When we were young, some of us wanted to be ballerinas, some doctors, others to carry on the family business. For some, those dreams indeed carried us to our later careers; others changed their course down the road. Epoch Times reporters found out from people around the world, from Malaysia to Poland, what people aspired to as youths, and where they are now, when they asked, "When you were six years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?"
Martin Vincent, 44, Picture Framer
When I was six, I would say I wanted to be a farmer, because I grew up on a dairy farm in Victoria. And I would have had a desire to continue what my father did as a farmer, but that never eventuated. Over the years, I traveled overseas and did different things. I became a tradesman and have done various tasks over the years, and am now a picture framer here in Nerang.
Barbara, 56, Accountant
I wanted to be a ballet dancer. I remember that I had a petticoat with a frill and at the bottom of that petticoat were embroidered ballet dancers. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but I saw them dancing, doing very beautiful figures and probably that is what I associate from such an early childhood.
William Lopez, 67, Industrial Mechanic
I always wanted to become an industrial mechanic and I am. I know [I have fulfilled my childhood dream.] I was interested in industrial mechanics and engineering.
Mehmet Okumus, 39, Tourism and Public Relations Consultant
When I was six years old, I was helping my family with cow herding and tea farming in my picturesque town of Hemsin-Rize, on the north-eastern Turkish coast of the Black Sea. I had many sweet dreams then—traveling the world, learning English, becoming a politician to make a difference for all the children and all the people in my native Turkey and around the world. Since then, I have done many studies, I have traveled and lived in 30 countries across six continents, I have learned English well. I met many people, cultures and religions. I made many good friends.
And now, I have started an early election campaign with my world experiences and global ideas to become a member of the Turkish Parliament in 2011 elections. My campaign was greatly welcomed by the Turkish people and the national media and it is considered to be the first such campaign in Turkish political history. I am very happy and excited about making my biggest childhood dream come true—about making a difference.
Maxmilian Ciccone, 37, Painter
At six years old I wanted to be veterinarian or an artistic painter. That is what I can remember of those years. With the passing of the years, my passion for art grew always more and at 21 years old I passed from design to becoming an oil painter. I cultivated that gift and now it has become my work. I can confirm that it is sure I realized what I wanted to do as a child.
Amran, 19, Entrepreneur
I wanted to be a detective, because when I was young I was always fascinated by adventurous detective cartoons such as the Pink Panther and Dick Tracy. As I grew older, my interests in business eclipsed this childhood dream.
Dilber Jamil, 35, Preschool Teacher
When I was young I wanted to be a doctor. Then, when I was 10, my father died and my mother remarried. It was very hard for me, so I did not continue my pursuit of becoming of doctor. But even now that is my dream, to become a doctor. I have three daughters and they are all studying and maybe one of them will become a doctor.
Jimmy Smith, 50, Musician
Musician—yes.
Gulli Andersson, 75, Assistant nurse
I wanted to become a preschool teacher when I was young and work with children because I like children. My parents, however, couldn't afford to give me the education. When I was 16 years I had to start to work so I was a nanny in a couple of families until I married. After my divorce I had to start working and I was first a home-help at the homes of elderly people, but after a couple of years I started to study to become an assistant nurse for elderly people. So instead of working with children I actually have worked with elderly people.
Look for the Global Q & A column every week, when Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “How clean is the environment where you live?”
