HGG Community Forums

ConfluenceStable · Jul 27, 2021 7:21 PM

On the other servers I'm trying to get some conversations going on the forums, since things seem a bit slow. On Bluegrass, though, ya'll talk all the TIME! (That is a compliment, by the way!) But I still want to know your opinions and ideas for things, so:

Tell me what you wanted to be when you grew up. I admit that I still do not think I'm grown up, and I'm 60 years old! However....I did want to be an Olympic level figure skater and equestrian, and to compete in back to back Winter and Summer Olympics. First problem; never been on skates in my life. Second problem; had to work to make a living.

What about you?

doragon · Jul 27, 2021 7:45 PM

Wow, I didn't realize you're so much older than me! (Only 26.) I love how a common interest can bring together multiple generations of people. We all just love horses. : D

When I was a kiddo, I really wanted to be a vet. (I dressed up as one for Halloween once. I was dedicated. lol) When I got a bit older, I started to understand just how much I would have to interact with pet owners. People are not my favorite. xD

I ended up going to college for biopsychology with a focus on animal behavior! These days, I'd really love to do wildlife rehab work, or research on animal behavior or cognition. I had a nice volunteer position at a nature center from 2018-2020, but unfortunately covid ended that. Maybe they'll take me back now that things are starting to open up again~

bluchrystals · Jul 27, 2021 8:05 PM

I'm 38, work as a receiver at a grocery distribution center. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a vet. I had over 300 chickens, 12 rabbits, 3 dogs, and a cat. Had two chickens I had to 'operate' on. Always loved animals, but those two chickens made a veterinarian job a dream. The amount of schooling/cost made it an impossibility for me.

Blaze5115 · Jul 27, 2021 11:14 PM

I’m only 16! Since I haven’t “grownup” yet so I’ll tell you what I want to be as of now. I really want to go to college for chiropractics and eventually specialize in Equines. This has been my dream for the better part of 4 years

Mensie · Jul 28, 2021 12:39 AM

Blaze, that is awesome. I hope that becomes a reality for you!

When I was little I wanted to be a marine biologist. I chose a different path in life and I am happy, though some days when I'm stuck at a desk I wish I would have went for it.

WhiteValley · Jul 28, 2021 1:31 AM

When I was five years old I wanted to be a train driver! This was the era when steam trains were still around although being phased out for diesel electric trains. I didn't know girls couldn't be train drivers (thank goodness things have changed!) I wanted to be a primary school teacher as I got older, but wasn't allowed to go on to further education by my parents. I started my working career as a secretary, became a teaching assistant when my children were at school, and finished my working life in a small bakery shop selling cakes and bread, and making sandwiches to order. I'm now retired. :)

annismyrph · Jul 28, 2021 3:09 AM

When I was a kid I wanted to be a vet ( funny how so many of us did ) I also was in Training for the 3 day eventing ( Dressage , Stadium Jumping and Cross Country Jumping )
I missed going to Seoul by 56.8 Seconds. I wrenched my back on the Cross Country jump trying to help my horse balance ( becuase we are all Superpeople at that age and indestructable ) fastforward a few dozen years; now I am disabled due to my back injury and I rescue cats ; I take in semi feral and rehab them to they can find homes ; I also take in "bottle" babies and nurse them til they are adopted. I work with several local rescue groups and who ever needs me gets me. Currently I have babies ( 6 plus Momma ) that were born on Sunday, Plus 9 kittens from 3 different litters ( aprox 4 mons old ) a feral who lives under our bed( My Hubby swears she lives IN it lol ) a dog ( 85pound Dane / Pit Mix ) and 6 or 7 or maybe 8 of our own "Foster Fails" ( once you get over 6 you are officialy a crazy cat lady so who bothers to count lol ? ) Growing up I had horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens.

Forestshadow · Jul 28, 2021 8:02 AM

Hmm, that's a tough question.

I'm 44 years old now with the additional challenge of being deaf.

First, I wanted to be a pilot because I loved flying to visit my grandma every summer. Damn federal regulations.

Second, I wanted to be a truck driver because I liked traveling and going places. Once again, damn federal regulations.

Third, I wanted to be a physical therapist because I had a lot of problems with my ankles and knee growing up. Getting viral encephalitis ended that for me since it took me years to recover. I still have some permanent side effects.

I did think about going to trade school and learning a trade, but deaf people are a bad fit for customer service work. I do like doing things with my hand so I'm doing hobbies instead.

Right now I am just being pragmatic about what jobs I can work without having my deafness get in the way.

