An Astronaut. A Pirate. A Ballerina. Everyone wanted to be something different. When I was a kid, my dream job was to be the Green M&M. Not her voice actress, or her animator – I wanted to be her. My idea of adulthood was turning into a small candy-coated chocolate pebble that wore a sugar-painted ‘m,’ white pumps, and false lashes.
Of course, real life isn’t quite that glamorous. Human-to-chocolate-candy metamorphosis isn’t among our recent technological advances, so I was forced to figure out some backups. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had decided I wanted to be the Green M&M, then a princess, then an author, then a director, then a lawyer. After a decade of tinkering and trying things out, I finally decided what I want to be: a Data Scientist.
Now, how exactly does someone go from Green M&M to Data Scientist? It wasn’t possible to do what I truly wanted to as a kid (you know, due to how human biology works). As I got older, all of my alternative options slowly became unattainable as well, but I held on to my first dream job as a fond memory.
An oddly well-timed appreciation for statistics and probability has changed everything for me, and I finally have my answer to the ill-fated question: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Many students change their answer to this question multiple times. There are an incredible amount of factors in this answer’s change. Their dream profession might be too selective, too expensive, or too unstable. This hypothetical has plagued kids for years and the students of Bronx Science are no different. Many students attending this school see it as a first step towards their ideal – typically STEM-related – career. However, most of these desired professions haven’t always been in mind.
The joy and oversimplification of jobs in a child’s mind is a beautiful thing. In that period of your life, things you will spend the rest of your life doing aren’t always for money. As a kid, these jobs are seen as true passions. However, for most, the ability to pursue a passion is a privilege.
Bronx Science has given students various opportunities to realize what they want to do with their lives. Field Palermo ’26, for instance, had realized their initial plan wasn’t something they wanted to pursue. “I plan to have some sort of a career in the mortuary industry for a lot of reasons,” Palermo said. “Since I was a kid, I planned on becoming a programmer or something in that field but upon entering high school, I’ve realized I really don’t think that’s what I want to do anymore.”
“My favorite class last year was Biology and I found myself able to understand things, do well, and be truly intrigued in a way unlike most other courses,” Palermo said. This moment of realization is something that I can personally relate to, as I found my very own appreciation for statistics in the final unit of my Algebra 2 class as a sophomore.
“I want to be a person that can help during the worst moments of loved ones’ lives.” This sentiment of Palermo’s spoke to me. Even though it wasn’t the first job they thought of doing as a kid, Palermo had expressed joy when discussing their future career path. Their potential job is something that they look forward to rather than grimace over.
Kathy Le ‘25, has a very different view of what her future will look like. “My parents have encouraged me to pursue the medical field and I am interested in doing so. Currently, I’ve been thinking of something to do with psychology.” She continues, “I had previously read an article about the effective use of art as therapy, which would most likely be my dream job because it combines my interests of art and psychology.”
The reminders of our reality take away some of the whimsy and enjoyment we find in imagining our futures. As Le states, “A more realistic path would probably be a pediatrician, though.”
The other jobs chosen in replacement of the idolized careers are wonderful and thrilling, no doubt, but there’s little childhood spark and excitement when they are mentioned. There’s always a lingering sensation of obligation.
One thing many people try to do is find small aspects of their passions in their future career, as to not abandon what they dreamed of doing entirely. This specific activity is often done by those interested in the arts or the humanities, for example, finding a job where you’re tasked with writing proposals and pitches, or a position where many colorful and well thought out PowerPoints are necessary.
Mariam Samake ’24 doesn’t have an exact plan for her future career, but she knows what elements she would like to incorporate. When asked what she would consider doing in the future, Samake responded, “Possibly a business analyst, marketer or lawyer. Mainly because I like contacting and maintaining relations with people.”
Samake continued, “I also like starting campaigns and creating posters. I’ve also always been a kid who liked art, so making videos and posters is nothing new to me.” This level of familiarity and enjoyment is really important when deciding on a potential career, as the only person who knows if a job is a good fit for you is you.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that people who can’t pursue what they wanted to as kids aren’t “lazy” or “uninspired,” especially when I became one of those people myself. Most times, these people simply don’t have the opportunities to do so. There is a risk to their livelihood for a chance at this nostalgic fulfillment. While happiness is an incredible feature in a future job, stability isn’t negotiable for most people.
Sometimes the closest we can get to living out our dreams is by simply having them, clutching them tightly in your hand like a dandelion, with the wisps slowly blowing in the wind as you get ready to blow. Or allowing the wind to blow the wisps first, afraid of your breath’s direction on the expectant plant.
One day in the future, I’ll calculate the probability of me turning into the Green M&M. Just to make sure.
Sometimes the closest we can get to living out our dreams is by simply having them.