What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up | Sarah Dietrich | TEDxMtHebronHighWomen

we live in a country and an economy and

we live in a country and an economy and a time where as women they tell us that

a time where as women they tell us that

a time where as women they tell us that we can be anything we want to be when we

we can be anything we want to be when we

we can be anything we want to be when we grow up

grow up

grow up but with that freedom comes this

but with that freedom comes this

but with that freedom comes this pressure of deciding who do you want to

pressure of deciding who do you want to

pressure of deciding who do you want to be to avoid socially awkward moments at

be to avoid socially awkward moments at

be to avoid socially awkward moments at Christmas or Thanksgiving you have a

Christmas or Thanksgiving you have a

Christmas or Thanksgiving you have a clear goal for your family but that’s

clear goal for your family but that’s

clear goal for your family but that’s not the only question you’re going to

not the only question you’re going to

not the only question you’re going to have to answer you’re going to have to

have to answer you’re going to have to

have to answer you’re going to have to tell friends and neighbors what college

tell friends and neighbors what college

tell friends and neighbors what college you’re going to go to and what you plan

you’re going to go to and what you plan

you’re going to go to and what you plan on doing with your degree a degree that

on doing with your degree a degree that

on doing with your degree a degree that you haven’t even gotten yet then after

you haven’t even gotten yet then after

you haven’t even gotten yet then after graduation at every interview you’ll

graduation at every interview you’ll

graduation at every interview you’ll have to answer so where do you see

have to answer so where do you see

have to answer so where do you see yourself in five years each of these

yourself in five years each of these

yourself in five years each of these questions imply that we need to have

questions imply that we need to have

questions imply that we need to have this ideal goal in mind to be successful

this ideal goal in mind to be successful

this ideal goal in mind to be successful and that we need to have this well

and that we need to have this well

and that we need to have this well reasoned path for what we’re doing and

reasoned path for what we’re doing and

reasoned path for what we’re doing and how that’s going to get us one step

how that’s going to get us one step

how that’s going to get us one step closer to that ideal goal before I tell

closer to that ideal goal before I tell

closer to that ideal goal before I tell you what I wanted to be when I grew up I

you what I wanted to be when I grew up I

you what I wanted to be when I grew up I want you to think about your answer yes

want you to think about your answer yes

want you to think about your answer yes adults too what do you want to be when

adults too what do you want to be when

adults too what do you want to be when you grow up and then hold it in your

you grow up and then hold it in your

you grow up and then hold it in your mind okay does everyone have one when I

mind okay does everyone have one when I

mind okay does everyone have one when I was growing up I wanted to be a horse

was growing up I wanted to be a horse

was growing up I wanted to be a horse trainer after all I loved horses

trainer after all I loved horses

trainer after all I loved horses I knew that training horses was a job I

I knew that training horses was a job I

I knew that training horses was a job I knew people had that job and a good

knew people had that job and a good

knew people had that job and a good friend at that time she wanted to be a

friend at that time she wanted to be a

friend at that time she wanted to be a veterinarian so we could split the

veterinarian so we could split the

veterinarian so we could split the business this was perfect and that’s the

business this was perfect and that’s the

business this was perfect and that’s the thing about deciding what you want to be

