Take a trip down memory lane and break out your fifth grade yearbook. Although you’re laughing at your awkward turtle neck stage, read below the picture. Don’t you remember answering the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” There in print you read, “President of the United States.” I suppose more than half of you have changed your intended dream job since fifth grade because most of our answers were unrealistic. Embrace it though, because at one point you believed in yourself and made sure it was in your yearbook to look back on. Sorry fifth grade me, but being the next Hannah Montana super star is not in the picture anymore…
At the same time, that was a logical goal for us at a young age. As we are growing up, the same question is asked to us through out the years. These goals occupied a place in our youthful hearts and influenced our loves, desires, activities, and circle of friends. When we were faced with the big move up to middle school, thoughts about our future were not the first thing any typical 13 year old thinks of. Nothing really seemed to matter in middle school. At 13, you’re too cool for that question. At this age you’re attempting to fit in with the “cool clique”, wearing Abercrombie and picking what color braces you want. I’m sure we’re all glad those days are gone. Long gone.
High school comes and the question suddenly slaps you in the face pairing with the word COLLEGE. Yes, a very scary word to future college freshman everywhere. It’s time to give some serious thought and research to answer the question “What do you want to be when you grow up”, confidently. The only thing is that the phrase is re-worded to questions like, “What do you want to major in?” and “Where do you want to go to college?”Although getting the applications, major, minor and acceptances in, the questioning didn’t seem as scary anymore. The stress was almost over what you wanted to be in the future died down, until the start of your freshman year of college.Freshman year is a reality check. It’s the year of new beginnings and independence. They say you find yourself in college and figure out the missing pieces to your life. It finally hits you that you are all grown up. It comes down to us; what we can do, what’s in our hands to make our future brighter than ever.
How are you going to make it happen? Whatever “it” is for you, I send you hope, passion and drive to follow your dreams. In the end, it doesn’t matter what we choose to do with our lives. What matters is choosing something that will instill greatness and happiness within you. Chase your passion, find your hidden abilities, spread your greatness and do what you love.“What do you want to do when you grow up?” will follow us forever. It brings us to the next answer after goals are achieved. Keep striving.
By the way, I’m 19 years old and still want to be the next Hannah Montana super star, in my own and unique way.