What Happened to Change All That?

I have talked to all sorts of kids about all kinds of stuff, and one subject I am continually charmed by is this: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Some recent answers are as follows

1. A singing veterinarian because my voice is great and I'm real gentle with animals. When I sing it makes them not scared.

2. The king of the whole world, I would be a good king and take care of everyone.

3. A teacher, waitress and hair stylist Probably not all at the same time until I get used to carrying lots of dishes in one hand.

4. A mad scientist (but I won't really be mad like angry, it's another kind of mad when you're a scientist)

5. A geographist because I like rocks and I always find the very precious ones even in my own backyard.

6. A baby doctor but not a parent doctor just a baby doctor or maybe a pilot.

7. A teacher and I know a lot of things that I could teach and I would like my class to have mostly girls.

8. An Indy driver you know that would be cool

9. A lawyer probably cuz my moms a lawyer but maybe I'll probly be a gymnast instead or both maybe

10. I don't know I really don't know but I don't have to decide until I'm old like 11 or 12.

11. A rodeo queen for sure and then after that a mother and a biologist.

12. An inventor because I already invent things and my Mom says I'll be a great inventor.

13. A baseball player and I bet you're not surprised because I always wear a hat.

14. An author and a swimmer in the Olympics

15. A doctor my dad says I will be a doctor but I think I might be an astronaut because I know a lot about space things.

16. A policeman but my Mom doesn't want me to drive a motorcycle or shoot a gun.

17. Dog groomer and a ballerina but first I will go to college

18. Not a dentist cuz he hurts people but maybe a soldier

19. A tree climber

20. A circus person I think it's called an acrobatic

21. An explorer and an author

22. An artist because crafts are my specialty

23. I don't know I really can't decide because I'm good at lots of things I think I'll decide later maybe.

24. I am going to be Shamu's trainer

25. I don't know but something really good

I was thinking about all these children becoming adults and I thought about what a fun world that would be to live in. Wouldn't it be nice to have a king of the whole world that was very nice and took care of everyone? That would be a novelty, and it would be so nice to bring your sick pet to a singing veterinarian.

I like the idea of soldiers that don't hurt people like dentists do because let's face it dentists do hurt people.

Wouldn't we all rest a little easier if we knew that our biologists had some previous experience as rodeo queens?

Yes, anyone that wears a hat will be a baseball player. This will get rid of these exorbitant salaries. And it goes without saying that we can always use more "geographists", seems that in this computer age it has become a lost profession.

So who says tree climbing should be reserved just for children anyway? Can't you just see all these men and women in their business suits with their brief cases climbing trees? I can't even remember the last time I saw a mad scientist that wasn't really mad like angry.

And how many times have you been at the doctor's office and you say, "I just wish I could fly away" Well what better than a doctor who's a pilot? I have to admit I do worry about those policemen riding motorcycles and shooting guns. Maybe they won't need guns because we will have this wonderful king (or queen) that takes good care of everyone.

It would be great to have a meal, get my hair done and learn something all by the same person.

My favorite profession and the one that I'd like to be when I grow up is an explorer and an author. There's no denying that a world with more explorers is a good world.

My wish is that these future adults can grow up with the self confidence, enthusiasm, energy, optimism and spirit that fills every inch of their bodies now as six and seven year olds What is the secret? How do we keep them from becoming us? Not that we're so bad but when was the last time you went to a singing veterinarian? What happens between seven and seventeen to change all that?

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