Radio DJ? Brain Surgeon? Cruise Director? Spanish Teacher?

What do all those things have in common? They are some of the professions I have wanted to pursue.

When I was in 6th grade, I wanted to be a radio DJ. I wrote a local radio station. I asked them if I could come in and see what was involved in producing a radio show. I was interested in it because I loved to talk on the phone, email, and listen to music. After the visit, I learned that you have to work horrible hours... and the pay is so terrible that it is a part time job for most disc jockeys. This dream lasted all the way til my freshman year of high school. I took a radio class. I was able to do sports/ news/ weather reports on the high school radio station. We had a total of -3 listeners. I had a good time, but decided I was more interested in medicine.

So. I wanted to be a doctor. At first I wanted to be a brain surgeon. I actually bought a book and started reading it and learning about the brain. Then I decided I didn't care. I wanted to cut people open and see what they looked like inside.

By this point, I was in Bio2 and we were dissecting a rat. That was the most memorable dissection of my life. I remember when we were done with all the "class work" (learning about the heart, lungs... etc-- this took like 3 weeks) we were able to spend a day and do what we wanted to our specimen. I decided I wanted to be a brain surgeon for-a-day. It was fun.... but the brain of a rat is sort of small and boring.

I decided I liked the body and I wanted to fix it. I started volunteering at the hospital. I worked here for about 2 years. I had SO much fun... but I also hated it. I was an escort. All I did was take people from their room to their car. I liked it because I was exposed to almost every department in the hospital... but hated it because some of the patients were grumpy.

We had a job shadow day at school. I decided I wanted to shadow a surgery. I went in the room and was really excited. Then they started cutting skin. (Knee replacement) I, for the first time in my life, felt that queezy-nauseous-quick get me outta here feeling. I didn't want to do anything related to medicine anymore.

Now, it is club call out time at school. My friend tells me about the "Hospitality Club." I decided to go because they give away free Pizza Hut pizza at all their meetings. I know this is standard for college-- but it is not standard in high school... at least not mine. I ended up falling in love with the idea of Hospitality. I was able to be a part of the organization of student's dinners and events. I was able to see what happened behind the scenes. I loved it. We worked directly with IPFW (Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne) and we worked with the students on their projects. This is when I decided I was going to study Hospitality and Tourism Management. (I already knew I was going to Purdue. It was sort of coincidence that Purdue was rated the #1 program in the country.)

Well, two years of studying Hospitality and I decide it is not for me. Fortunately, I discover this right before I will be taking about 2 years off school to serve a mission for my church -- quite convenient. But, this has lead me to an idea about what I want to do with school!!!

I WANT TO TEACH SPANISH! I think it will be perfect. I am going on a mission to a Spanish-speaking country. I will learn to speak like the locals. I am a Spanish Minor, so I am already part of the way there. I think I want to teach high school kids.

I realize I have about 2 years to let this set... and I may come back and decide to be a chemist (HIGHLY unlikely) but it is nice to have a little direction... a little bit of a goal... it makes me excited!