Ambervalleyarabians · Jul 28, 2021 8:10 AM

Im 54 and I wanted to be an Olympic equestrian (even had a couple of lessons from an Olympian!) But I ended up losing my horses due to a move across country.

Then I wanted to be a vet, got a job as a vet assistant, but I faint at the thought of blood

Nightphoenix · Jul 28, 2021 8:43 AM

Oh, wow, I can’t even remember how many things I wanted to be when I was little. Animal rescuer, vet, artist, makeup artist (before the pandemic I would sometimes do my friends’ makeup for horse shows), librarian, actress, singer, doctor, nurse, physical therapist, law enforcement, model, and a million other things I can’t remember anymore!

LEAcres · Jul 28, 2021 9:03 AM

From the time I could talk, I would say I wanted to be a Marine Biologist. My parents still make fun of me because I couldn't say it properly lol
I always dreamed of working with Orcas... they have always fascinated me! So beautiful and curious but also has the dark side to them.. they are just amazing creatures!

As a teen, I wanted to be a Jockey... I started working with my OTTB's trainer, training race horse babies, and even made some friends at the track that were willing to help me get my foot in the door when I was old enough... but my ex-husband (Then boyfriend) ruined that for me... he doesn't trust coed work environments 8-|

Now I'm a 31, stay at home mom that breeds ADGA register Alpine Dairy Goats and I make Goats Milk soaps :))

Xzeina · Jul 28, 2021 11:02 AM

I don't remember a lot of my childhood(due to trauma) but I do know that I loved to draw and that I wanted people to see my art, and well, now I'm in college to (hopefully) get a Graphic Design degree!

GoldenSpur · Jul 28, 2021 3:50 PM

I can't really remember what I wanted to be when I was younger as I was kind of doing what I wanted but life changes.
Now at 30 I want to become a better horse person. I want to learn as much as I can from as many as I can about everything from handling foals to breaking horses in and training them. I've already got a start on this as the feedlot I work at has regular schools on horsemenship and cattle handling schools. Everthing so that we are safe and the animals don't get stressed out about anything.

ichigo · Jul 28, 2021 5:28 PM

When I was really little I wanted to be a deer skinner... my dad owned a butcher shop when I was age 0-8 and every deer season I'd sit out in the shop and watch them process the deer. I thought it looked like fun.... I swear I'm normal.

Later in life I wanted to be a biologist and work with animals, fell through when I failed out of my first semester in the bachelor program lol.

Now I work for a major health insurance company and I'm currently going back to school for health information management (I'm 28) and I am wanting to get into population health, compiling and using health data to improve health incomes and oh my god I'm using corporate speak I am sorry. Anyway, I am hoping that some day my experience and knowledge of healthcare will translate politically and I can be part of a movement to improve the US healthcare system. Big dreams... we'll see if I can graduate this bachelors program LOL

ConfluenceStable · Jul 28, 2021 7:16 PM

Ichigo, you? normal? That ship done sailed a LONG time ago! But boy did you pick a time to get into healthcare! :O

ichigo · Jul 29, 2021 3:55 AM

@ConfluenceStable shhhh don't let the others know....

It's weird how you grow up and your passion turns out to be completely different than what you imagined... but hey, if it makes me money and doesn't put me to sleep I'll do it lol

Forestshadow · Jul 29, 2021 6:22 AM

Now I remember, I also wanted to be a police officer because I really enjoyed playing Police Quest. But yeah, being deaf would have complicated things.

grimrie · Jul 30, 2021 5:53 AM

I wanted to be a Marie biologist when I was a child too. I love cetaceans, and flirted with the idea of training them until I was old enough to realize I didn’t like the idea of their captivity. When I started college my major was pre-vet (planned equine), but the internships I completed really turned me off to it, and I realized I’d rather keep horses as my favorite escape than make them part of my profession. I did love the research though, and stuck with that.

I’m 29 now working on my PhD in biology where I study neurogenetics.

CrowsnestRidge · Jul 30, 2021 1:58 PM

Certainly a large number of prospective vets and marine biologists, that's awesome!

I think the first job I ever wanted to do was be a paleontologist (definitely gave my parents some entertainment trying to pronounce that too @KhaosAcres). While I definitely still enjoy learning about prehistoric creatures and environments (including early horses), I ended up studying the humanities/social sciences/law track instead.

Silverstar · Aug 8, 2021 9:20 AM

I wanted to be a vet as well, but the time/money killed it for me. I went to a trade school for equine massage. That got my foot in the door for learning how to train horses with a breeder. Got my first horse and started teaching beginner riding lessons. Then I got married, and worked a secretary job. That fried me mentally. So now I’m a lawn care person, which is nice because it’s physical, I’m outside, and it’s seasonal; so I actually have free time during daylight hours to ride.