thing about deciding what you want to be

thing about deciding what you want to be when you grow up you can only dream

when you grow up you can only dream

when you grow up you can only dream about what you believe is possible for

about what you believe is possible for

about what you believe is possible for you to achieve and it’s likely that

you to achieve and it’s likely that

you to achieve and it’s likely that you’ll dream about something familiar

you’ll dream about something familiar

you’ll dream about something familiar think about the job that you chose first

think about the job that you chose first

think about the job that you chose first of all it’s a job that currently exists

of all it’s a job that currently exists

of all it’s a job that currently exists second you probably know someone who has

second you probably know someone who has

second you probably know someone who has that job and third it’s something that

that job and third it’s something that

that job and third it’s something that you’re peels to your current interests

you’re peels to your current interests

you’re peels to your current interests research has shown that what we want to

research has shown that what we want to

research has shown that what we want to be when we grow up or occupational

be when we grow up or occupational

be when we grow up or occupational aspirations are heavily influenced by

aspirations are heavily influenced by

aspirations are heavily influenced by the jobs of our parents

the jobs of our parents

the jobs of our parents by what we believe that we are capable

by what we believe that we are capable

by what we believe that we are capable of at that moment are perceived

of at that moment are perceived

of at that moment are perceived abilities and the jobs of our neighbors

abilities and the jobs of our neighbors

abilities and the jobs of our neighbors and friends these influences are

and friends these influences are

and friends these influences are strongest when we’re younger in third

strongest when we’re younger in third

strongest when we’re younger in third fourth and fifth grade when we are first

fourth and fifth grade when we are first

fourth and fifth grade when we are first deciding what we want to be when we grow

deciding what we want to be when we grow

deciding what we want to be when we grow up and once we pick that path we’re

up and once we pick that path we’re

up and once we pick that path we’re supposed to stick to it and that might

supposed to stick to it and that might

supposed to stick to it and that might work for you that might happen but I

work for you that might happen but I

work for you that might happen but I want to take a second to take a moment

want to take a second to take a moment

want to take a second to take a moment to tell you that it might not happen

to tell you that it might not happen

to tell you that it might not happen that way and not only is that okay it

that way and not only is that okay it

that way and not only is that okay it might even be better this talk it’s for

might even be better this talk it’s for

might even be better this talk it’s for the people who don’t know what they want

the people who don’t know what they want

the people who don’t know what they want to be when they grow up

to be when they grow up

to be when they grow up but it’s also for the people who do know

but it’s also for the people who do know

but it’s also for the people who do know who are absolutely certain why because I

who are absolutely certain why because I

who are absolutely certain why because I don’t want you to put a ceiling to what

don’t want you to put a ceiling to what

don’t want you to put a ceiling to what you can achieve based on what you want

you can achieve based on what you want

you can achieve based on what you want to be today I don’t want you to feel

to be today I don’t want you to feel

to be today I don’t want you to feel trapped in a career path that you feel

trapped in a career path that you feel

trapped in a career path that you feel pressured to follow and I don’t want you

pressured to follow and I don’t want you

pressured to follow and I don’t want you to worry that one misstep will make you

to worry that one misstep will make you

to worry that one misstep will make you a failure or take you away from

a failure or take you away from

a failure or take you away from achieving this one singular perfect goal

achieving this one singular perfect goal

achieving this one singular perfect goal I’m going to tell you a little bit about

I’m going to tell you a little bit about

I’m going to tell you a little bit about my life and my life looks more like this

my life and my life looks more like this

my life and my life looks more like this squiggly line than some straight path

squiggly line than some straight path

squiggly line than some straight path and when that line stops and when it

and when that line stops and when it

and when that line stops and when it drops and it picks up on the other side

drops and it picks up on the other side

drops and it picks up on the other side I call those cliffs it’s a moment in my

I call those cliffs it’s a moment in my

I call those cliffs it’s a moment in my life when everything was going fine I

life when everything was going fine I

life when everything was going fine I was on the straight path progressing

was on the straight path progressing

was on the straight path progressing upwards towards whatever was next and

upwards towards whatever was next and

upwards towards whatever was next and then I chose to take a risk the first

then I chose to take a risk the first

then I chose to take a risk the first time that I jumped off one of those

time that I jumped off one of those

time that I jumped off one of those cliffs was my second year of high school

cliffs was my second year of high school

cliffs was my second year of high school the linear path would say that after the

the linear path would say that after the

the linear path would say that after the second year of high school you take the

second year of high school you take the

second year of high school you take the third year of high school following this

third year of high school following this

third year of high school following this path wasn’t meant to be very difficult

path wasn’t meant to be very difficult

path wasn’t meant to be very difficult but I didn’t want to be in high school

but I didn’t want to be in high school

but I didn’t want to be in high school anymore it’s a little weird being here

anymore it’s a little weird being here

anymore it’s a little weird being here today

today

today I had great propositions for what else I

I had great propositions for what else I

I had great propositions for what else I could do I could drop out I could get my

