When I grow up...

When I was in grade one, our teacher asked all of us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I remember the kid sitting next to me saying that he wanted to be GOD when he grew up... I wonder how that worked out for him? I also remember saying that day, that I wanted to be a dentist. I don't know what the fascination was with dentistry, and at this moment, I cannot think of anything worse than looking in other peoples mouths all day long. I applaud my dentist friends, you have a stronger stomach than I do. Needless to say, I did not become a dentist, and what's more, I still don't really know what I want to be when I grow up.

Throughout the years, I've changed my mind more times than I can count. I remember, when I was about 14 years old, shortly after completing my Open Water Diving course, thinking that I wanted to become a Marine Biologist. Then sometime before the completion of year 12, I had changed my mind to Psychology. After I didn't get the results I needed to get into the required courses, I applied to start a Bachelor of Arts (Communication), but deferred for a year, and decided to travel the world. While I was traveling around Europe, sipping wine (Ok, I was 18, maybe chugging beer and downing shots) and eating way too much amazing food, I found myself wondering if I could take up 'World Traveler' as a future profession? Although, I'm pretty sure that idea came crashing to the ground when I found myself at the summit of Jungfrau in breathtaking Switzerland, having to call home to ask for more money... thanks again for that dad. I swiftly realised that I probably couldn't maintain the lifestyle to which I had become accustomed, and I would eventually need to return home to find a job and work hard. Life was so unfair. *sigh*

My gap year, (L) The Greek Islands, (R) Atop Jungfrau, 2003.

After a 12 month gap year, I started my Bachelor of Arts degree. In hindsight, I should have stuck with that. I did quite well, considering my penchant for procrastination. Apparently I had a knack for writing... who knew. Upon completion of this first year, I transferred across to begin a Bachelor of Behavioural Science. Again, I did reasonably well... I still hadn't learned any lessons from the previous year, doing assignments the morning of, and my idea of studying was skimming through the text book 5 minutes before the exam... but I was exceeding my own expectations, and figured, why bother changing? That degree only lasted a year, I dropped out, with the intention of going back to finish one day. My year abroad was something that I often reflected on. I decided I wasn't ready to sit down and study (I'm not sure that I ever will be), and that I needed to get out and live my life, have fun... and lets face it, party a little bit more. 

The next year, around the time of my 21st birthday, I decided on yet another grand 'Kirsty' idea (an idea which actually allowed me to meet my now husband, so it kinda worked out ok). I would pack up my stuff, and head up north, I was on my way to Katherine in the Northern Territory. My sister and her family were living up that way, and I decided it would be a great experience. Within a few weeks, I had landed a full time job at a local childcare centre... This struck some of my nearest and dearest as an odd choice, but for me it was a full time job, simple as that. It turned out to be the job that I have enjoyed the most, it also made me want to bang my head against a brick wall the most too, but I loved it. I have stuck with it the longest, and have (much to my own surprise) actually completed a qualification in the area. Ok, it's only a Cert 3, but for someone that has started two degrees, and has the attention span of a toddler on speed, it's a big deal. I soon realised something about myself that was probably abundantly clear to those around me already... I get bored easily, and kids are NEVER boring. It also gave me a good head start into my current profession as full time wife, mother and slave to two tiny blonde dictators.

My current profession, wife and mother.

You would think that at 30 years old, and after all of this chopping and changing, and various life experiences, that I would have an idea about the career path i would like to take. After all, this stint as a Stay at Home Mummy will soon come to an end, and I'll need to get my act together. In those rare moments, when I actually get a chance to sit and think about the future, I find it hard to pinpoint something that I can see myself doing. I have a few ideas, but in true Kirsty fashion, it changes often. So if you have any suggestions for me, that'd be great!