What do you want to be when you grow up?
Start writing a post
Entertainment

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A story for those who have no clue.

13
What do you want to be when you grow up?
kayla siuda


From a young age the question is posed to us, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The first time we are asked this question chances are we're four or five, maybe a parent or teacher asked us this question. I remember being asked for the first time and from what I can recall my answer was indefinitely along the lines of a princess or a mermaid- quite possibly a mermaid princess, basically The Little Mermaid if you will. It wasn't until much later I realized you can't major in that in college.

The next time we're asked this question, on a more serious level, we are probably in middle school. At this point in our lives a select few of us my have actually had a small idea of what we wanted to do with our futures. Personally at this point in my life, music had my whole heart. If couldn't be a Broadway starlet I wanted to be a music teacher. I actually found myself becoming more and more musically inclined with each NYSMA competition, chorus or orchestra concert, and with every new musical score I learned I fell more and more in love.

Now, the next time we are asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" we find ourselves in junior year of high school, maybe our senior year, and here is where this question really counts. We find ourselves in a guidance counselors office, it's covered in motivational posters and brochures from different colleges, organizations, and causes. It's at this point in our lives we find ourselves at a cross roads in a lot of different ways, the things we find ourselves most passionate in may not have the most lucrative future so, we follow with things that we're good at and we go forth and decide on something that will provide us with a stable future. We all have a friend who took the leap and majored in fine arts or musical theater and is auditioning for shows or working on a piece while working at our local smoothie shop to pay off their student loans. My biggest fear at 18 was becoming this person. In my early teen years I had committed to becoming a music education major, leaving my Broadway starlet dreams behind me along with lip smackers lip balm and heavy black eyeliner in middle school.

Now, at 21, almost 22, years old I am not a music education major, the only time I sing is in the car or in the shower. Occasionally you can catch me at karaoke or performing a one woman show of Hamilton in my bedroom. After attending my local community college with a major in Liberal Arts, three semesters in, I dropped out. I hated college, I hated what I was learning, I lacked passion in everything I was doing. I was so frustrated with myself for completely disregarding the plan I thought I'd created for myself. I didn't want to commit to a classroom because I wanted the pleasure of traveling in my work, I lacked confidence in my abilities for the first time in my life. How could I teach others something I lacked confidence in? All my friends diving head first into classes required for their majors, growing, changing, and learning, meanwhile I felt like I had lost myself, I didn't know who I was anymore. My only solace was found in all things beauty I found myself incredibly passionate about making myself and other people look and feel beautiful. Anxiety ridden and angry at the world I had created for myself, I committed to my happy place, the world of beauty. In January 2015 I entered a program to become an Esthetician and I found a happy place. I graduated less than a year later, went to New York Fashion Week three times as a Make Up Artist and a Social Media intern (and counting) and now have two wonderful jobs in the beauty industry.

Since I want to be able to one day have a bachelors degree hanging up in my office, I find myself heading back to the same college where I felt I lacked a fire to do much of anything with a completely different attitude. People would remind me that I'd reach this point and it felt as if I'd never escape the feeling of incompetence I felt day in and day out as everyone around me molded to their plan, this feeling felt completely unattainable. I'm here to tell you it's not, you have to just make a new plan and I'm so thankful I did.

Career wise, my future still seems a little fuzzy but I do know what I want to be when I grow up. I've decided I want to be hard working no matter which field I choose. I've decided I want to be strong, face whichever adversaries come my way. I've decided I want to be graceful, I want to have the power to encounter the worst of the worst and handle it like a classically trained ballerina. I want to lead by example for girls younger than myself, I want them to see a well educated, strong, graceful jack of all trades and channel that within themselves regardless of what field they dedicate their life to. As long as I'm a good person with those qualities and still have the ability to make others feel beautiful, I'm okay with whatever field I end up being in when I "grow up"

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58741
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37882
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959433
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

194890
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments