What do you want to be when you grow up?

[wdfifteen]

Rexav8r made this suggestion for a thread.
"What do you guys want to be when you grow up....?? Anyone like me and go to school for one thing and end up doing something completely different.... Maybe that'd be a good thread (with a Monty Python twist) ...and now for something completely different..."

Me - I got a masters in Materials Engineering. Worked for GM and then 5 years in gummint Aerospace labs. Did some pretty exciting, cutting edge stuff. I always felt like working for someone else was holding me down, not letting me reach my potential. After 10 years of that I started a publishing company and never looked back.

[oldE]

I really didn't have any goals. Fell into a job as a supervisor for a dairy, became the depot manager and sales rep as guys retired, then took over more territory through a period of almost 25 years before downsizing hit.

Now I'm a contract provider, functioning as a Heritage Interpreter at the only tidal power generating plant in North America. I'm having far more fun than I ever did working for a living.

Life is good right now.
Les

[KFC911]

I'll be danged if I'm ever gonna grow up...life is too good !

[speedracing944]

I spent 12 years working on a production floor as Maintenance, Robotics programmer and Manufacturing Engineer I then went back and earned my BS in Mechanical Engineering. Afterwards and currently I am nearing completion of a 2 years Operations Leadership Engineering rotation where concluding I will take on a management role within operations.

I find myself dreaming each and every day about starting, from the ground up, an automobile company following a similar path as Ferdinand Porsche. Most likely, with all the government regulations, it would resemble something closer to Factory Five Racing in its business model.

I know the car I want to build for me.

Speedy

[jcommin]

Me............automotive designer. I love to draw cars. As a kid back in the early 60's, I sent sketches to GM and Chrysler. Wanted to go to the Art Center School of Design in LA, Cali. Started to put a portfolio together when I realized I had no money to go to school. Lowered my sites to automotive engineering and a local state 4 yr school. Didn't have money for that either. Ended up at a community college and finally at U of I at Chicago. I funded my tuition. A degree in Mechanical Engineering. No regrets as I am very sucessful.

I still draw; worked out of art studios for years and have a studio at home. Work in pastels and markers; it is my hobby. A marker painting:

[mikester]

Fighter Pilot.

[stogie25]

I am an electrical engineer. I do exactly what I went to school for and have for a couple of decades. When I grow up I want to be a pirate or a secret agent.

In the words of Jimmy Buffett, "My occupational hazard is my occupation's just not around..."

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Wouldn't mind going back to flying full time and doing architecture part time bit it pays significantly better to do it the other way around... Eventually perhaps/

[twobone]

I ended up in financial services, which to be honest is not enormously fulfilling. Maximizing shareholder value....yahoo

I have a nice house, great kids and a wonderful wife and a solid pension to look forward to.

However, I don't get the work fulfillment that other folks may get.

I've considered a change of careers to perhaps teaching, but the impact financially is a bit too steep and I'm risk averse when it comes to my families finances.

Instead, I focus on saving as much money as I can so that I can retire early and hopefully healthy. In the meantime, I try to enjoy my life outside of work with the kids, travel and car hobbies.

With any luck, I hope to retire in my mid fifties (9 years from now) and enjoy phase 2 of my life:

-more time with my wife and kids
-snowboarding in the winter
-classic car restoration in the garage
-a bit of travel
-perhaps get a degree in philosophy
-more painting (of the art kind)
-more model building
-more nooners!

[porsche4life]

I'm still trying to figure out...


I do know I want to be rich, if that helps.

[RedBaron]

Currently, I'm graduating high school (in a week) and I am going to college for Computer Engineering. I wonder what I'll be doing 10 years from now.

[Superman]

Astronaut as a day job. Porn star on nights and weekends.

[Turbo_pro]

Originally Posted by Superman

Astronaut as a day job. Porn star on nights and weekends.

Sorry, everyone knows Superman can't have do porno: his ejaculate travels at the speed of sound causing all kinds of problems for the sound guy not to mention the co-star's head.

[craigster59]

An Alaskan bush pilot or that guy who steers the back end of the fire engine.

[5String43]

Got a degree in journalism, spent the next 40 years in newspapers and enthusiast magazines. Have lived more-or-less comfortably but never really made much money - certainly not enough to put away for a comfortable retirement. But man, has it been a satisfying way to go.

[GH85Carrera]

I refuse to grow up.
I am still enjoying my childhood.
I will never be too old to enjoy my happy childhood.
All I need is a few more toys.

[quicksix]

A better man,father,husband.........

[stealthn]

Younger...

[pavulon]

satisfied.

[nostatic]

musician

took 4 years off after HS to try the rock star thing - didn't go so well. Entered college as a music major, left with a degree in chemistry. After a phd, postdoc, and 5 years as chemistry professor I gave my 6 months notice (I'm responsible) and moved to a gig as a web developer. Quickly moved to running a new media research center and now design/build interactive training systems, mostly for the military. The only time I use my chemistry is to put the fear of gawd into people at dog and pony talks. I use the critical thinking and analysis skills learned in undergrad/grad every day.

I'll play music until my body quits though. Already 50+ gigs this year. It won't cover the rent though...not even close. But hopefully if I ever retire I'll just keep gigging...