What do you want to be when you grow up? That question is asked of many, but most don’t know the answer, even if they think they do know. Fun fact: Most people switch majors by the time they graduate from college. Anyone reading this probably has some idea of their future career. You might not think it, but it can change in an instant. David Thomas and John Altmire knew what they wanted to do until they were guided into a new direction. David Thomas, as a high schooler, wanted to be a DJ. Jon Altmire wanted to major in Physical Education. Both thought they knew what they wanted to do until they met a special person who guided them in a different direction. This is a very common occurrence, and it can happen to anybody.
As a teenager, David Thomas dreamed of being a DJ, and in his own words, he was pretty good at it. A high school guidance counselor told him that being a DJ would not work out and that he should go into public relations. This is a common and relatable story: “I want to do something, and people saying it will not work out.” He went through his first two years of college at Millersville University, not even knowing what people in the field of public relations do. He was lost, not knowing what to do until his college professor stopped him and said, “You are a journalist.” This person changed Thomas’s life as he went on to become a journalist who interviewed Bill Clinton and was at the 9/11 incident. However, when asked about the most memorable moment of his career, he said it was his project after Clinton that he felt he had failed. After interviewing the president, he was full of himself and completely blew over his next article. No one remembered him for his interview with Clinton but his failure in the other project. David was right out of College, and after this incident, an old videographer said to him, “You are only as good as your next story.” That advice resonated with David, and that person can be considered one of the most influential people in his career. He found love in his career in journalism, winning an Emmy. But then he became a teacher. The moment David Thomas knew he was done with being a journalist was when he couldn’t say to his daughter he had a good day at work. This moment in his career happened after he witnessed a plane crash and was the first person there. Nobody else, just him. At that point, he transitioned into teaching.
John Altmire decided to attend West Chester University to pursue physical education. Once he started his teaching career by subbing and getting the school teaching experience, one of the teachers he would commonly sub for recommended that he change his career path. Getting a job in his field was stressful. The major districts in the area didn’t have any openings. He thought physical education would work out, but his whole plan had to be changed. He was saved by a teacher and found a passion for special education. He wouldn’t have ever thought his career would change like this in an instant, but it did and for the better. Now, he comes into Pennridge High School ready for a new day of teaching and helping his students around him. He isn’t teaching gym class or health but instead focusing on the kids who might need a bit more help than others, and he can’t enjoy it anymore, but he makes a great difference in these kids’ lives. John Altmire has never looked back and wished he had pursued physical education instead; he is grateful someone was there to point him in that new direction.
The idea that you have of your life planned is false. As a human being, there are so many things that can change your life/career. You never know what obstacles will come your way. Or how your mind grows as an adult. We all have dreams of what job we wanted as kids. Only 14% of people get their dream job from when they were a child. And 80% of people change their major in college. So you never actually know what you’re going to do when you grow up. Anything can happen within a blink of an eye. It’s important to embrace the uncertainty that comes with career exploration. Each new experience, whether a part-time job, a volunteer position, or a chance encounter with a mentor, shapes your perspective and can open doors you never expected. Often, these experiences help you discover strengths or interests you hadn’t recognized in yourself. The journey isn’t about locking into a straight plan but being open to growth and change. Life is filled with twists, and adapting to them can lead to paths that are more fulfilling and aligned with your evolving passions and values.
