Recently, my daughter encountered one of those classic life experiences: the awkward small talk with a dentist while her mouth was filled with gleaming tools that looked mildly intimidating. “So, kiddo, what do you want to be when you grow up?” the dentist, dressed in cheerful pink scrubs, inquired.
With a mouth full of instruments, she managed to mumble, “I want to be a dentist,” as water dribbled down her chin. This is a common question posed to kids, and it’s a topic that has been on her mind. Her answer, delivered on the spot, is just the latest in a string of career ambitions she can easily rattle off—some as whimsical as “Gumbo Chef,” inspired by a recent viewing of The Princess and the Frog. At her age, she’s focused on endless possibilities without any concern for practical limits. Once she sat up after the dentist finished, she excitedly added, “And I also want to be a ballerina, and a teacher for babies. Do you have a baby that can come to my school? They have to be two years old. No diapers, though.”
When we got home, she eagerly dug through her collection of toys to find the doctor/dentist kit her aunt gifted her last Christmas. With an oversized red toothbrush and a set of clacking horse-like teeth, she began practicing her new career. How she’ll manage to juggle all these professions remains a mystery, but her determination is evident.
I’m familiar with this phase. I remember the first time I met my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Brown, and decided teaching was my calling. After seeing a caricaturist at a summer fair, I spent my allowance on art supplies, doodling under the sun until I turned a rosy shade of red. It’s a common stage in childhood to explore potential careers, trying them on for size to find the right fit.
Yet, I never fully left this exploratory phase either. I’ve become what some might call a job hopper, or more accurately, a career hopper. In my latest bio, I listed “former” titles such as Executive Editor, Managing Editor, and Design Director. My resume features an impressive array of “formers”—barista, babysitter, library clerk, and more. I even once had a brief stint as a room organizer for a day after a questionable Craigslist response. Deep down, I still dream of returning to school for counseling.
I believe my daughter shares this same fascination with possibility. There’s a certain magic in reshaping our lives with each new opportunity. Admittedly, this unconventional path has its downsides. My family has stopped asking about my job, and the corporate world can be unkind to those with eclectic resumes (“So why do you have an MFA?”). I sometimes question whether I’m cut out for any single role—can one really have too many jobs?
In today’s climate, where career changes are more common than ever, many are shifting professions for a variety of reasons—bad treatment, financial needs, or evolving passions. Choosing a career can feel much like finding a life partner; not everyone finds their perfect match on the first date, so why should job searching be any different? I recognize that I have privileges such as a supportive partner and financial stability that allow me to explore my varied interests—circumstances not everyone is fortunate to have.
This leads me back to that question we frequently ask children: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This query implies a direct link between identity and occupation. However, being a dentist, ballerina, or teacher is merely a job title, not an identity. Throughout my career transitions, I’ve realized that I am fundamentally the same person, simply with a diverse skill set and perhaps a bit of extra baggage. At my core, what drives my success in various roles (well, maybe not the one-day organizing gig) is a thirst for knowledge and a desire to push the boundaries of my experience.
Instead of asking children what they want to be, we should consider what they want to learn. What experiences excite them? How do they envision spending their time? Perhaps I’m not the ideal person to impart wisdom about stability—my daughter will surely learn those lessons elsewhere. However, I hope to instill in her a sense of possibility, encouraging her to take bold leaps and embark on new adventures. If she finds her dream job right away, then she might just have a few lessons to teach me in return.
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Summary
This article reflects on the common childhood question of what one wants to be when they grow up. It explores the idea that such questions often limit identity to job titles, while emphasizing the importance of learning and experiences over mere occupations. The author, Alex Mercer, shares personal insights about her own career journey, highlighting the magic of possibilities and the value of pursuing various interests.