When I grow up...

"The teacher asked us to draw a picture of what we want to be when we grow up.  I split the paper in half and drew a ballerina and an author."

 

That's my kid.  I immediately thought of Leisel and ALU - perhaps dancing and writing go hand in hand

 

"Did anyone else want to dance?  Write?"

 

As it happened, many of the girls wanted to be scientists, veterinarians, and even astronauts.  Several wanted to be authors as well.   

 

"The boys want to be soldiers."

 

"Fascinating."  The social scientist in me went to work.  Given the current state of the world and the news that these children are hearing, the boys want to be soldiers.  Is this common?  A trend?  Is it based upon the area in which we live? 

 

"I don't know why they would want to be soldiers,"  the Diva continued.  "There are lots of good jobs - fire fighter, police man..."

 

My cousin is in the USAF.  He  has experienced several tours in the Middle East.  Each time news of Iraq is on the radio, the Diva would ask if he was okay.  He is ok and is back in the states, but he could go back at any time. 

 

She worries about him but loves the Navy. 

 

The Diva is in a mixed class - first and second graders from various backgrounds and experiences.  There are more first graders than second graders and more boys than girls. 

 

Thirty years ago I was in second grade.  I wanted to be a teacher (none of her classmates wanted to teach).  I wonder what the boys wanted to be?  It was a different time in the history of this country.  The military was not viewed as highly as it is today.  That said, I remember the boys playing "war" and "CHIPS" - and I feel very old writing the latter. 

 

Still, the idea that young boys, growing up knowing little outside a conflict/fighting environment (even though thousands of miles away) wanted to be soldiers fascinates me. 

 

The military is a significant part of my family.  Both my grandfather and uncle received appointments to the USNA.  My cousins were career USAF and USA officers.  My brother wanted to attend the USNA as well.  I am not sure why as the military and my brother don't really work in  my mind, but that is what he wanted.  It could have been due to family history, tradition, the romance of "an Officer and a Gentleman" or something else entirely. 

 

He did not receive an appointment to the USNA.  He did receive one to the USCG - which he accepted only to decide a month after his arrival on campus that he had a bad knee and wanted to do something else.    Which he did.

 

Serving in the military is admirable.  I have heard compelling arguments suggesting that everyone, male and female, needs to serve for a short period of time as happens in countries like Sweden and Switzerland.  

 

It is wonderful that these boys want to serve - to give something to their country and to protect the citizens etc.  I doubt this is what they are considering when they think about what they want to do when they grow up, but it is possible.  

 

I still find it fascinating.  I wish someone would do a study about what kids, ages 6-8, want to do when they grow up.  I wonder how many of us stick with the profession we desired at that age???  

 

"Did anyone want to be a lawyer?"  (Which is what so many people do in this area)

 

"No!"

 

Ah, there is hope for that generation!

 

(Nothing against lawyers mind you, my family is full of them too)