I finally picked a direction concerning horses, so am trying to study in my off time. I picked dressage, and I want to reach grand pix level. Hard to do since I live in a state where the closest English riding barns are about a 4 1/2 hr drive in opposite directions, unless I tried finding a Canadian barn, they might be a little closer. I also have ridden western all of my life so that makes things a little interesting. Ehh I didn’t pick it because it would be easy, I picked it because it’s the type of riding I want to do. I just have to keep reminding myself that lol.

@ichigo I had a faze when I wanted to be a butcher/skinner too. That idea met reality when I got to butcher 2 cows in 20 degree weather. I think we are normal. Lol

Jessj · Aug 8, 2021 10:20 AM

When I was little I wanted to be a vet and would actually shadow our normal vet for farm calls when I was in elementary school. When I was around 14 (almost 34 now) or so that changed gears into the other end of the spectrum of health care and I decided I wanted to get into mortuary science (for those that don't know what that is, it's a funeral director/embalmer).

I changed gears after my great grandpa passed away and the funeral director was a lady and she showed me around the funeral home after I asked a billion questions about her job lol. I'm not sure what it is, but it's a job that peaks my interest. I haven't been able to follow through with that dream yet since there are only a handful of colleges that offer the program in the United States. My state has one, but it's on the other end of the state, so I would have to move 300 miles to an extremely expensive city and work full time, plus go to school full time. Being a single parent with 2 boys, that's not a reality yet.

Currently I work at a lumber mill, but in the process of trying to get on at our hospital and get back into nursing for now. I don't mind the hard work at the mill, but after being there for 8 years and some managerial changes, I think it's time to go. I don't see the company continuing to grow and thrive due to the nepotism and cronyism currently happening. It's becoming a toxic environment and I just want out before it gets worse. I have an interview tomorrow at our hospital, so I'm hoping it all goes well :D

SandyCreekAcres · Aug 8, 2021 7:42 PM

I fell in love with Latin when I first began to study it in 9th grade (I graduated high school in 1963, so you can probably estimate my age. :D ) I'd spent a lot of time reading the college textbook on classical mythology that had belonged to my father's sister, and when the word went around that Spanish was the easier of the two languages newly being offered to 9th graders, I jumped for Latin. My goal became to be a Latin teacher. I studied Latin for 4 more years in college, but nobody ever taught me that teachers have to have an assertive personality.

I've taken two short forms of the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory, and for the questions that determine extroversion and introversion, all my answers fell on the second. By the time I graduated from college, Latin had fallen out of favor for high schools (though it did eventually make a comeback in the 70's). I ended up in a classroom of slow learning 3rd graders for whom I'd had no preparation at all. I was not a success.

I finally got to teach some Latin starting out as an after-school activity in a high school. There were only a small handful of students when that started, but I was able to introduce a number of activities to make learning a difficult language fun. Not long after that, the schools in a broad part of north-central PA formed into consortia so that the small number of students interested in some rarer subjects could study together using distance-learning TV. My after-school activity morphed into teaching with some of my students sitting in the classroom with me and the others in schools that were about 2 hours away. It ended up as a short-term project of about 2 or 3 years, but I had a chance to fulfill my early goal.

Teaching, however is still a love of mine, as my propensity for writing long and quite detailed explanations about how this game works for new players will attest. :D

FallenFarms · Aug 8, 2021 8:28 PM

Sandy, my high school outside of Cincinnati taught Latin as one of the foreign languages! You could take Spanish, French, or Latin. It was actually a really popular choice!

I grew up wanting to be a professional horseback rider (as we all did!) or a veterinarian or an author or I didn't really know what. By the time college rolled around, I was kind of lost.

I started university by going for a Creative Writing degree with a minor in Film Studies to see if I could turn it into something having to do with screenwriting. Around the last half of my sophomore year (2012-13ish) I had a huge depressive episode, which is honestly probably part of the reason I stopped playing. To help with my mental health, I transferred schools to be closer to my family (who had moved to Texas while I stayed behind in northern Ohio) and ended up changing majors too. I moved to a university in Oklahoma and started taking classes in their college of agriculture. I graduated in 2016 with a bachelor of science in Animal Science with a concentration in Production. It focused on beef cattle, as that is the cornerstone of Oklahoma agriculture, but they allowed me to select classes that enabled me to focus on the equine side of the agriculture industry as well. (Side note: I can't do math to save my life but I excelled in my genetics classes specifically because of the knowledge base I built while playing Hajinc and Shoco. Thank you for that, Ammit <3)<br />

