning a 20 week program with a different non-profit that teaches parents how to be leaders and agents of change in their community. I now work in the claims department of an insurance company, and technically, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I have found an employer that is global and has endless opportunities, and they treat their employees very well, and I am able to work from home, and have the balance in my life to be a parent, a partner, an employee, and still pursue personal pursuits, and I am confident that whatever career changes I decide to make, they will be within the company I work for until I retire, I hope!
This is all a very long way of trying to say to you that it's wonderful if you know what you want to be when you grow up, and it's okay if you have no idea. Your feelings and priorities will change through your life, and that's normal. Some people know what they want to be from day one, and become that, and never look back. Others want to be one thing, and then something changes in their life and that specific goal is no longer an option. I wanted to be a lawyer, but didn't get a law degree, and still worked for a law firm. There are ways to pursue your childhood dreams in flexible ways. So, even if you don't become a professional footballer, you could still end up in the realm- you could become a professional referee, a coach, a manager, etc. And even when you're older some day and football isn't necessarily something you can play, you can volunteer or work in that field still. And if you have children (or nieces/nephews) someday, you may even decide to share your passions with them, and coach one of their teams. The opportunities are endless if you keep an open mind.
I hope I see you on TV someday! Best of luck!
Upon graduating high school and needing income, I became a full-time, live-in nanny, and worked at a grocery store on the weekends to earn enough to pay for school (somewhat) and have money to live off of. Because I didn't have a set major in mind, and was still very undecided, I started off at a community college. with a major in General Studies. Since I was taking general courses, and learning so many interesting new things, I quickly changed my mind, and then changed it again many times. After my first science class, I wanted to become a lab scientist, but also loved my psychology class, and thought I might want to be a psychologist. I was also very interested in teaching, professional writing, the medical field, and many other careers, all which seemed to have a theme of helping others.
My first internship was in Public Relations for a communications company, and there I learned so much about event coordination (and loved it), so I thought I might want to be an event planner. Once I graduated, I landed a role as an Executive Assistant in a law firm, and I absolutely loved it. I was fulfilling multiple dreams at once- typing fast, doing computer work, and was in the legal field, and learned about how the law works, and even got to learn about medical claims as I learned about the different roles within the firm. Eventually I was asked to take over the HR department (with no HR experience!).
In my free time, I'm involved in my state's (United States) Parent Panel, which is a group of parents that meet monthly to give their thoughts and input on upcoming programs/events/changes taking place in my state. I have also completed a certificate program in business with a non-profit, and am beginning a 20 week program with a different non-profit that teaches parents how to be leaders and agents of change in their community. I now work in the claims department of an insurance company, and technically, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I have found an employer that is global and has endless opportunities, and they treat their employees very well, and I am able to work from home, and have the balance in my life to be a parent, a partner, an employee, and still pursue personal pursuits, and I am confident that whatever career changes I decide to make, they will be within the company I work for until I retire, I hope!
This is all a very long way of trying to say to you that it's wonderful if you know what you want to be when you grow up, and it's okay if you have no idea. Your feelings and priorities will change through your life, and that's normal. Some people know what they want to be from day one, and become that, and never look back. Others want to be one thing, and then something changes in their life and that specific goal is no longer an option. I wanted to be a lawyer, but didn't get a law degree, and still worked for a law firm. There are ways to pursue your childhood dreams in flexible ways. So, even if you don't become a professional footballer, you could still end up in the realm- you could become a professional referee, a coach, a manager, etc. And even when you're older some day and football isn't necessarily something you can play, you can volunteer or work in that field still. And if you have children (or nieces/nephews) someday, you may even decide to share your passions with them, and coach one of their teams. The opportunities are endless if you keep an open mind.
I hope I see you on TV someday! Best of luck!
Updated
Olivia’s Answer
This is a great question. Depending on when you asked me, I had several answers. The most consistent were an Ambassador or a performer. I believed that Ambassadors have the opportunity to travel and I wanted to see the world, meet new people, and build cross-cultural bridges. I also wanted to be a performer because I enjoy making others happy. Although I didn't become either of these roles, I found a job that I love which incorporates both activities into my day-to-day routine. For example, I travel a lot for work, get to build teams, and present in front of large audiences.
Updated
Adam’s Answer
Great question Joel,
When I was a kid, like most people, I had a lot of things I wanted to be. At first it was to be an athlete (I grew up watching Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa hit homeruns like crazy, and was to young to understand the impact of steroids), then I wanted to be a police officer, after that a fire fighter, but after a while I just didn't know what I wanted to be. Instead of trying to fit a specific mold I started trying to decide what kind of person I wanted to be.
I wanted to help people, this led me to think that I might want to get into politics, thinking that by getting into politics I could enact things that would help people. I also thought I might want to be a lawyer, similarly thinking that as an attorney I could fight for the average person that needed the help.
However, I ended up doing none of those things. I didn't manage my time well when I first went to college and dropped out after two years. Needing a job to cover my expenses pushed me into working for a construction company for many years. Ironically, this was the job that best shaped me for the career I am carving out now. I spent every day working with hardworking men in conditions I never thought I would be in.
