What I Want to be When I Grow Up
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121731)
Gainesville, Florida
September 2, 2017 7:26am CST
Last night, my teenage daughter and I were having a conversation about her future and what she wants to do with her life. She is currently a senior in high school and is in the midst of applying to many universities. In less than a year she will be in college, and she was worried that she still doesn't know what she wants to study when she heads off to a university.
I told her not to worry, that I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up, so she shouldn't stress herself about it too much. And then, just to bring a smile to her face, I told here that one thing's for sure about my future:
Wrinkled is not one of the things I want to be when I grow up!
Haha!
Now it's your turn! What do you want to be when you grow up?
36 people like this
38 responses
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
2 Sep 17
I don't want to grow up. I want to be wild and care free and have fun.
I guess if I haven't figured it out by now it ain't never going to happen in this lifetime. 
7 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
We need to bring back that wild, free spirit mentality if the 60s! Now that would be fun! Somewhere along the way we lost that magic.
3 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
2 Sep 17
@moffittjc yes I agree. That is the way that life should be.
2 people like this
@dodo19 (47336)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
2 Sep 17
@moffittjc So true. It can be a hard decision.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
@dodo19 I think it's a little easier these days for people to be able to change jobs or even professions. In past generations, you kind of were stuck with whatever profession you went into.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
There's always that fear that a person will choose the wrong profession and then be stuck in a miserable job their entire career!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
Can you translate these wrinkles on my forehead? haha
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
2 Sep 17
A secretary and that is exactly what I was for over 35 years - although somewhere along the line we were called Administrative Assistants! She will figure it out...don't worry.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
2 Sep 17
@moffittjc That's funny, most of us loved the new title!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
My grandmother was a secretary for over 40 years, and I remember how mad she was when they changed her title over to administrative assistant. She was like, "I ain't nobody's assistant!" lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
@AbbyGreenhill My administrative assistant just got promoted to executive assistant. She loves her new title!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 17
You're already grown up? Oh no, please come back to us and be a child again!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
I wanted to be a scientist too! An Astro-physicist to be exact!
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
3 Sep 17
Well that's a good question, I always thought of growing up as optional.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 17
I'm pretty sure growing up is optional. if we let it be. The problem is, we all think we HAVE to grow up, because that's what society says we should do. But who cares what society thinks! haha
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
2 Sep 17
Just be me but with much much more cash than what I have got right now.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
That's a good idea! I think we all could you much more cash! It would certainly help!
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50535)
• United States
2 Sep 17
There were several things and two of them were wife and mother
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
Those are two great things to aspire to!
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
2 Sep 17
@Tampa_girl7 Yes, those were my two goals, also! So what did I become? A wife and a mother, the two most important jobs in this world!:)
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Sep 17
Wrinkled is too late for me @moffittjc . Dang it!! Does she have a particular passion? Animals, Science, Medicine, Music........? I wanted to be a cop BUT even though I passed all the rigorous tests back in the late 70's, I was the wrong nationality (and was told that by the 2 Sargeants and 1 Lieutenant). Being a woman was great....but. And what really ticked me off is that some of the ones "chosen" didn't even pass the tests.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
I'm not sure my daughter has a passion for anything, except Florida Gators football, and sleeping! haha
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 17
@nanette64 She is definitely trying to get accepted into Florida, but it is extremely difficult to get in. Only about 1 out of every 6 people who apply will get into Florida.
Oh, and she definitely would never be a cheerleader! She's too shy! haha
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Sep 17
@moffittjc Well then....she could go to college there and become a cheerleader.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
Happy is definitely a good thing to aim for when you grow up!
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Sep 17
Hiya Jeff long time no see. I had an accident in June broke my wrist and couldn't type so took the summer off from myLot. What I want to be when I grow up hmmmmm well I think I have it. Retired comfortably. I prefer not to be wrinkled too but yea that didn't work out to well for me lol.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 I'm impressed that you tried, despite your injuries! I knew the fisherman in you just couldn't resist giving it a go!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
I was wondering why I haven't seen you in a while! So glad your back! Sorry to hear about your accident! Hope you're doing well these days. Have you been able to do any fishing lately?
