The question: What do you want to be when you grow up? Seemed so simple yet complex as a young kid. There were just so many options, so many things in the world that you possibly could be. Now? If you ask yourself the same question your selection of “things” to be when you “grow up” (if we ever do) is a lot narrower. Maybe this is because we have learned more about who we are as people, what we like and dislike, etc. Or maybe we should channel our younger selves more often and remember some of those goals and life aspirations.
In an activity I participated in during Springfield College’s Humanics in Action Day on September 29th, 2016, us college students, 18 year old “adults” asked 6th grade students questions about their future. After going around a classroom full of kids, it really made me feels as if I was 10 years old again and felt as if I could grow up to be anything I wanted. Part of me looked at these answers as just naive 11-year old kids who obviously don’t understand what struggle and obstacles will come in their future to change their mind. The other part of me is thinking, well why can’t these kids become a famous actress? Or the president?Or a chocolate taster? Or get drafted into the NFL? As cliche as it sounds to “dream big“ maybe this is one of the many keys to staying young. To never stop feeling like you can be anything you want to. To not take life so seriously and lessen an aspiration because it seems too far out of reach, or because only a small percentage of people make it to such a huge goal.
Everyone says that with getting older comes more difficulty and struggle in life. Getting older is more responsibility, and pressure. Growing old has many difficulties. With age also comes wisdom. Imagine if with all of this wisdom instead of feeling like those past dreams were just a memory, or some dumb impossible idea you had as a kid, you used hard work and drive to achieve something bigger than you could imagine. It doesn't matter when or where or how the circumstances fall. Don’t settle for being mediocre. Even though it is always a good thing to have a plan B, Don’t settle for your plan B just because plan A doesn’t seem feasible or someone once told you or suggested that it simply isnt possible. If flying to the moon in a dream of yours, become a rocket scientist and make it happen. If achieving something great is on your bucket list, achieve it.