could do I could drop out I could get my

could do I could drop out I could get my GED I could go to this local school

GED I could go to this local school

GED I could go to this local school where kids taught themselves and there

where kids taught themselves and there

where kids taught themselves and there were no teachers and you graduated with

were no teachers and you graduated with

were no teachers and you graduated with no high school diploma me that’s the

no high school diploma me that’s the

no high school diploma me that’s the same

same

same parents were not very excited about any

parents were not very excited about any

parents were not very excited about any of these options so my mom came home

of these options so my mom came home

of these options so my mom came home with a pamphlet about exchange programs

with a pamphlet about exchange programs

with a pamphlet about exchange programs there hadn’t been an exchange student

there hadn’t been an exchange student

there hadn’t been an exchange student from my school in nearly 30 years so I

from my school in nearly 30 years so I

from my school in nearly 30 years so I didn’t know what to expect but I decided

didn’t know what to expect but I decided

didn’t know what to expect but I decided to leave my friends my family my school

to leave my friends my family my school

to leave my friends my family my school my GPA and everything that I knew to

my GPA and everything that I knew to

my GPA and everything that I knew to spend a year in Cardiff Wales a place I

spend a year in Cardiff Wales a place I

spend a year in Cardiff Wales a place I couldn’t even point out on the map and I

couldn’t even point out on the map and I

couldn’t even point out on the map and I had a blast the thing about jumping off

had a blast the thing about jumping off

had a blast the thing about jumping off the linear path is that once you do it

the linear path is that once you do it

the linear path is that once you do it you realize that you’re not locked in in

you realize that you’re not locked in in

you realize that you’re not locked in in college I jumped between several

college I jumped between several

college I jumped between several different schools trying out different

different schools trying out different

different schools trying out different worlds each time that I jumped my little

worlds each time that I jumped my little

worlds each time that I jumped my little pouch of confidence grew and I gained

pouch of confidence grew and I gained

pouch of confidence grew and I gained skills for adapting new systems and

skills for adapting new systems and

skills for adapting new systems and meeting new people and new communities

meeting new people and new communities

meeting new people and new communities but then life happened my last year of

but then life happened my last year of

but then life happened my last year of college I got very sick somehow I did

college I got very sick somehow I did

college I got very sick somehow I did manage to graduate with my BA in

manage to graduate with my BA in

manage to graduate with my BA in psychology but I wasn’t worried about

psychology but I wasn’t worried about

psychology but I wasn’t worried about what I wanted to be when I grew up I was

what I wanted to be when I grew up I was

what I wanted to be when I grew up I was just worried about what I wanted to do

just worried about what I wanted to do

just worried about what I wanted to do what I could do at that moment and I

what I could do at that moment and I

what I could do at that moment and I knew that I could not sit at a desk

knew that I could not sit at a desk

knew that I could not sit at a desk anymore and I had to get away from the

anymore and I had to get away from the

anymore and I had to get away from the stress at school if I was going to get

stress at school if I was going to get

stress at school if I was going to get better I saw a dog trainer and I thought

better I saw a dog trainer and I thought

better I saw a dog trainer and I thought that looks fun I can do that

that looks fun I can do that

that looks fun I can do that so I started training dogs I was living

so I started training dogs I was living

so I started training dogs I was living in working near Lackland Air Force Base

in working near Lackland Air Force Base

in working near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas at the time and I

