what do you want to be when you grow up a question asked to us dozens of times
a question asked to us dozens of times
a question asked to us dozens of times in our lives but the question what do
in our lives but the question what do
in our lives but the question what do you want to be when you grow up can mean
you want to be when you grow up can mean
you want to be when you grow up can mean so many different things based on just
so many different things based on just
so many different things based on just your age alone as young children we have
your age alone as young children we have
your age alone as young children we have become accustomed to adults posing this
become accustomed to adults posing this
become accustomed to adults posing this question on us but they never take the
question on us but they never take the
question on us but they never take the answer something serious what they are
answer something serious what they are
answer something serious what they are looking for is a cute answer that they
looking for is a cute answer that they
looking for is a cute answer that they can laugh about they never take your
can laugh about they never take your
can laugh about they never take your answer as something serious because they
answer as something serious because they
answer as something serious because they rarely believe your answer will stay the
rarely believe your answer will stay the
rarely believe your answer will stay the same for the rest of your life I don’t
same for the rest of your life I don’t
same for the rest of your life I don’t think of it as something to forget about
think of it as something to forget about
think of it as something to forget about as life progresses but as one begins to
as life progresses but as one begins to
as life progresses but as one begins to get older and closer and closer to
get older and closer and closer to
get older and closer and closer to entering college the question what do
entering college the question what do
entering college the question what do you want to be when you grow up is it so
you want to be when you grow up is it so
you want to be when you grow up is it so cute anymore when this question is asked
cute anymore when this question is asked
cute anymore when this question is asked to teens the pressure is on to know
to teens the pressure is on to know
to teens the pressure is on to know exactly what your future is going to be
exactly what your future is going to be
exactly what your future is going to be like and sure even if you think you know
like and sure even if you think you know
like and sure even if you think you know the answer there’s never any definite
the answer there’s never any definite
the answer there’s never any definite way to know until you’re working in that
way to know until you’re working in that
way to know until you’re working in that field and many people believe that once
field and many people believe that once
field and many people believe that once you begin to learn the experience that
you begin to learn the experience that
you begin to learn the experience that particular field that is the end of it
particular field that is the end of it
particular field that is the end of it in reality most college students change
in reality most college students change
in reality most college students change their major at least once in their
their major at least once in their
their major at least once in their college career in addition to that the
college career in addition to that the
college career in addition to that the average person holds ten different
average person holds ten different
average person holds ten different careers before age forty and twelve to
careers before age forty and twelve to
careers before age forty and twelve to fifteen different careers in their
fifteen different careers in their
fifteen different careers in their entire life and that number is projected
entire life and that number is projected
entire life and that number is projected to grow when reading these statistics I
to grow when reading these statistics I
to grow when reading these statistics I was shocked to learn that so many people
was shocked to learn that so many people
was shocked to learn that so many people had changed their idea of what they want
had changed their idea of what they want
had changed their idea of what they want to be when they grow up so I decided to
to be when they grow up so I decided to
to be when they grow up so I decided to see how the people in my life ended up
see how the people in my life ended up
see how the people in my life ended up in the careers that they did before
in the careers that they did before
in the careers that they did before getting into my experience let’s talk
getting into my experience let’s talk
getting into my experience let’s talk some of the facts as said before 80
some of the facts as said before 80
some of the facts as said before 80 percent of all college students change
percent of all college students change
percent of all college students change their major at least once in their
their major at least once in their
their major at least once in their college career but it can start even
college career but it can start even
college career but it can start even before that if in today’s world 1/2 of
before that if in today’s world 1/2 of
before that if in today’s world 1/2 of all college students entering college
all college students entering college
all college students entering college enter as an undeclared so for those
enter as an undeclared so for those
enter as an undeclared so for those people 18 maybe even more years later
people 18 maybe even more years later
people 18 maybe even more years later the question what do you want to be when
the question what do you want to be when
the question what do you want to be when you grow up still has yet to be answered
