Anything you want to be..what happened?
By soccermom
@soccermom (3198)
United States
May 18, 2008 7:20am CST
This really got me thinking this morning, and I wonder if anyone else feels this way. My daughter is almost thirteen, and in school they have been doing this "career suitability" thing. We did something similar in school, but I don't remember the teachers going into huge detail about careers that would be prosperous like they are doing now. Anyway, she says to me, "mom, what should I be when I grow up?" And instead of telling her she could be anything she wants to be, as my parents told me, I told her she should go into nursing or some sort of medical field. Of course she asked why, and I told her because she is a caring, smart, compassionate young lady, then caught myself telling her about financial security, her job not being outsourced, benefits, etc..
That may not seem like a big deal, but when I thought of the reasoning behind it my answer bothered me. I'm more concerned with her being able to survive in a world where gas and groceries will undoubtedly be more expensive than they are now, she'll be paying for a war she had nothing to do with, and having a job that can't get outsourced than I am with her feeling fulfilled and happy.
So my question is this...who is to blame for this? Is it the American peoples willingness to roll over and kiss jobs goodbye for lower prices at the local Walmart, or is it the politicians who lead us down this paths fault?
5 people like this
9 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
18 May 08
I'm not really sure who got it all started but I would have to guess that it is our government and the politicians in it who made this statement to us first. I know that I was also told that I can be anything that I want to be but it is not that easy to do for every single one of us. I work at home now on the computer because I got sick of working in the workplace and barely making it. We barely make it now and I am happy being home. My husband works outside of the home for us and I make mine from home to help us out also.
2 people like this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
19 May 08
I work for a company from home part time too, and wish I could afford to do it full time but that would mean quitting my day job, and we just wouldn't survive. We've tried. But if we want the extras, and by extras I mean life insurance, a retirement account and 3 college accounts for the kids I have to work all the time. It's sad when I can say my husband works 60 hours a week and it's still not enough. I hate the thought of my kids being in that position.
@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
18 May 08
I think we all play a hand in it. I feel I could do so much better if I owned my own business. Instead I continue to work for a corporation who owns the small newspaper I am employeed with. I can't start a business because I don't have the credit or the money to begin a new business. So I think it is jus one vicious cycle.
2 people like this
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
20 May 08
Hey soccermom!
Yes, times have changed. But I would still want my kids to have a career that makes them happy. I don't want them to work at a job they don't love. I think it was good you gavey our daughter advice. Nursing is certainly a great career, for all the reasons you mentioned and more. Your daughter will look back someday and thank you for trying to at least guide her.
1 person likes this
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
18 May 08
I can understand what you mean about hoping that they can get a career that can't be outsourced. Even though I am Canadian we also are paying out for things I don't think we should and my grandchildren will be paying for it as well. It is frustrating and I think that the days are gone of you can be whatever you want to be. Only if there is a job in it eh? Sucks
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
19 May 08
IT's nice to see this isn't just an American problem. I was starting to think it was just us. :)
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
19 May 08
I think its more that we want more for our kids than we
had and that is natural enough but reallywe cannot live
through our kids and while you may want her to be a nurse
or doctor she might well have other ideas when she gets
a little older such as astornaut, or librarian or dancer
or singer or actress just to name a few. Her talents will
'show up as she grows older and she may go for the medical
field or she may not.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
18 May 08
my mom did tell me i can be whoever i want in the past... i am free to choice.. but now.. everyone seems to be talking about what children should be in the future so theirs are better and they wont find it hard to find work and earn decent money.
i think it is the government.. they dont seem to be doing what they should be doing for their people... its not only in america.. its happening all over the world.
1 person likes this
@tutul0045 (2630)
• India
18 May 08
Hi there,
Well i know people in America are no more secured with their finanaces. Here in India we have a very differant view on Americans. We think that if some one is living in America then he is doing fine. Which is not at all true.
I believe that China is going to be the next super power. The way things are moving and as Chinease people are learning English ( which is their main hindrance ) quickly i guess they are going to outsmart people of every country.
Apart from politicians and greedy corporate sectors in America i think common people have to take blame for the current state. Call it poor selection of President or keeping their standard too high as such jobs of thier own country is moving to other places.
Cheers,
Tutul
1 person likes this
@paid2write (5201)
•
18 May 08
My mother would only allow me to stay on at school after 16 if I took lessons in shorthand and typing and got an office job as soon as I left at 18. It was not my choice but my mother wanted me to start earning money and knew I could always get a job with those qualifications.
I was never happy doing office work. Later, after my mother had passed on, I started a new career doing what I wanted to do and I enjoyed my second career much more. Even that career was not what I wanted for myself when I was at school, as I wanted to study art.
I studied part-time 30 years after leaving school and now I have my degree.
1 person likes this