My first job straight out of college was with governing body for an equine sport (I don't know if I'll name names) but it was a toxic work environment that left me exhausted and overworked. I now work for a small insurance company as an adjuster. My company insures almost entirely farmers and ranchers so while I'm not directly employed by the agriculture industry, I'm able to support those who are by doing what I do. I'm happy here and the people I work with are amazing. I don't know if I'll stay here forever but it's a good place to end up after wandering around lost for a little bit. :)

ConfluenceStable · Aug 9, 2021 7:36 AM

Wow, FallenFarms! I remember when you headed off for college the first time! Glad you found a place where you 'fit'.

My degree is in Psychology, but I have worked in a civil service postion helping residents connect with city services, and address problems in their neighborhoods, for the past *gulp* 21 years. (I do love it, though!)

ClassicCreations · Aug 26, 2021 11:05 AM

I always wanted to work with dogs and horses - showing, breeding, training, barn management, even just grooming or mucking out stalls . I rode on the hunter/jumper circuit until I was 16. Two weeks after my birthday, I broke my neck in a swimming accident. I'm 69 years old, I've been a quadriplegic for 53 years now, and I still want to do the same things if/when I finally grow up!

ConfluenceStable · Aug 26, 2021 4:08 PM

Is that you in your avatar/picture? Showing the mini? Is that something you do on a regular basis? SO cool!

ClassicCreations · Aug 28, 2021 8:01 AM

Yes, that's me. *G* After my accident I had to give up my horse. I "met a mini" in 1995 and the rest is history. I'm on a fixed income now, so I don't show any more. The lil guy in my picture is Buck On's Armando Blues, 2002 National Champion Futurity stallion & National Champion Open Pleasure Driving 32" & under. Thanks for asking.

ConfluenceStable · Aug 28, 2021 11:57 AM

I know some folks who use power chairs that show their dogs in obedience. Watching it makes you think about how wonderful it is that our animals can adapt to ANYTHING given time, and good experiences!

Nightphoenix · Aug 28, 2021 1:20 PM

Check this out :D

http://www.amberleysnyder.org/my-story/

ClassicCreations · Aug 28, 2021 6:12 PM

Awesome story Nightphoenix! If I had better balance I would have loved to ride again.

ClassicCreations · Aug 28, 2021 6:17 PM

I've raised Labradors for many years ConfluenceStable. I now co-own 2 bitches with a local breeder. I have never shown, but have trained 3 service dogs over the years. It's amazing how much animals enrich our lives!

ConfluenceStable · Aug 28, 2021 8:07 PM

I started obedience with a Belgian Turvern, and continued with my corgi (that I just lost, CH Marprans Hot In The City, CD, CDX. I had always wanted a dog with at title 'at both ends'). That Terv was the most wonderful dog, but WHEW was he a lot of work!

SharayahStables · Aug 30, 2021 11:58 AM

I wanted to be an equine vet. Got some hands on experience in the industry (large and small animal) and decided it wasn’t for me!

Now I’m 29 and work as a federal contractor handling hazmat logistics on an army base. :)

paradoxphoenix · Aug 30, 2021 12:09 PM

I wanted to be a horse trainer and breeder and a veterinarian. I think the closest I’m ever going to get to that is my one or two personal horses and this game. :))

I debated being a farrier for a while but decided I do not love it. I still trim my personal horse’s feet.

I did finally get to start into my (more recent) dream career and feel like a “real” adult with a living wage for a while. But I was forced to resign for lame reasons (not related to Covid or vaccination, they have a very poor work culture) So now I’m unemployed and fluctuating between depression and frustration while I try to get in somewhere else doing the same thing. I hate applying for jobs, and I hate waiting. But, it may end up working out for the better in the long run due to the afore mentioned poor work culture. I hope.

kgstable · Aug 30, 2021 2:05 PM

Wow! So many aspirations, I love it. When I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian but once I got old enough I realized I couldn't give animals shots because I hate needles. Then I REALLY wanted to be a horse trained and teach lessons, but it's so hard to get into it and I don't have the money for proper lessons to get better. So I gave up that idea, then I wanted to be an art teacher. Nah, I did one semester of college and didn't like it.

So now I'm in Culinary school and I love it. I'm specializing in pastry side of it and I really found a love for chocolate. Not eating it, but making things with it! I love working with chocolate. So I think I want to work towards being a chocolatier and maybe owning my own chocolatier restaurant. And one day still own a horse or two :))

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