in San Antonio Texas at the time and I

in San Antonio Texas at the time and I saw a flyer about raising military

saw a flyer about raising military

saw a flyer about raising military working dogs and I thought that sounds

working dogs and I thought that sounds

working dogs and I thought that sounds cool so I signed up for that too I raced

cool so I signed up for that too I raced

cool so I signed up for that too I raced three military working dogs including

three military working dogs including

three military working dogs including this one featured on the cover of the

this one featured on the cover of the

this one featured on the cover of the Airman’s magazine named respect I was at

Airman’s magazine named respect I was at

Airman’s magazine named respect I was at a good place in my life I was moving up

a good place in my life I was moving up

a good place in my life I was moving up in the dog training industry

in the dog training industry

in the dog training industry I had my health back I was even doing

I had my health back I was even doing

I had my health back I was even doing something that was close to what I

something that was close to what I

something that was close to what I dreamed of as a kid after all both dogs

dreamed of as a kid after all both dogs

dreamed of as a kid after all both dogs and dolphins and both dogs and horses

and dolphins and both dogs and horses

and dolphins and both dogs and horses have four legs and I was training wasn’t

have four legs and I was training wasn’t

have four legs and I was training wasn’t I but I just didn’t feel like enough I

I but I just didn’t feel like enough I

I but I just didn’t feel like enough I remembered this feeling of restlessness

remembered this feeling of restlessness

remembered this feeling of restlessness from high school and I thought that

from high school and I thought that

from high school and I thought that maybe there was something out there that

maybe there was something out there that

maybe there was something out there that I hadn’t found

I hadn’t found

I hadn’t found yet so I did what any person with the

yet so I did what any person with the

yet so I did what any person with the question would do I googled it and

question would do I googled it and

question would do I googled it and that’s when I found out that the u.s.

that’s when I found out that the u.s.

that’s when I found out that the u.s. Navy trains dolphins who is pretty clear

Navy trains dolphins who is pretty clear

Navy trains dolphins who is pretty clear when I learned that that I had to go

when I learned that that I had to go

when I learned that that I had to go there so I jumped again I moved to San

there so I jumped again I moved to San

there so I jumped again I moved to San Diego California to learn from the

Diego California to learn from the

Diego California to learn from the trainers at the Navy Marine Mammal

trainers at the Navy Marine Mammal

trainers at the Navy Marine Mammal program okay at this point I was beyond

program okay at this point I was beyond

program okay at this point I was beyond what I thought I was going to do as a

what I thought I was going to do as a

what I thought I was going to do as a kid training dolphins was way cooler

kid training dolphins was way cooler

kid training dolphins was way cooler than horses but I found myself more

than horses but I found myself more

than horses but I found myself more interested in the research than the

interested in the research than the

interested in the research than the training at the Navy Marine Mammal

training at the Navy Marine Mammal

training at the Navy Marine Mammal program they do research with their sea

program they do research with their sea

program they do research with their sea lions or their dolphins on their

lions or their dolphins on their

lions or their dolphins on their behavior and their hearing I’d never met

behavior and their hearing I’d never met

behavior and their hearing I’d never met a marine mammal researcher none of my

a marine mammal researcher none of my

a marine mammal researcher none of my friends parents were marine mammal

friends parents were marine mammal

friends parents were marine mammal researchers in the child book along with

researchers in the child book along with

researchers in the child book along with firefighter teacher doctor there was no

firefighter teacher doctor there was no

firefighter teacher doctor there was no line for marine mammal researcher but

line for marine mammal researcher but

line for marine mammal researcher but looking at them I realized that I wanted

looking at them I realized that I wanted

looking at them I realized that I wanted to be a marine mammal researcher so I

to be a marine mammal researcher so I

to be a marine mammal researcher so I jumped again I moved back to Texas and I

jumped again I moved back to Texas and I

jumped again I moved back to Texas and I joined dr. Heather Hill at SeaWorld San

joined dr. Heather Hill at SeaWorld San

joined dr. Heather Hill at SeaWorld San Antonio I have a video we’re gonna see

Antonio I have a video we’re gonna see

Antonio I have a video we’re gonna see if we can play

so I want to introduce you to some of my

so I want to introduce you to some of my research colleagues

so they were pretty great we presented

so they were pretty great we presented our research at prestigious national

our research at prestigious national

our research at prestigious national conferences and we published our work in

conferences and we published our work in

conferences and we published our work in peer-reviewed academic journals

peer-reviewed academic journals

peer-reviewed academic journals I had a clear foothold in the animal

I had a clear foothold in the animal

I had a clear foothold in the animal research industry and I knew that I

research industry and I knew that I

research industry and I knew that I could keep going and be a successful

could keep going and be a successful

could keep going and be a successful full time researcher but I think you’re

full time researcher but I think you’re

full time researcher but I think you’re guessing at this point that that’s not

guessing at this point that that’s not

guessing at this point that that’s not what I did I found out that there was

what I did I found out that there was

what I did I found out that there was this professor dr. mark Frank who

this professor dr. mark Frank who

this professor dr. mark Frank who studied nonverbal signs of deception

studied nonverbal signs of deception

studied nonverbal signs of deception that’s reading your body language and

that’s reading your body language and

that’s reading your body language and facial expressions to determine if

facial expressions to determine if

facial expressions to determine if you’re lying oh I knew that I had to

you’re lying oh I knew that I had to

you’re lying oh I knew that I had to meet him so I applied to his program now

meet him so I applied to his program now

meet him so I applied to his program now this is clearly distinct from anything

this is clearly distinct from anything

this is clearly distinct from anything that I had done before these were people

that I had done before these were people

that I had done before these were people they were not dolphins there was no food

