The earliest “dream job” that I had as a kid was being an astronomer. My mum would argue that I had aspired to be a fireman because of the dramas we were watching together, but astronomy was as far as my memory permits.
I don’t really remember the reason, but I knew I was drawn to a book on astronomy. I didn’t understand any part of the text, but the photos of the moon’s surface and the sky charts fascinated me. Looking out into the universe – exploring galaxies, identifying stars, studying moons – how can the world get bigger?
That was probably more than 2 decades ago. Many other options have come and gone. Most are “fantasies”, others actual jobs and career plans:
- Game designer
- Go player
- Biologist (molecular, ecology, plant, evolution?)
- Bio-engineer
- Doctor
- Occupational therapist
- Military strategist (probably the most short-lived one)
- Pastry chef
- Café owner
- Operations and supply chain analyst
- Tutor
- Photographer (part-time)
- Management consultant
- Equity researcher
- Investor
- Venture builder
But as much as “careers” have been the definitive driver of my sense of self, I have come to realise that there are other equally, if not more, important aspects of self. Our passions, health, the people we cherish – all in the limited amount of time we have in the grander scheme of the universe.
I can never forget the night sky when we camped in the fields of Mongolia.
Roodelia 