you grow up still has yet to be answered
you grow up still has yet to be answered and for the people who do enter and
and for the people who do enter and
and for the people who do enter and graduate college with a degree only
graduate college with a degree only
graduate college with a degree only one-half of those people enter a field
one-half of those people enter a field
one-half of those people enter a field related to their major when reading the
related to their major when reading the
related to their major when reading the when reading these I was shocked why
when reading these I was shocked why
when reading these I was shocked why would people spend hundreds of thousands
would people spend hundreds of thousands
would people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a college degree
of dollars on a college degree
of dollars on a college degree only to end up changing their ideas
only to end up changing their ideas
only to end up changing their ideas we’ll talk more about that later in a
we’ll talk more about that later in a
we’ll talk more about that later in a TED talk given by Meg J entitled why 30
TED talk given by Meg J entitled why 30
TED talk given by Meg J entitled why 30 is not the new 20 she brings up many
is not the new 20 she brings up many
is not the new 20 she brings up many facts reasoning about why once you turn
facts reasoning about why once you turn
facts reasoning about why once you turn 30 your life isn’t set in stone and yes
30 your life isn’t set in stone and yes
30 your life isn’t set in stone and yes 80% of life’s most defining moments
80% of life’s most defining moments
80% of life’s most defining moments happen before age 35 getting married
happen before age 35 getting married
happen before age 35 getting married building a family purchasing a home and
building a family purchasing a home and
building a family purchasing a home and so much more happen in these first 35
so much more happen in these first 35
so much more happen in these first 35 years but what about that other 20%
years but what about that other 20%
years but what about that other 20% I know 20% may sound small but it can
I know 20% may sound small but it can
I know 20% may sound small but it can turn into something huge with an that
turn into something huge with an that
turn into something huge with an that could be the day you decide you don’t
could be the day you decide you don’t
could be the day you decide you don’t like your career and wanting to change
like your career and wanting to change
like your career and wanting to change it with that said I began to talk to
it with that said I began to talk to
it with that said I began to talk to some of the most important people in my
some of the most important people in my
some of the most important people in my life I always knew what they did for a
life I always knew what they did for a
life I always knew what they did for a living but never took the time to look
living but never took the time to look
living but never took the time to look into how they got there take my mother
into how they got there take my mother
into how they got there take my mother for example when I spoke to her I
for example when I spoke to her I
for example when I spoke to her I learned that when she was around the
learned that when she was around the
learned that when she was around the fourth or fifth grade she decided she
fourth or fifth grade she decided she
fourth or fifth grade she decided she wanted to become an archaeologist when
wanted to become an archaeologist when
wanted to become an archaeologist when she grew up so she would be able to dig
she grew up so she would be able to dig
she grew up so she would be able to dig in Egypt all day but as she entered high
in Egypt all day but as she entered high
in Egypt all day but as she entered high school there were a lot of different
school there were a lot of different
school there were a lot of different dreams things like languages but also
dreams things like languages but also
dreams things like languages but also fashion and engineering so when she
fashion and engineering so when she
fashion and engineering so when she entered college she decided to major in
entered college she decided to major in
entered college she decided to major in Spanish hoping to go into the field of
Spanish hoping to go into the field of
Spanish hoping to go into the field of international business one of her first
international business one of her first
international business one of her first jobs after college was working on a
jobs after college was working on a
jobs after college was working on a company called champion as a senior
company called champion as a senior
company called champion as a senior underwriter but this wasn’t an
underwriter but this wasn’t an
underwriter but this wasn’t an international job so her goals were
international job so her goals were
international job so her goals were already changing after working there for
already changing after working there for
already changing after working there for a while she decided to take a 10-year
a while she decided to take a 10-year
a while she decided to take a 10-year hiatus to become a stay-at-home mom for
hiatus to become a stay-at-home mom for
hiatus to become a stay-at-home mom for my brothers and I but as we became more
my brothers and I but as we became more
my brothers and I but as we became more self-sufficient she knew it was time to
self-sufficient she knew it was time to
self-sufficient she knew it was time to re-enter the workforce but now her goals
re-enter the workforce but now her goals
re-enter the workforce but now her goals had completely altered she needed to
had completely altered she needed to
had completely altered she needed to find a job that she could both work at
