Blog – The Linchpen

Last week I asked: What did you say when someone asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” when you were in elementary school. Below are some answers from Twitter. Enjoy! (Also, feel free to continue the #wdywtbwygu hashtag.)

@greglinch In elem school, I wanted to be an artist. Then starting in jr high, I wanted to be a journo. Guess I'm doing both. #wdywtbwygu

— Alyson Hurt (@alykat) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be an architect. Today I'm happy to say that I do design and build things, but not places – info. #wdywtbwygu

— Kathleen Sullivan (@ksulli) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be Superman. I ended up getting his day job. #wdywtbwygu

— Matt Byrnes (@matthewbyrnes) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be an a librarian and read all the books in the library. Instead I became a CPA & read the tax code.#wdywtbwygu

— Susan Linch (@excdinglyrandom) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be a jockey; became a public radio reporter. Now I'm in grad school, trying to answer #wdywtbwygu all over again!

— trish anderton (@trishanderton) January 11, 2011

@greglinch Maybe pre-med growing up, but freshman chem spiked that. US Army made me a reporter, for which I'm grateful. #wdywtbwygu

— Steve Doig (@sdoig) January 11, 2011

@greglinch lawyer like my uncle john. Then I found out what a lawyer actually does all day. #wdywtbwygu

— Michael Paull (@fricto) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be an astronaut, a scientist, or a novelist- still somewhere between (computer) science and literature :) #wdywtbwygu

— Kat Downs Mulder (@katdowns) January 11, 2011

@greglinch As a kid I dressed up as a reporter for Career Day. Then I wanted to be in graphics, which brought me back to journ. #wdywtbwygu

— Suzanne Yada (@suzanneyada) January 11, 2011

@greglinch in this order: paleontologist, car designer, race car driver, U.S. Senator. Then I went to college. #wdywtbwygu

— David Wright (@dwjr) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be a lawyer or Katharine Hepburn. Still got time. http://bit.ly/eRquts … #wdywtbwygu

— Robin J Phillips (@RobinJP) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be a doctor, author, FBI agent and spent a good five years wanting to be a pathologist #wdywtbwygu

— Kathryn Rosenbaum (@rosenbaumk) January 11, 2011

@greglinch Jeopardy winner. I'm still working on that. #wdywtbwygu

— Meg Novoa (@megterilli) January 11, 2011

@greglinch Disney Imagineer, animator, Lego designer, high school art teacher. Then I went to journalism school. #wdywtbwygu

— white guy confidence (@karenkho) January 11, 2011

@greglinch 5-15: Astronaut. 15-20: @Samuel_Seaborn 20-26: Techie Journalist. I'm 2ish for 3 #wdywtbwygu

— Drake Martinet (@WithDrake) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be older when I grew up. SUCESS! #wdywtbwygu

— Russell Heimlich (@kingkool68) January 11, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be a ballerina, a pediatrician, an actress and a lawyer. #wdywtbwygu

— Rebecca (@RebeccaKesten) January 11, 2011

@greglinch Reporter, ballerina, writer, veterinarian, paleontologist, marine biologist. Turns out 3-year-old me got it right. #wdywtbwygu

— Jessica Estepa (@jmestepa) January 11, 2011

@greglinch A detective like Nancy Drew or Charlie's Angels #wdywtbwygu

— Lisa Sink (@LisaSink) January 11, 2011

@greglinch Used to want to be a garbageman. Rode in the truck when I was 6 or so. Pretty much my job now, just with a tie. #wdywtbwygu

— William P. Davis (@williampd) January 11, 2011

I wanted to be a doctor (help people) and then a teacher (make learning fun). I do both (most days) as a journalist #whenigrowup @greglinch

— Jackie Borchardt (@JMBorchardt) January 11, 2011

Wanted to be a farmer, actress, rabbi, graphic artist, writer, researcher, teacher. Saw comp skills as integrated, not distinct. #wdywtbwygu

— Michelle Minkoff (@michelleminkoff) January 11, 2011

@greglinch at 63 I still don't know what I want to do #whenigrowup

— Wendell Cochran (@wcochran) January 12, 2011

OH on a metro platform: "I *still* don't know what I want to be #whenigrowup." (slight laugh; from a 20-something) #wdywtbwygu #serendipity

— Greg Linch (@greglinch) January 12, 2011

@greglinch I said architect or astronaut. I still enjoy building things, just not buildings (& I still like the beauty of space) #wdywtbwygu

— Sean Connolly (@vaguity) January 12, 2011

@greglinch A newsman on the tee-vee. Or President. One for two. #wdywtbwygu

— Andrew Pergam (@pergam) January 12, 2011

@greglinch I wanted to be a vet. My daughter wants to be a hippie even though I tell her that's not a job. #whenigrowup

— Kim Grinfeder (@kimgrinfeder) January 12, 2011

UPDATE: Read some of the responses.

Quick thoughts from this evening:

@P2chairman When I was in elementary school and people asked, “What do want to be when you grow up?” I’d say, “scientist and inventor.”less than a minute ago via Power TwitterGreg Linch
greglinch

@P2chairman I’ve realized more and more over the past year or so how much those lie at the heart of my interest in journalism and technologyless than a minute ago via Power TwitterGreg Linch
greglinch

When you were in elementary school, what did you say when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Do you see any connections between that and your current job or interests?

Thinking about this makes me feel thankful for all the great opportunities I’ve had and continue to have in journalism and technology.

UPDATE: Read some of the responses.

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