I remember being asked this a lot growing up. I think all children are. And we generally have answers for the adults who ask.
I wanted to be a palaeontologist, then a marine biologist, then an architect, which I applied for and was accepted into, before I made an unexpected turn into teaching and ‘became’ one of those instead.
I list all these career choices, because anyone reading this column right now can see that clearly I become none of these things.
I was a dreamy child, and was subjected to many (many) assessments for potential career choices. They all came back, ‘miscellaneous artist’. I would try crook the test on the next round, I would maybe get something else as a first choice, but right there, second in the list, glaring pointedly at me, would be ‘miscellaneous artist’.
I don’t want to be a ‘miscellaneous artist’. I didn’t want to be ‘miscellaneous’ then either. Synonyms include ‘jumbled’, ‘mixed up’, ‘sundry’, ‘disparate’, if I had to be an artist, let me at least be a focused one. So I ignored all those test results and forged my own path.
When my children think about what they want to be when they grow up (‘Spy’, ‘Rock Star’ and ‘Seamstress’, for the moment) I ask them to focus on what they want to do, rather than what they want to be. Careers are made up of lots of little tasks, done every day, some of which are mind-numbingly repetitive, at least let the little tasks be things you like to do.
So I have them focus on ‘attention to detail and multitasking’, ‘grit and determination’ and ‘creating beautiful things out of nothing’ These are skills they can develop now. These are skills that transfer to a multitude of career options, careers that may not even exist yet. They are preparing for their futures, doing what they love to do.
There are things that you can choose to do that span a variety of professions. It’s not only doctors who make people feel well, it’s not only architects who make beautiful spaces and it’s not only lawyers who find justice for those who need it. When we look at careers in terms of broader strokes, rather than tight boxes, we are preparing for the ever-changing world of work.
Where does your natural ability lie, how far can acquired ability get you and what do you love to do? It’s never too late to work this out. The answer can be applied to a career, a hobby or volunteerism. The answer can be applied to organising your spice rack.
I love to take things that are imperfect and make them as close to perfect as I can. I love to make something beautiful out of nothing at all, I love to make people happy with the things I create. Other synonyms for miscellaneous include ‘Diverse’, ‘varied’, ‘wide-ranging’… Perhaps ‘miscellaneous artist’ is not so far off after all.