they were not dolphins there was no food

they were not dolphins there was no food there was no animal fur it was just

there was no animal fur it was just

there was no animal fur it was just people but I was accepted and they gave

people but I was accepted and they gave

people but I was accepted and they gave me a full scholarship and a TA position

me a full scholarship and a TA position

me a full scholarship and a TA position so I jumped up to Buffalo New York and

so I jumped up to Buffalo New York and

so I jumped up to Buffalo New York and spent two years researching human

spent two years researching human

spent two years researching human deception and teaching undergraduate

deception and teaching undergraduate

deception and teaching undergraduate students about communication the obvious

students about communication the obvious

students about communication the obvious next step for me after completing my

next step for me after completing my

next step for me after completing my master’s degree was to go on for a PhD

master’s degree was to go on for a PhD

master’s degree was to go on for a PhD there was only one program that I

there was only one program that I

there was only one program that I seriously applied to it was the school

seriously applied to it was the school

seriously applied to it was the school that I really wanted and I got in they

that I really wanted and I got in they

that I really wanted and I got in they offered me a full scholarship and a

offered me a full scholarship and a

offered me a full scholarship and a living stipend for five years all I had

living stipend for five years all I had

living stipend for five years all I had to do was say yes in the next 24 hours

but something had happened when I was in

but something had happened when I was in school I had taught myself how to code

school I had taught myself how to code

school I had taught myself how to code and I had met women who were computer

and I had met women who were computer

and I had met women who were computer coders and who worked in the technology

coders and who worked in the technology

coders and who worked in the technology industry these women they were like me

industry these women they were like me

industry these women they were like me but they were doing jobs that I had

but they were doing jobs that I had

but they were doing jobs that I had never imagined were a possibility for

never imagined were a possibility for

never imagined were a possibility for someone like me I looked down that path

someone like me I looked down that path

someone like me I looked down that path of attending the ph.d program and I

of attending the ph.d program and I

of attending the ph.d program and I realized that it wasn’t what I wanted

realized that it wasn’t what I wanted

realized that it wasn’t what I wanted anymore I wanted to be in the technology

anymore I wanted to be in the technology

anymore I wanted to be in the technology industry so I called the program and I

industry so I called the program and I

industry so I called the program and I told them no

this was the biggest cliff that I had

this was the biggest cliff that I had ever encountered I looked back at all

ever encountered I looked back at all

ever encountered I looked back at all the little cliffs all the times that I

the little cliffs all the times that I

the little cliffs all the times that I had reinvented myself all the times that

had reinvented myself all the times that

had reinvented myself all the times that I had become something that I never

I had become something that I never

I had become something that I never imagined was possible and I told myself

imagined was possible and I told myself

imagined was possible and I told myself and everyone around me that I could do

and everyone around me that I could do

and everyone around me that I could do this

this

this it was hard do you remember my friend

it was hard do you remember my friend

it was hard do you remember my friend who I mentioned who wanted to be a

who I mentioned who wanted to be a

who I mentioned who wanted to be a veterinarian she was graduating from vet

veterinarian she was graduating from vet

veterinarian she was graduating from vet school I want to be honest with you

school I want to be honest with you

school I want to be honest with you jumping off cliffs taking risks with

jumping off cliffs taking risks with

jumping off cliffs taking risks with your career path

your career path

your career path it isn’t easy and it isn’t always

it isn’t easy and it isn’t always

it isn’t easy and it isn’t always something that you choose but if you

something that you choose but if you

something that you choose but if you take these risks when you’re younger you

take these risks when you’re younger you

take these risks when you’re younger you will have some bumps and bruises but you

will have some bumps and bruises but you

will have some bumps and bruises but you will become a better jumper and you will

will become a better jumper and you will

will become a better jumper and you will be ready when you’re older and there are

