e’ve all heard this question throughout our lives. What do you want to be when you grow up? At first I wanted to be a Bay Watch Lifeguard, a Star Trek officer, then a vet, a teacher, an astrophysicist, an anesthesiologist, a teacher, a dog handler, a petroleum geologist, an astronomer, a geologist, a nurse, a flight attendant, and I’m sure there were some others along the way.
And now I’m not so sure where life is taking me.
I don’t really believe in destiny, but I do believe that in some way life guides you to the path you are supposed to be on.
Right now I’m working on my BA of History with a minor in geology and photography. I’ve always been fascinated by history and rocks so its a winning combination. I’m ready to take my photography to the next level, and even though we are working with film, I am still learning a lot. This, as of now, is my winning combination.
But still, that begs the question, what do I want to do when I grow up?
Right now, working in a measeum (that is the only thing I can think to do with a history degree) doesn’t really appeal to me. I want to travel, live my young life, see the world and live abroad.
The absolutely amazing thing about history is that if you take the right classes you end up learning about the world! This semester I’m learning about the Ottoman Empire (Turkey for those of you that may wonder). Next semester is Russia and Australia and New Zealand. That’s the thing I love about it is being able to tie it to places I am dying to visit and then actually knowing about those places.
Right now, I’ll continue to do school even though I’m beyond ready to be done.
I need that degree if I want to live abroad in, say, Japan and teach youngsters English. I’ll need to know the language and one year of intro Japanese isn’t going to cut it.
I’ll still struggle from time to time with what I want to do. But I know, somewhere deep inside me, that teaching English abroad is right for me.
That is the goal I am reaching towards.
That is the goal motivating me to がまばてください (gamabate kudasai – do my best).
That is the goal that keeps me going day after day when I want to drop out.
When I grow up, I want to be an English teacher in Japan.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