find a job that she could both work at
find a job that she could both work at but also be home with her family enough
but also be home with her family enough
but also be home with her family enough so she decided to try substitute
so she decided to try substitute
so she decided to try substitute teaching to see if you enjoy working in
teaching to see if you enjoy working in
teaching to see if you enjoy working in the education system and she absolutely
the education system and she absolutely
the education system and she absolutely loved it
loved it
loved it a few years later she worked to become
a few years later she worked to become
a few years later she worked to become certified in special education and now
certified in special education and now
certified in special education and now working that field for over five years
working that field for over five years
working that field for over five years she couldn’t be happier
she couldn’t be happier
she couldn’t be happier so with this I learned my mother was
so with this I learned my mother was
so with this I learned my mother was actually a part of the 50% that had
actually a part of the 50% that had
actually a part of the 50% that had earned a college degree and ended up
earned a college degree and ended up
earned a college degree and ended up that education not being directly
that education not being directly
that education not being directly beneficial to her in any of her careers
beneficial to her in any of her careers
beneficial to her in any of her careers my father on the other hand was
my father on the other hand was
my father on the other hand was completely different when I spoke to him
completely different when I spoke to him
completely different when I spoke to him I learned that when he was around the
I learned that when he was around the
I learned that when he was around the fourth or fifth grade he said he wanted
fourth or fifth grade he said he wanted
fourth or fifth grade he said he wanted to be a lawyer when he grew up and
to be a lawyer when he grew up and
to be a lawyer when he grew up and when he entered high school although
when he entered high school although
when he entered high school although lawyer still was one of his ideas he was
lawyer still was one of his ideas he was
lawyer still was one of his ideas he was also thinking in law enforcement or
also thinking in law enforcement or
also thinking in law enforcement or business so he went to college and made
business so he went to college and made
business so he went to college and made it in marketing because that was the
it in marketing because that was the
it in marketing because that was the branch of business he felt most
branch of business he felt most
branch of business he felt most connected to his first job after college
connected to his first job after college
connected to his first job after college was selling insurance to people and has
was selling insurance to people and has
was selling insurance to people and has worked in the field of business ever
worked in the field of business ever
worked in the field of business ever since so with this I learned my father
since so with this I learned my father
since so with this I learned my father was actually a part of the 50% of people
was actually a part of the 50% of people
was actually a part of the 50% of people who whose degree is beneficial to them
who whose degree is beneficial to them
who whose degree is beneficial to them in their career
in their career
in their career so in my own home two people were using
so in my own home two people were using
so in my own home two people were using their education in two completely
their education in two completely
their education in two completely different ways and if people like Walt
different ways and if people like Walt
different ways and if people like Walt Disney fit in the 50 percent of people
Disney fit in the 50 percent of people
Disney fit in the 50 percent of people who don’t use their original degrees one
who don’t use their original degrees one
who don’t use their original degrees one of Walt’s first Jobs was working as a
of Walt’s first Jobs was working as a
of Walt’s first Jobs was working as a newspaper editor in Kansas but was
newspaper editor in Kansas but was
newspaper editor in Kansas but was eventually fired because he lacked
eventually fired because he lacked
eventually fired because he lacked imagination and had no good ideas now a
imagination and had no good ideas now a
imagination and had no good ideas now a company worth 91 billion dollars and
company worth 91 billion dollars and
company worth 91 billion dollars and earned this worth with creativity and
earned this worth with creativity and
earned this worth with creativity and very good ideas started with someone who
very good ideas started with someone who
very good ideas started with someone who apparently lacked both of these being
apparently lacked both of these being
apparently lacked both of these being fired led Walt to begin attending
fired led Walt to begin attending
fired led Walt to begin attending drawing classes at the Chicago Arts
drawing classes at the Chicago Arts
drawing classes at the Chicago Arts Institute
Institute
Institute and these classes led him to become the
and these classes led him to become the
and these classes led him to become the man he is today
man he is today
man he is today so being fired and changing his goals
so being fired and changing his goals
so being fired and changing his goals was actually the best thing that could
was actually the best thing that could
was actually the best thing that could have happened to him going back to what
have happened to him going back to what
have happened to him going back to what I said earlier why would people spend
I said earlier why would people spend