be ready when you’re older and there are

be ready when you’re older and there are bigger cliffs with bigger rear it with

bigger cliffs with bigger rear it with

bigger cliffs with bigger rear it with bigger risks and bigger rewards and at

bigger risks and bigger rewards and at

bigger risks and bigger rewards and at this point I was an experienced cliff

this point I was an experienced cliff

this point I was an experienced cliff jumper from moving between schools and

jumper from moving between schools and

jumper from moving between schools and states and countries I had learned how

states and countries I had learned how

states and countries I had learned how to build a community so I started

to build a community so I started

to build a community so I started building I join local volunteer

building I join local volunteer

building I join local volunteer organizations tech groups and I sought

organizations tech groups and I sought

organizations tech groups and I sought sought out mentors from changing from

sought out mentors from changing from

sought out mentors from changing from animal trainer to researcher to teacher

animal trainer to researcher to teacher

animal trainer to researcher to teacher I have learned how to rapidly retool for

I have learned how to rapidly retool for

I have learned how to rapidly retool for free so I began taking courses on EDX

free so I began taking courses on EDX

free so I began taking courses on EDX Coursera MIT Yale and Stanford’s

Coursera MIT Yale and Stanford’s

Coursera MIT Yale and Stanford’s OpenCourseWare I watch YouTube lectures

OpenCourseWare I watch YouTube lectures

OpenCourseWare I watch YouTube lectures did some Khan Academy read library books

did some Khan Academy read library books

did some Khan Academy read library books and went to talks by local experts on my

and went to talks by local experts on my

and went to talks by local experts on my birthday of this year I got to the other

birthday of this year I got to the other

birthday of this year I got to the other side of that cliff I got a call from EF

side of that cliff I got a call from EF

side of that cliff I got a call from EF Si offering me a job to work with a

Si offering me a job to work with a

Si offering me a job to work with a network operations group for the Earth

network operations group for the Earth

network operations group for the Earth observing satellites at NASA

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thank you my friend actually sent me

thank you my friend actually sent me that video when I got my job so what do

that video when I got my job so what do

that video when I got my job so what do you want to be when you grow up where do

you want to be when you grow up where do

you want to be when you grow up where do you see yourself in five years the world

you see yourself in five years the world

you see yourself in five years the world needs the kind of people who are going

needs the kind of people who are going

needs the kind of people who are going to stick to a linear path and develop

to stick to a linear path and develop

to stick to a linear path and develop skills and expertise in fields like

skills and expertise in fields like

skills and expertise in fields like medicine but the world it also needs the

medicine but the world it also needs the

medicine but the world it also needs the kind of people who are willing to take

kind of people who are willing to take

kind of people who are willing to take risks with each technological innovation

risks with each technological innovation

risks with each technological innovation jobs are lost automation and jobs are

jobs are lost automation and jobs are

jobs are lost automation and jobs are created that demand skills that didn’t

created that demand skills that didn’t

created that demand skills that didn’t exist before skills that nobody learned

exist before skills that nobody learned

exist before skills that nobody learned about in school for careers that no one

about in school for careers that no one

about in school for careers that no one was planning on filling these jobs they

was planning on filling these jobs they

was planning on filling these jobs they need the kind of people who are willing

need the kind of people who are willing

need the kind of people who are willing to take risks the kind of people who can

to take risks the kind of people who can

to take risks the kind of people who can jump out of what’s familiar to them into

