What will he be?

When I was in my teens, I took a test at school that was designed to help me determine which career I would be most suited to pursue.

I have absolutely no recollection of the name of the test, but its conclusions were that I would find the most satisfaction (or was it success?) by pursuing a career as an actor, a teacher, or something in marketing.

At the time, these options seemed pretty implausible.

Yes, I had been in a few school plays, and had been recommended to attend the London Theater School one summer (I declined), but what the heck was 'marketing'?

And who of a school age actually thinks that a TEACHER is something worth being? Wasn't the whole point to get OUT of school as quickly as possible? Not to spend your whole life there.

Anyway, here I am today...a marketing professional, persuasively educating journalists and bloggers for a living; creating stories, helping 'actors' to recite those stories, and occasionally performing a few lines myself. Wait a minute. That pyscho/socio-profiling stuff doesn't actually work does it?

I caught myself wondering what William will be when he grows up today.

Based on his key driving passions, he will surely be a train driver or a professional food taster (specialising in ice cream), or he will possibly be a sprinter (he enjoys running "fast daddy!").

Based on his personality (his is thoughtful and bookish, and not hugely sociable in large groups) he'll be a historian, a journalist, or maybe a management consultant.

All of that said, I'd like to think that his choice of favorite toys is the best indicator.

On this basis, he will be a civil engineer (LEGO towers are increasingly a forte) or a designer (or perhaps pilot) of aircraft (he doggedly and repeatedly insists that daddy helps him draw 'Concorde' or a 'helicopter').

Parents and friends...Am I watching the right signs? Do you have any other suggestions for  behaviors I should be encouraging that will ensure William makes tons of cash when he's older so that Emma and I can enjoy a disgracefully decadent retirement?

Comments

[Alison Deane]

I would strongly suggest encouraging his "cheers" skills when Mum and Dad have wine and he has milk (or his favourite beverage), so you can steer your young man towards being a wine maker in the future :-).

[David]

Funny you should mention that, Alison. William is a fanatical 'cheers'-er. It started with drinks (naturally) but he now seems to associate 'cheers' with two of anything. Daddy and William sitting on separate similar chairs? 'Cheers!'. William and Daddy both wearing jeans? 'Cheers!'. And so on!