Everyone can remember being asked as a child: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We would give our various answers, from “Astronaut!” to “Firefighter!” Our imaginations filled us with endless possibilities of what we would become. The other day, I was reminded of all the different things I wanted to be when I was little. Some of these jobs I find comical and others are what I would drop everything to pursue if I won the lottery. I decided it would be fun to rank my childhood dream jobs, so here’s the list!
6. Nurse
Out of all the jobs on this list, nurse is the one I laugh at the most. I became obsessed with the idea of going into nursing somewhere between eighth grade and my freshman year of high school, when I watched enough Grey’s Anatomy to think, “I could do that.” What I completely disregarded is that I am a.) squeamish and b.) terrible at science. I am a naturally caring and helpful person, so I can see my thinking behind this profession, but I know now that nursing is not the career path for me.
5. Ballerina
Ballerina is another profession I laugh at and have no clue where I got this idea from. I did not take any formal ballet classes as a child, I was an Irish dancer instead. I think I was enamored with the beautiful costumes and graceful choreography. Considering now that I despise exercising and have the coordination of a newborn giraffe, I would not have made it as a professional ballerina.
4. Pop Star
Little Olivia used to have an obsession with becoming famous and dreamed of having a successful singing career. I was an outgoing child who felt called to be on stage and in the spotlight. My goal was probably to become as famous as, or more famous than Taylor Swift. I don’t think my time in middle and high school choir would be enough to launch me into stardom, but a girl can always dream.
3. Journalist
As we move into the Top Three, we also move into careers that make sense based on who I am. I have always loved to write, and even started writing for my high school’s newspaper when I was a sophomore. I think this idea emerged from my love of my journalism class and wanting to live out my Rory Gilmore fantasy. My plan was to major in journalism in college with a minor in political science because I wanted to work on political campaigns. While I still think being a journalist is a cool career, I know that teaching is a better fit for me.
This choice isn’t a career as much as it is the desire to emulate my idol. My mom says that in a past life, I would have been Gloria Steinem’s right-hand woman. I would love to have been at the forefront of the feminist movement, but alas, I do not possess a time machine. My strong passion for social justice is what sparked this idea, but even if I do not become the next Gloria Steinem, I can still advocate for change in my everyday life and community.
1. Author
If I won the lottery, I would drop everything and move to a coastal cottage to spend my days writing novels, reading, and fostering dogs. My lifelong love of books is what inspired me as a child, and sometime in the future I will write the epic fantasy series of my dreams. But until then, I have discovered my passion for education, so my dream job as a 19-year-old is teaching English.