When I Grow Up...

Astronaut, doctor, teacher, artist.  All of those plus more were professions that I thought I might grow up to be when I was little.

I had an odd interest in space when I was a kid.  It may have come from visiting the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum so often when I was little.  I out glow in the dark stars on my bedroom ceiling and loved the movie The Right Stuff, which came out when I was 8 years old.  Yowza!  But, I hated math and science mostly because I struggled so much with it so that ruined my dreams for becoming an astronaut (or doctor or marine biologist or...).

My Montessori through sixth grade teachers were incredible people.  Each of those teachers left a lasting impression: Mrs. Knauf, Mrs. Lustig, Ms. Moody, etc.  They taught me that learning is fun.  I remember so much of my early days of schooling.  Almost all of my love of school came from those early years.  My dislike of school came from my later years in school.  For Montessori and elementary school, I went to an incredible school in Vienna, VA.  I learned Latin and French.  I learned about Ancient Rome and Egypt.  I bonded with the kids in our small class - friends who I remember still today but have not ever connected with (even with the advent of Facebook).  I wish I could send our future children to that school.  I think they would love it.  But, alas, I was not meant to be a teacher.  I love children but I don't love teaching.

The Arts - visual, literary and performing arts - have always been a huge part of my life.  I grew up playing the violin - through the Suzuki method.  Art history has always fascinated me because I was taught it starting very early.  I had nearly enough college credits to minor in it.  I took ballet when I was young child, was taken to the symphony on field trips and was read to from the start.  My mom and I would take trips together when I was in high school over Spring Break to New York and see musicals and shows like Les Miserables and Cats.  I will forever appreciate the people including my parents who instilled that passion in me and I hope to instill it in my future children too.  But, alas, I gave up the one talent that I had in the arts, playing the violin.  I guess I could take it up again but I think it would be terribly difficult.

Instead, here I am.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  I have my freelance PR business and was doing a lot of volunteer work but I still need to figure my stuff out.  It is hard to grow up but I think it's about time to figure out what I want to do with my life.

Did you become what you wanted to be when you were little?