jump out of what’s familiar to them into

jump out of what’s familiar to them into the unknown

the unknown

the unknown they can learn skills and adapt quickly

they can learn skills and adapt quickly

they can learn skills and adapt quickly all the things that you learn jumping

all the things that you learn jumping

all the things that you learn jumping off cliffs the job that you might do 15

off cliffs the job that you might do 15

off cliffs the job that you might do 15 or 20 years from now it might not even

or 20 years from now it might not even

or 20 years from now it might not even exist yet

exist yet

exist yet my generation Millennials we graduated

my generation Millennials we graduated

my generation Millennials we graduated into this world of technology and we job

into this world of technology and we job

into this world of technology and we job hopped more than any generation in

hopped more than any generation in

hopped more than any generation in history it turns out that I’m not so

history it turns out that I’m not so

history it turns out that I’m not so unique Millennials tend to have up to

unique Millennials tend to have up to

unique Millennials tend to have up to four jobs before we’re in our early 30s

four jobs before we’re in our early 30s

four jobs before we’re in our early 30s and those jobs can be in completely

and those jobs can be in completely

and those jobs can be in completely separate industries this process of

separate industries this process of

separate industries this process of recreating yourself it’s part of the

recreating yourself it’s part of the

recreating yourself it’s part of the fabric of the American Dream it’s what

fabric of the American Dream it’s what

fabric of the American Dream it’s what makes us a resilient adaptable Society

makes us a resilient adaptable Society

makes us a resilient adaptable Society along the way I met people who are

along the way I met people who are

along the way I met people who are leaving jobs they hate it in marketing

leaving jobs they hate it in marketing

leaving jobs they hate it in marketing IT management to train dogs and dolphins

IT management to train dogs and dolphins

IT management to train dogs and dolphins dolphin trainers that I learned from

dolphin trainers that I learned from

dolphin trainers that I learned from most of them are middle school teachers

most of them are middle school teachers

most of them are middle school teachers now and the graduate students I went to

now and the graduate students I went to

now and the graduate students I went to school with are scattered across a wide

school with are scattered across a wide

school with are scattered across a wide variety of career paths this question

variety of career paths this question

variety of career paths this question what do you want to be when you grow up

what do you want to be when you grow up

what do you want to be when you grow up I’d argue that it’s not helpful or

I’d argue that it’s not helpful or

I’d argue that it’s not helpful or realistic for all of us to have this one

realistic for all of us to have this one

realistic for all of us to have this one singing

singing

singing ideal goal in mind encouraging us to

ideal goal in mind encouraging us to

ideal goal in mind encouraging us to pick a goal when we’re younger and then

pick a goal when we’re younger and then

pick a goal when we’re younger and then stick to it locks us into the jobs of

stick to it locks us into the jobs of

stick to it locks us into the jobs of our parents the jobs of our

our parents the jobs of our

our parents the jobs of our neighborhoods when I speak to other

neighborhoods when I speak to other

neighborhoods when I speak to other women in the technology industry I hear

women in the technology industry I hear

women in the technology industry I hear stories that sound a lot like mine

stories that sound a lot like mine

stories that sound a lot like mine many of us have degrees in the fine arts

many of us have degrees in the fine arts

many of us have degrees in the fine arts and the social sciences we had jobs and

and the social sciences we had jobs and

and the social sciences we had jobs and marketing HR and dog training before we

marketing HR and dog training before we

marketing HR and dog training before we found our jobs and Technology along the

found our jobs and Technology along the

found our jobs and Technology along the way many of us met someone who realized

way many of us met someone who realized

way many of us met someone who realized that people like us could have jobs and

that people like us could have jobs and

that people like us could have jobs and love jobs like that so what I want to

love jobs like that so what I want to

love jobs like that so what I want to leave you with is this don’t let what

leave you with is this don’t let what

leave you with is this don’t let what you think you’re going to be when you

you think you’re going to be when you

you think you’re going to be when you grow up put blinders on you don’t let it

grow up put blinders on you don’t let it

grow up put blinders on you don’t let it become a ceiling that you’re not looking

become a ceiling that you’re not looking

become a ceiling that you’re not looking at what else is out there and don’t

at what else is out there and don’t

at what else is out there and don’t worry that not getting that perfect job

worry that not getting that perfect job

worry that not getting that perfect job or the right school is going to make you

or the right school is going to make you

or the right school is going to make you a failure or take you off this one path

a failure or take you off this one path

a failure or take you off this one path to success if you see something awesome

to success if you see something awesome

to success if you see something awesome something that you think is awesome and

something that you think is awesome and

something that you think is awesome and no one else you can do that thing and

no one else you can do that thing and

no one else you can do that thing and then you can do something else

then you can do something else

then you can do something else completely unrelated and then you can

completely unrelated and then you can

completely unrelated and then you can see something else awesome and do that

see something else awesome and do that

see something else awesome and do that and then you can do something else to

and then you can do something else to

and then you can do something else to you all you have to do is take your

you all you have to do is take your

you all you have to do is take your first job