What do you want to be when you grow up?

​What do you want to be when you grow up? That question is something that we are all asked as children. Most of the time the answer is very typical, movie star, singer, doctor, lawyer, police officer, or fireman. You also get the answer of “I don’t know” and that answer is usually what happens to the person. This post is for the adult that doesn’t know what exactly they want to do. We all get older and go straight into survival mode. The first question is how we get into survival mode?
 
Survival mode is something that starts at the age of 25. During the years between ages 16-25 are your most influential years that will shape your adult life. During the years between 16-25 are when you make decisions about how you want to take care of yourself financially. I know we hate to admit it and most would like to down play the role of money in life, but I have to say it means EVERYTHING in this life. As an adult you want to be able to take care of yourself and live independently, and money is the only way for you to be independent. So, by the age of 25, most of us are out of college and should be working in the career field that we received our degree. Now you are out of college and you now are employed and paying bills like a responsible adult. Sounds like Fun, Right!? Have we made a passionate career choice and if so, why not? Did we forget about what we wanted to be when we grow up? What in life changed our path to our desires?
 
When I was a kid, I was very typical in my career choice. I wanted to be a rapper or ball player. HAHAHAHAHA, very stereotypical. That was all I knew, and it looked extremely fun and easy, plus the rappers and ball players were rich. I became an adult and had children as soon as adulthood happened. It then turned to me maintaining a job because dreams and goals weren’t as important as food and shelter. I turned thirty and I asked myself “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. I had been in the Information technology field for a couple years but didn’t feel fulfilled. I decided that what I wanted to be as an adult was a giver and helper to society. I just needed to figure out how exactly I would give and help the people of this world. I now write, record a weekly podcast, and volunteer. The money isn’t pouring in but that will happen if I stay genuine and pure in my journey.
 
The biggest thing that I had to understand was that people don’t matter in your journey. People are going to judge you regardless of what you are in life. This journey to be what you want will have some people removed from your life. Give value to your life and remove other opinions about how you should live your life. Smile at judgment, show love to negative energy, and  stay focused.
 
Now ask yourself in your cubicle, at home, your car, gym, or wherever you may be “What do I want to be when I grow up?” If your current career and life doesn’t come to mind after the question has been asked, then it’s time to re-evaluate life. 2018 gives many individuals power to be exactly what they want to be. No, there aren’t any limits in 2018. If you want to be a professional ball player, give it a try. It may not be the NBA but there are plenty of other leagues for you to play. You can always display your vocal talents on you tube or any of the other platforms for free if that’s what you want to be. You can always go back to school for specific professions. Just relax close your eyes and jump! Your wings will open, but you will never know you have them if you don’t jump off the cliff of comfort. 

​Written By: Ronald Anthony Wilson