When you’re a little kid, you’re often asked what you are going to be when you grow up. I’ve pretty much always answered that I was going to be a veterinarian. Yes, I was that person. Its always been my dream to be a vet. There were occasions when other choices sifted through my mind-teacher, archeologist, meat inspector, dairy farm manager. But really, I’ve never strayed far from veterinarian.
I find myself answering the question of what I am going to do with my life more and more as classmates try to sort out who has jobs and where and who doesn’t. Unfortunately, I don’t have a job. I’m worried about this. I have decided that I do in fact have a pretty fantastic resume and that I am much more capable than I give myself credit for; that bravado however doesn’t get you employed. In fact, it might work against me. Luckily, with the exception of just now, I have rarely stated this fact.
So the real question is: When do you officially become a ‘grown up’?
Is it when you turn 18, or perhaps 21, perhaps 25? All milestones in of themselves. Ages when the government says you can smoke, gamble, vote, join the military, drink and rent a car. I’m past those. They may have made me feel MORE grown up, but weren’t really being a grown up for me.
Is it when you move away from home, go off to college? Maybe. I’ve done that and again, I feel MORE grown up but not really grown up.
Is it when you have your own apartment? I’ve had multiple for years. I’ve been responsible for having utilities turned on and turned off. Responsible for bills for years. Still not a entirely a grown up.
Is it when you get a degree? Hold down a steady job? Live pay check to pay check? I’ve done that depending on your definition of a steady job. I’ve worked 40 hours a week at one job. Still not entirely a grown up.
Is it when you have someone in your life that you intend on spending the rest of it with? I’m on my second one of those. I’ve had Joe for four years. Even though an engagement and marriage are on our future, I still don’t think it makes me a grown up.
FOR ME- being a grown up is exactly the answer to that question I was asked in kindergarten. What do you want to be when you grow up? For me, being a grown up will be when they hand me that diploma on May 14th. I will be a veterinarian. I will be a grown up. Now having a job, that may be another story. Maybe when I’m actually practicing veterinary medicine will I be a grown up, because really, that’s being a veterinarian.
And being a grown up will only snow ball in my grown up-ness. Eventually, there will be that marriage. And kids. And a house. And a farm. And calves, chickens and ponies. Probably lots of other fun things too. Then I’ll really be grown up. I can’t wait for that life to start.
[EDIT-Originally, posted to Blogger on March 12, 2011.]
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