When did you decide what you wanted to do when you "grew up"?

[Ducklingfarm]

Just that really I'm early 30s and still dont know so looking for some ideas when you decided? What you decided? How long did it take and is it worth it now?

I decided when I was 22 to join the military, but went travelling and worked in the city first so didn't actually join for a few more years and then had a year of training. Since joining I have had a career change going from one specialism to another. I’m confident I will continue in this specialism for a while, but there are so many other occupations out there to try, I find it hard to imagine this will be my job from now until retirement.

I'm in my 50s and still haven't decided.

When I was 12/13 I liked business and bookkeeping/accounting in school and decided I'd like to be an accountant.
It took a long time studying with college, work experience and professional exams but it's worth it because it's important to me to have a job that I like doing. I couldn't work in something i have no interest in.

I also wanted to become an accountant .........

I wanted to be a gardener as a child.....now I’m a paediatric nurse. I like my job most of the time but it’s hard work.

Don't think most people know. Most jobs didnt exist when you were at school so how could you know you wanted to do them?

Most people have a career path that only makes sense in retrospect. If you follow opportunities to do more of what you enjoy and be challenged if being challenged floats your boat.. you can't go far wrong!

I was 5 when I decided to be a teacher and around 7 when I decided to be an English teacher. In hindsight, I wish I'd kept my options more open in terms of qualifications. Although I've had other jobs before I started teacher training, none of them were serious career wise. Now, I feel a little like I have no other options other than to stay teaching. I'm ok with that at the moment but I've lucky in my current school and job role. I've had two periods of my career where I've seriously wanted to leave teaching. Not sure what else I could do now.

I am also in my 50s like Expletivedeleted
and still don't know. Have always worked
in banking and insurance so just went for
the highest salary I could get.
Did want to be a vet or vet nurse but I am
allergic to most domestic animals.
I think I was born with zero ambition 😀

Still waiting at 33.

Following with interest as I was going to start this myself. I am early 30s and been a HCW for 5 years and voluntary work for 1.5 before that. I really need change and a job that pays more, I really want more in life and fed up of having a basic wage of £1000 or just over. Does anyone here have a business management qualification or social science? I have googled what that can lead to but Id rather actual genuine people to tell me please?

I wanted to be a doctor, but was rubbish at chemistry and was persuaded to do psychology instead. Regret it as there are loads more jobs for doctors than psychologists and it's easier to get on the career ladder etc.

I ended up in HR but am thinking of a career change soon as I'm disillusioned with it.

Like others i'm still thinking WTF can i do ?
Otherwise at 12 wanted to be Doctor but school said you needs lot of money.
At 22 wanted to be a portrait artist - but there no money in it ,unless you paint the queen .
Also an actor seems a fun career but i look like shite .

Lately ,39, i thought about owning an orchard making cider / wine seems a nice life - but i no longer drink .

I visited a special school when I was 10 yrs old and thought I would like to teach in a special school. As I got older I thought about many jobs and decided on becoming an Educational Psychologist. During my degree I spent time with the Educational Psychology Service decided that it was really not for me but realised that teaching in a special school was what I wanted to do. I am now a teacher in a special school and love it. My 10 year old self was obviously right!!!!

Still not really sure! Have recently embarked on a change of direction (early 40s) so we'll see where it leads.

I wish I'd been a doctor but I had absolutely no confidence in my abilities as a teenager - I never tried so I wouldn't fail, and my parents basically reinforced my opinion of myself. But with a bit of support and confidence boosting, I probably could have achieved it.

50s here I wanted to be soooo many things and I’ve tried a fair few. The only thing I know is that I never want a career again.
I’ve just taken the first job that’s come along and actually enjoying being a solo office cleaner - easy, nice hours, no responsibility and more money than my last management job!

Still dithering and I'm 45.

I knew I wanted to leave the UK, so did a tefl straight out of university and moved to Italy. 20+ years later and that decision was the best I have ever made. I've had a good career so far and have plenty more energy to give it.

I've changed my mind several times :o that's the problem! Currently want to work with car seats and actually have a plan to do it, so we'll see.

I stayed in a hotel that had a female manager, she was so in control and 'on it' I thought 'that's it, hospitality for me'. I wanted to be just like her. I was 15.

I wanted to be a police woman, but when I was 6, Yvonne Fletcher was shot. I then decided that this was far too dangerous a job, and so I decided to be a primary school teacher, like my amazing year 1 teacher.

Fast forward 40 years and I am a teacher, but I eventually went into secondary school teaching.

I decided I wanted to work with women offenders in my mid twenties, after a few years as a retail manager. To get to that point I did a lot of volunteering to try to get a feel for exactly what I wanted to do. I worked for a women's charity for a bit, then moved into case management for the probation service. Just about to put myself through a HE Diploma so I can apply to qualify as qualified probation officer, and hope the opportunity to specialise with women comes along in the near future