After 7 years doing that I took a job working in a factory making office chairs and decided I wanted to have a team that worked hard everyday there as well. That led to me becoming one of the line leaders for the plant I worked in and gave me the opportunity to lead people. I found that having a leadership position allowed for me to be able to help average people with not just their day-to-day things at work, but by creating bonds with those people I was able to help them with their personal lives as well.
If I was to give you the advice I wish I had received when I was younger it would be this:
Don't pigeon hole yourself into thinking that you have to become a certain thing, everyone's path is different. Identify the person you want to become, which characteristics do you value the most, work on those and you will find a career that works out.
When I was a kid, like most people, I had a lot of things I wanted to be. At first it was to be an athlete (I grew up watching Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa hit homeruns like crazy, and was to young to understand the impact of steroids), then I wanted to be a police officer, after that a fire fighter, but after a while I just didn't know what I wanted to be. Instead of trying to fit a specific mold I started trying to decide what kind of person I wanted to be.
I wanted to help people, this led me to think that I might want to get into politics, thinking that by getting into politics I could enact things that would help people. I also thought I might want to be a lawyer, similarly thinking that as an attorney I could fight for the average person that needed the help.
However, I ended up doing none of those things. I didn't manage my time well when I first went to college and dropped out after two years. Needing a job to cover my expenses pushed me into working for a construction company for many years. Ironically, this was the job that best shaped me for the career I am carving out now. I spent every day working with hardworking men in conditions I never thought I would be in.
After 7 years doing that I took a job working in a factory making office chairs and decided I wanted to have a team that worked hard everyday there as well. That led to me becoming one of the line leaders for the plant I worked in and gave me the opportunity to lead people. I found that having a leadership position allowed for me to be able to help average people with not just their day-to-day things at work, but by creating bonds with those people I was able to help them with their personal lives as well.
If I was to give you the advice I wish I had received when I was younger it would be this:
Don't pigeon hole yourself into thinking that you have to become a certain thing, everyone's path is different. Identify the person you want to become, which characteristics do you value the most, work on those and you will find a career that works out.
Updated
Kevin P’s Answer
Joel, have you ever heard of Oliver Kahn? If you have not, please look him up. But when he was in his prime, not now days.
He was the reason I was a goal keeper for many years. I really thought I would replace him one day. I never did.
That brings up two very important points.
One, I am very happy with where I am now. I have no regrets. I wake up happy and go to bed fulfilled.
Two, hold on to your dream. Never let it go, never let someone take it from you. Promise yourself you will not stop until others say, "when I see Joel play, he looks like Robert".
Robert, Oliver... Ronaldo, Messi, Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan and those folks did one thing that set them apart from the rest. They worked harder than anyone else on that field. It was not because they had the best shoes or the newest ball, they worked harder than anyone else because they wanted it that bad.
I assume you are playing soccer now. Maybe on a club or with friends in the park or for your school, my recommendation is always do more. If practice starts at 6pm, be there at 530pm. If the coach tells you to shoot a goal from outside the penalty box 10 times, do another 10 afterwards. You control your own success through training, consistency, and passion. Best of luck.
He was the reason I was a goal keeper for many years. I really thought I would replace him one day. I never did.
That brings up two very important points.
One, I am very happy with where I am now. I have no regrets. I wake up happy and go to bed fulfilled.
Two, hold on to your dream. Never let it go, never let someone take it from you. Promise yourself you will not stop until others say, "when I see Joel play, he looks like Robert".
Robert, Oliver... Ronaldo, Messi, Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan and those folks did one thing that set them apart from the rest. They worked harder than anyone else on that field. It was not because they had the best shoes or the newest ball, they worked harder than anyone else because they wanted it that bad.
I assume you are playing soccer now. Maybe on a club or with friends in the park or for your school, my recommendation is always do more. If practice starts at 6pm, be there at 530pm. If the coach tells you to shoot a goal from outside the penalty box 10 times, do another 10 afterwards. You control your own success through training, consistency, and passion. Best of luck.
Updated
Biplab’s Answer
My dream was to become an astronaut. So of course I turned out to be an IT consultant.
In all seriousness, I have ended up where I believe I was meant to be, as I enjoy creating a plan and watching it come together and enabling the team to make it happen!
In all seriousness, I have ended up where I believe I was meant to be, as I enjoy creating a plan and watching it come together and enabling the team to make it happen!
Updated
Gergő’s Answer
Hi Joel,
I hope you'll make your dream come true and you'll be like Robert Lewandowski!
I know it needs a lot of work, time and dedication and a huge amount of luck too.
When I was little I also wanted to be a professional athlete, then a sports commentator. Spoiler...none of these are worked out and kind of faded away.
I still love sports, but I really enjoy what I ended up doing and I'm very happy about it.
Make sure you focus on the journey, not on the destination! :)
Best of luck!
I hope you'll make your dream come true and you'll be like Robert Lewandowski!
I know it needs a lot of work, time and dedication and a huge amount of luck too.
When I was little I also wanted to be a professional athlete, then a sports commentator. Spoiler...none of these are worked out and kind of faded away.
I still love sports, but I really enjoy what I ended up doing and I'm very happy about it.
Make sure you focus on the journey, not on the destination! :)
Best of luck!