What do you want to be....

Options
gwduker
gwduker Posts: 293
I grew up on a farm but my first job at 18 was general labor for our town making $1.90/hr. I then got hired in the local plant making juvenile furniture making the big bucks at $2.00/hr. Went to school for a year for accounting. Drove semi for a while, joined the Air Force as a Payroll/Travel benefits Specialist. Finished my Associate Degree inAccounting and in Business Management. Got out of the service and continued college for a year. Became a roofer, then self employed carpenter, logger, then cheesemaker, back to juvenile furniture as a foreman. Went back into the military and got my Bachelors in Management. Seven years later I owned my own tavern. Got divorced(second time) and took an office job at a seat company. Quit that and became a master boat builder until the plant shut down. Went to school and got my Associate in Software Applications and Programming while being a customer service phone person, and am currently working at a machine shop writing work processes.
After all that, I still don't know what I wat to be when I grow up. How about you??:smile:
«1

Replies

  • pedraz
    pedraz Posts: 173
    Options
    That's just an AWESOME journey! Maybe you could be a writer? : )
  • LonLB
    LonLB Posts: 1,126 Member
    Options
    About the time I'm done with my associates I'll be done with our house, and will be able to work as a substitute teacher, then transfer to WMU, and hopefully find a full time 2-8th grade gig ASAP.


    I was a department manager @ a boat manufacturer, and made enough money that going back to school would have been foolish at the time. That place closed shop permanently. I enjoy interacting w/kids that age-I've been coaching them in football for years now.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    Options
    Activist, researcher, writer, and all purpose pain in the neck of the powers that be.
  • AmberMahfouz
    AmberMahfouz Posts: 316
    Options
    I am currently pursuing my Nursing Degree (if Clinicals don't kill me first), but what I really would love to do is write books. Oh and I would love to do something to help people. I am very interested in becoming a foster parent later on in life.. :-) Maybe one day all this will happen.
  • gwduker
    gwduker Posts: 293
    Options
    That's just an AWESOME journey! Maybe you could be a writer? : )
    I just realized I forgot to mention I was in a polka/country/old rock band with my 2 brothers for 12 years.
    A writer, hey what the heck. try something new! :happy:
  • gwduker
    gwduker Posts: 293
    Options
    I am currently pursuing my Nursing Degree (if Clinicals don't kill me first), but what I really would love to do is write books. Oh and I would love to do something to help people. I am very interested in becoming a foster parent later on in life.. :-) Maybe one day all this will happen.
    My daughter and soon to be daughter-in-law are nurses. Rewarding but tough.
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    Options
    There were a group of guys in our community people respected and admired. They seemed to have everything while other working crumbs struggled but had nothing.
    I always knew just what I wanted to be when I grew up.
    All Is Possible!
    430627_350198025021008_2087298682_n.jpg
  • mommasox
    mommasox Posts: 97 Member
    Options
    Wow... you have accomplished a lot.

    When I was younger (and still to this day) I wanted to be a Veterinarian. But I was young and stupid once (like most of us) and decided that parting was a better idea. Then I had a nice suprise by the name of Angelica when I was 19 and decided it was time to grow up. I went to school and got a certificate in Computer and Business Management which lead to 15 years of Administrative work. I have worked many places from being a scale clerck at a drywall recycling company as my first job to selling gold, silver and other precious metals as one of my later jobs. I quit my job selling precious metals and worked as a conracted Marketing Assistant for Chevron Products company. I was laid off from Chevron, had a baby, then started another temp job at World Vision which was by far the best job I ever had. Once my contract ended there I did a few temp jobs at some horrible places that I will not mention and FINALLY got a permenant job with the city near where I live as an Administrative Specialist II.

    If you would have told me when I was younger that I was going to turn into a white collar business woman I would have laughed in your face. Not that being a business woman is a bad thing. I do love it and I make a great living for me and my family.
    But even to this day I still would LOVE to be a Veterinarian. But at 35 and two kids and a husband... I don't see that happening.
  • historygirldd
    historygirldd Posts: 209 Member
    Options
    In high school worked at a grocery store, in college worked for an attorney, had children and was a stay at home mom for a few years, back to the attorney's office and now I am a high school social studies teacher. When I grow up (Yeah, I am almost 40 and not grown up yet) I want to go to law school and clerk for a Supreme Court Justice. I know, I am a total nerd.
  • naceto
    naceto Posts: 517 Member
    Options
    Here I thought I held the record for most career changes! :) I started in the restaurant biz in my teens; was a telemarketer and later worked at a Jenny Craig, where I saved up for my first car. When I was 19 I found sales, and sliced, diced, and mopped my way through the pitch business, working fairs and home shows. At 25, with a child on my hip, a career change was made once again to assistant manager in a retail clothing store. Then I found the joys of technical support, working in a help desk call center for awhile... then accounts receivable, and finally aerospace manufacturing as a program manager. No matter what I do, I'm selling something... food...... chamois mops... and now airplane parts. I'm back in college now, to learn to sell something new! :)
  • Tricialew32
    Tricialew32 Posts: 96 Member
    Options
    I always wanted to be a cartoonist or draw comics. I settled for a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration and have been doing it for over 25 years.


    In my next life I want to be a Rally Race Car Driver...

    Or a drummer in a hard rock band.
  • naceto
    naceto Posts: 517 Member
    Options
    Wow... you have accomplished a lot.