I said earlier why would people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a
hundreds of thousands of dollars on a
hundreds of thousands of dollars on a college degree only to end up changing
college degree only to end up changing
college degree only to end up changing their ideas well in a study done by the
their ideas well in a study done by the
their ideas well in a study done by the University of Laverne it’s said the
University of Laverne it’s said the
University of Laverne it’s said the truth is more than one-half of all
truth is more than one-half of all
truth is more than one-half of all college graduates enter a field not
college graduates enter a field not
college graduates enter a field not related to their major with this said
related to their major with this said
related to their major with this said people today can still go to college and
people today can still go to college and
people today can still go to college and that education not be directly
that education not be directly
that education not be directly beneficial to them at all especially in
beneficial to them at all especially in
beneficial to them at all especially in today’s world where jobs are getting
today’s world where jobs are getting
today’s world where jobs are getting sparser employees do look to see that
sparser employees do look to see that
sparser employees do look to see that you have some form of education before
you have some form of education before
you have some form of education before being given a job so for those people
being given a job so for those people
being given a job so for those people they don’t know what they want to be
they don’t know what they want to be
they don’t know what they want to be when they grow and that’s completely
when they grow and that’s completely
when they grow and that’s completely fine as for me I am still years and
fine as for me I am still years and
fine as for me I am still years and years away from entering college but
years away from entering college but
years away from entering college but with these last few months reach
with these last few months reach
with these last few months reach researching this topic in such depth
researching this topic in such depth
researching this topic in such depth I’ve had a lot of time to think about
I’ve had a lot of time to think about
I’ve had a lot of time to think about what this question means to me when I
what this question means to me when I
what this question means to me when I was around four years old I said I
was around four years old I said I
was around four years old I said I wanted to be a pet rumor when I grew up
wanted to be a pet rumor when I grew up
wanted to be a pet rumor when I grew up now I would never be a pet groomer
now I would never be a pet groomer
now I would never be a pet groomer because ten years later my outlook has
because ten years later my outlook has
because ten years later my outlook has changed and so what if I earn a degree
changed and so what if I earn a degree
changed and so what if I earn a degree and end up not using it or join a field
and end up not using it or join a field
and end up not using it or join a field just to end up leaving as long as I’m
just to end up leaving as long as I’m
just to end up leaving as long as I’m happy and successful in my career that’s
happy and successful in my career that’s
happy and successful in my career that’s all I’m focused on right now but that is
all I’m focused on right now but that is
all I’m focused on right now but that is just me I’m sure you can ask any other
just me I’m sure you can ask any other
just me I’m sure you can ask any other kid right now and they’ll tell you
kid right now and they’ll tell you
kid right now and they’ll tell you exactly what they want to be with a girl
exactly what they want to be with a girl
exactly what they want to be with a girl and they will end up joining that field
and they will end up joining that field
and they will end up joining that field and be extremely successful everyone is
and be extremely successful everyone is
and be extremely successful everyone is different I leave you with this
different I leave you with this
different I leave you with this next time you’ll ask someone what do you
next time you’ll ask someone what do you
next time you’ll ask someone what do you want to be when you grow up think about
want to be when you grow up think about
want to be when you grow up think about what you’re really asking are you
what you’re really asking are you
what you’re really asking are you looking for something serious or
looking for something serious or
looking for something serious or something that will certainly be
something that will certainly be
something that will certainly be forgotten about and when asking this
forgotten about and when asking this
forgotten about and when asking this question to teens isn’t it better to
question to teens isn’t it better to
question to teens isn’t it better to teach them to have a strong work ethic
teach them to have a strong work ethic
teach them to have a strong work ethic then make them commit to one specific
then make them commit to one specific
then make them commit to one specific career kids are the future and don’t we
career kids are the future and don’t we
career kids are the future and don’t we all want the future to be an amazing
all want the future to be an amazing
all want the future to be an amazing place
place
place so the question what do you want to be
so the question what do you want to be
so the question what do you want to be when you grow really does mean more than
when you grow really does mean more than
when you grow really does mean more than you think
you think
you think remember that thank you
remember that thank you
remember that thank you [Applause]
”
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