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
3 Sep 17
@moffittjc I'm glad to be back I missed it here. Well I just got the cast off last week, I did go fishing a bit, but breaking my left wrist and I'm left handed hubby had to throw my line out and it was difficult to reel in right handed as I can't do a darn thing with my right hand. But I still tried.
1 person likes this
@qingshanqc (41)
• Enshi, China
2 Sep 17
When i was young ,i wanted to be a scientist.But when i grow up find it’s too difficult .So i am a engineer now.And i am satisfied with what i have now.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
The key is that you are happy with your chosen profession.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
Sorry you went through all that friend. I hope things are better for you now.
1 person likes this
@Rocky1987 (69)
•
3 Sep 17
Sorry for the hardships you suffered. Nice things will work out for you in the future.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
2 Sep 17
Yes life is a continous process of learning, "to be when we grow up" is like declaring the end and be stagnant once we had achieved it
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137626)
• United States
5 Sep 17
You know, at one time I knew exactly where/what I wanted to be by the time I turned 30...
Do you think we can get refunds on life? 
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137626)
• United States
5 Sep 17
@moffittjc Hmmm... will the updated model look like my avatar?
If you say yes, I'm going for it! LOL!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 17
Do you want a refund, or do you just want to exchange yourself for an updated model?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 17
@DaddyEvil Sure, why not? It's amazing what technology can do these days. I'm sure we could make you look like your avatar!
As long as they don't make you look like my avatar!
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
3 Sep 17
@moffittjc , yes, I think your students would have terrorized the school! Haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 17
@bluesa I did enough of that on my own when I was a student!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 17
I wouldn't have minded being a teacher as well, but I think I would have corrupted our youth too much! haha
1 person likes this
I already am, seven times over.@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 17
@HazySue Do they ever listen to our fine words of wisdom? They just do their own thing for the most part. And all we do is nag. haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 17
I'm looking forward to being a grandfather someday, but I told my daughter she better not be in any hurry to make that happen! haha
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
5 Sep 17
@moffittjc I told my three girls the same thing. one of them didn't listen.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67080)
• United States
3 Sep 17
For some what they want to be/do for school comes easily to them. But for others, not so much.
Growing up i wanted to be a teacher, like my aunt. Because i love kids, but also looked uo to her as she was my favorite aunt as i thought shw did no wrong.. boy i was wrong. Now i dont know if i still want to be or not.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 17
@Courtlynn I think it's natural for family members to have favorites, but the trick is to try and be as balanced as possible in showing love and affection to the rest of the family. Some are better at doing that than others. Sometimes it's frustrating when the favoritism is so freaking obvious it becomes painful to watch.
I totally get what you are saying about the teaching thing. But it's okay to feel that way, and you may be right in some respect. What you once thought would be your dream and passion may not be that anymore. But at least you had that dream...many people just float through life with no dreams or passions or thoughts of the future.
If you are unsure of teaching, is there anything else that seems to really interest you?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 17
I think we all have idols we look up to when we're kids, and in our innocent eyes, those idols can do no wrong. But when we grow up sometimes we see that not everything was as it seemed to be when we were young. It's okay if you're still unsure about your future; you are not alone out there.
@Courtlynn (67080)
• United States
3 Sep 17
@moffittjc its just my aunt use to be an aunt, to all of us. Now she only talks to my mom brother and i when we go over to my cousins, and shes there. But shes always favored my cousin and her big brother, whos deceased. Just not as much as now.. or least we didnt see it when we were younger. It hurts when people play favorites FOR NO REASON.
I kinda feel like if i dont know if i want to do the teaching or not by now, then its not what i want to do. If you get what i mean?
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
2 Sep 17
@moffittjc I want to be Barbara Eden. How's that for a big dream?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 17
@kobesbuddy Yes, I watched it every day too! Such a great tv show!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 17
When I was a kids, I was in love with Barbara Eden! haha
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
2 Sep 17
@moffittjc We watched I Dream of Jeannie, every single day! lol
1 person likes this