    When I was younger (and still to this day) I wanted to be a Veterinarian. But I was young and stupid once (like most of us) and decided that parting was a better idea. Then I had a nice suprise by the name of Angelica when I was 19 and decided it was time to grow up. I went to school and got a certificate in Computer and Business Management which lead to 15 years of Administrative work. I have worked many places from being a scale clerck at a drywall recycling company as my first job to selling gold, silver and other precious metals as one of my later jobs. I quit my job selling precious metals and worked as a conracted Marketing Assistant for Chevron Products company. I was laid off from Chevron, had a baby, then started another temp job at World Vision which was by far the best job I ever had. Once my contract ended there I did a few temp jobs at some horrible places that I will not mention and FINALLY got a permenant job with the city near where I live as an Administrative Specialist II.

    If you would have told me when I was younger that I was going to turn into a white collar business woman I would have laughed in your face. Not that being a business woman is a bad thing. I do love it and I make a great living for me and my family.
    But even to this day I still would LOVE to be a Veterinarian. But at 35 and two kids and a husband... I don't see that happening.

    It's never too late! I am a 39 year old single mother who works full time and goes to school. I am not going to lie, it is challenging to balance it all--- but you can do it! :)
  • jplord
    jplord Posts: 510 Member
    Options
    After a life of educational privledge (all private or catholic schools), I entered Brown University to study Environmental Engineering (Sanitary engineering at the time; 1975). Flunked by the end of freshman year. I didn't know what to do. I went to the Freshman Dean of Students for counsel. He had seen me win a talent show first semester with my magic act, nand he suggested I join the circus. Not wanting to face my parents on that one, I went to the geology department as they were listed as an environmental major. Ended up graduating with a BSc in Math/Physics/Geology and got a job in oil exploration. Worked 4 years in Saudi, Abu Dhabi, Australia's Outback, the Gulf of Mexico, Montana Rockies, and Dallas, then went to Rice University for a Masters in Geology and oil exploration. Graduated in 1986 and at that time there was a glut and no jobs so I have never worked a day in the field in which I earned my Masters. I also acted in 6 plays at Rice and won some acting awards.

    Got a job with Bechtel building a nuclear plant south of Houston, then went to Oak Ridge TN to clean up SUPERFUND sites around the southeast and northeast. Also worked on Oak Ridge weapons lab clean ups - radioactive messes. Then I got transfered to San Diego to close Navy and Air Force bases. Built some landfill covers, cleaned up lots of little messes at El Toro and Norton. Fast forward 15 years and I have worked for a lot of companies (the ones that have contraacts and money) and since environmentalists who clean up messes tend to work themselves out of a job, I change jobs a lot. Even worked as a Safety Supervisor at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station for 6 weeks. All through these years I still work on my magician skills and have improved steadily. I currently charge $250/hr for my performance.

    It's a living. And it pretty much is what I wanted to be - someone who worked on cleaning up the environment, and has an audience every couple of weekends.
  • YokoJ
    YokoJ Posts: 253
    Options
    I'm studying to become part of hospital administration....after I get experience I plan on opening hospitals overseas and becoming president over a U.S hospital.
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    Options
    drunk.........while I wish it was now, later today will work. Wait....what?

    Oh, You know, I've lived an amazing life. The only thing I want to be is the best damn father possible.
  • gwduker
    gwduker Posts: 293
    Options
    Wow... you have accomplished a lot.

    When I was younger (and still to this day) I wanted to be a Veterinarian. But I was young and stupid once (like most of us) and decided that parting was a better idea. Then I had a nice suprise by the name of Angelica when I was 19 and decided it was time to grow up. I went to school and got a certificate in Computer and Business Management which lead to 15 years of Administrative work. I have worked many places from being a scale clerck at a drywall recycling company as my first job to selling gold, silver and other precious metals as one of my later jobs. I quit my job selling precious metals and worked as a conracted Marketing Assistant for Chevron Products company. I was laid off from Chevron, had a baby, then started another temp job at World Vision which was by far the best job I ever had. Once my contract ended there I did a few temp jobs at some horrible places that I will not mention and FINALLY got a permenant job with the city near where I live as an Administrative Specialist II.

    If you would have told me when I was younger that I was going to turn into a white collar business woman I would have laughed in your face. Not that being a business woman is a bad thing. I do love it and I make a great living for me and my family.
    But even to this day I still would LOVE to be a Veterinarian. But at 35 and two kids and a husband... I don't see that happening.

    It's never too late! I am a 39 year old single mother who works full time and goes to school. I am not going to lie, it is challenging to balance it all--- but you can do it! :)
    I agree. I was 54 when I went for my degree in Programming.
  • gwduker
    gwduker Posts: 293
    Options
    drunk.........while I wish it was now, later today will work. Wait....what?

    Oh, You know, I've lived an amazing life. The only thing I want to be is the best damn father possible.
    I have a daughter and 3 step kids that think I am pretty great, so I guess I did OK there too. Great choice by the way...
  • BNA_Mommy
    BNA_Mommy Posts: 36
    Options
    I want to be rich enough to not have to work (though I work as a nurse at the VA and would volunteer my time/services here because it's an amazing job), but poor enough to not be a snotty rich person who thinks the world owes them everything.
  • Sox90716
    Sox90716 Posts: 976 Member
    Options
    I joined the Army at 18. I was stationed in Ft. Hood, TX and served with the First Cavalry Division. I entered college at 21, lost a couple of years partying. I got hired at my current job in 1989. I started as a deputy sheriff in the jail, moved into the road patrol division and now in my current position in investigations. Living my dream job!
  • Tat2dDom624
    Tat2dDom624 Posts: 1,226 Member
    Options
    I just want to continue to be a good provider for my wife and kids.