I was going to be...

[SpokeyDokey]

Two of the grandchildren are undertaking work experience this week (no enthusiasm from either though) and neither have a clue what they want to do when they finish studying - apart from being pro' games players. The new 'I want to be an astronaut'?

This got me thinking back to my youth and the various careers I really wanted to follow at various times during my troubled teens.

Here's what floated my boat way back then:

Systems Analyst - computers were on the horizon, the future was laden with bits and golden, and I remember fancying this as a job as a) it seemed well paid and b) was a notch up from a programmer.

Vet - the demise of the family Alsation intersected with a good Biology O level pass which obviously meant that I was cut out to be a doggy saviour.

Research Chemist - another good O Level result and this was my new calling. I have no idea what it was that I was going to research.

None of these scatter-brained dreams came to pass.

So... over to you - back to your teens and what were your unfulfilled career ambitions?

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I had no idea
Ended up in computers thru them being my hobby

My dream now would be commercial airline pilot but that will never happen!

 

[fossyant]

Banker - did a weeks work experience and decided that was rubbish.

 

[Drago]

The pilot of Thunderbird 2.

 

[Crackle]

I only aimed to do two things, I did them both but I made a career out of something I slid into.

 

[TVC]

I always wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer. As young as I can remember with my lego then meccano there was never any doubt in my mind how I wanted to spend my working life.

 

[winjim]

I did my work experience in a pathology lab. I now work in a pathology lab.

 

[Spinney]

Astronaut, Fighter pilot (both impossible as I was a speccy female - possible now, but not when I was young enough)
So I became an aeronautical engineer instead (followed by several other careers)

 

[Bollo]

I wanted to be an architect when I was a teen, but then switched to wanting to be a scientist, which I was for a few years. I had the chance to become a lecturer but I was crap at teaching and tired of short term research contracts, so switched to prodding computers and, after the birth of Bolletta, part-time house husbandry.

It's not turned out how I expected, but I'm not sure I'd change much.

 

[Dave 123]

A farmer. It never happened, so I chose another outdoor route.

 

[classic33]

Blacksmith, Small forge at one stage and a relative who was one.
Mad Scientist. Teachers not too keen on this one.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Motorcycle racer..mechanic ,forrest ranger.
I did go into mechanics for a while

How i became a frigging paving specialist i'll never now.

 

[Bryony]

I wanted to be a vet, or a showjumper. I’m now a pharmacy dispenser, and I do love my job, although some of the customers try my patience regularly!

 

[Beebo]

My careers teacher advised me to go into logistics in the early 90s. She said it would be a massive industry soon. I’d never heard of it.
I ignored her but low and behold logistics is now a massive industry. I could be working in an Amazon warehouse.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I wanted to be a draughtsman and draw lots of complicated fiddly pictures.

A friend had a Spectrum, I got an Electron. I've been a programmer and have been an IT Manager in the last 31 years.

It turns out I have an aptitude as a mechanical engineer of some sort, but that was discovered too late.
I build an ace kitchen though.

A couple of years ago I passed an AAT level 2 in accountancy. So that's another path that may have been or could still be.

17 years until I retire so who knows!