Today I was thinking about college (I am pursuing a career in dental hygiene), and it got me thinking about what I wanted to be growing up. I have changed my mind so many times, but surprisingly, I still have similar dreams as when I was younger.
My first career plan was to become a nurse. For birthdays my parents would get me pretend doctor kits, which I would practice with for hours on my sisters. One year for my birthday Pappy gave me a real stethoscope--I was thrilled! Whenever someone was injured I would rush to there attention with band-aid in hand, ready to mend their wound. My mom called me "Nurse Nonie." Oh yes, I was going to be a nurse, and nothing was going to get in my way: it was my dream!
But then I suddenly developed an unreasonable fear of blood, thus ending my nursing dream and bringing about my new career option: teaching!
As passionate as I was about my medical profession I was ten times more into teaching (and fake office work). Mom and dad gave me a type writer and some old business supplies that they no longer needed, so I spend countless hours filling the note pads with "cursive" (which then consisted of scribbled gibberish), typing frantically on the machine and coming up with lesson plans for my usually non-existent students (sometimes I would make my sisters sit through my lessons--especially Gracie). This kept me busy for years. I even wore frumpy teacher-like clothes to school (which embarrassed Caitlin) and around the house. Some day I was going to be a teacher...and if I could figure out how to turn back time, I would be a teacher just like Anne, from Anne of Avenlee, and wear clothes just like her too! How exciting!
What has happened to my dreams? Did they purely disappear? Did all of that effort and passion go into things that I would grow to completely disregard?
While I may not be majoring in Elementary Education or Nursing, I have chosen to pursue a career in the medical field, thus helping people physically, and I also teach pre-school to kindergarden Sunday school class at my church. So no, all of my fervor didn't happen for no reason.
Also, even if I'm not pursuing teaching and nursing, all of the time I spend typing, keeping records, teaching dolls how to read and putting band-aids on family members was well worth it. I had a thrilling childhood, and I don't regret a minute of it!
And looking back, I also realize how much my parents have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. They believe in me and support me and love me like no one else does. They have never had a problem with my eccentric ways which at some points really have been "out there."
So that being said, I'm really glad that I took time to remember the past tonight. So often I overlook how great my parents are. They really do love me so much, and that's really great!
Eventually I may write about some of my other ideas for my future. I think one of the most interesting things I can write about is my childhood, 'cause frankly, it was a lot more exciting to be a runaway orphan than sit through countless hours of Anatomy and Physiology and English.
Peace and Love.
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