Future Marine
By Ashley Woodworth
Grade 7, LCS
When I’m older, one of my career choices would be a sniper in the Marines. There are many reasons why I want to join the Marines, but the main one is so I can fight for my country and the people I love and care about. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, and I will have to do things that are hard to do.
In order to get into the Marines, I have to work hard and try my best to do as I am told even if I don’t want to do it. I have to behave myself all through high school to keep my permanent record clean. I have to study hard, and I should go to college to have a back-up plan or just for when I retire, I’ll have a job.
It’s going to take a while, so I have plenty of time to spare. I can hang out with friends and study as much as possible for the time being. I can be a kid for a little longer before I start worrying about the future. Even though it’s going to take a while, I’m not going to stop trying to reach my goal no matter what.
When I join the Marines, I have to learn to take quick showers (three minute showers, maybe less than that.” I will have to learn to eat on a breakfast/lunch/dinner schedule. I can’t eat whenever I feel like it. I have to get up when I am supposed to which would be very, very early in the morning. I have to get dressed really fast in order to be there on time so I won’t get into trouble. I have to train as much as I can to get faster, stronger and to stay in shape.
I have to listen to my superiors and I can’t talk back or I’ll get into a lot of trouble. Also every time they speak to me or I speak to them, I have to say sir of it’s a man. If it’s a woman, then it would be ma’am. If I don’t say yes sir/ma’am then it would be disrespectful, and I would end up in trouble.
When a commander gives me an order, then I say, ‘yes sir/ma’am.’ Then I do what I am told to do. If I don’t do it, then I would get into trouble. So it’s best to do as I’m told even if I don’t want to. I know it would more likely get annoying, but if I don’t want to get into trouble, and I want to stay on the good side of my commanders, then I better do as I’m told.
Like I said, I want to join the Marines to keep my country, family and friends safe. I know that even though my parents wouldn’t want me to put myself in a dangerous position like this, whose parents would, but they’ll know I’m doing the right thing and be there for me every step of the way, no matter what.
I know you’re probably thinking why would a preteen almost teenage girl even think of joining the Marines or something dangerous. I think it’s because I want to keep people, that I know and don’t know, safe. It’s just something I want to do.
Entrepreneur for animals
By Haley Tardy
Grade 7, LCS
My career choice in life is to be a dog trainer. My other career is to have an animal rescue shelter.
The reason I chose the career is because I love being around dogs and would like to be able to be around dogs more often. I would like to be able to work with different types of dog breeds and get to meet new people and get to know their dogs better. I would like to be allowed to help the owner’s have a special needs dog or a service dog for people who need them by their side. I would like to have my dog training business in Portland.
I want to have an animal rescue because I do not think that it is right for animals to be abused for no reason at all. It is mean and cruel to do that to them. All of the animals that get put down, I would like to have a no kill animal rescue center so that any animal that comes in will never be killed until they die naturally.
The reason that I chose these careers is because I like animals, and I like to save them and train them so that they can be safe and not left on the street. I want them to have a home, and people should love and not beat them.
SVU Investigator
By Jessica Tucker
Grade 8, LCS
My career choice is to be an investigator in the Special Victim’s Unit (SVU). This is a job in the Bureau of Justice. It is also part of the Criminal Justice System. This job deals with abuse such as starvation of minorities, beating a child, and domestic disputes.
In this job I would investigate these kinds of crimes, and I would help victims get back their life. I would observe crime scenes. I would have to interview witnesses, victims, and suspects. Then after I have found enough evidence to take the suspect to jail, I would have to testify in court.
For this job I would need quite a bit of training and education. First, I would need a high school degree. Then when I graduate from college, I would need at least a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. After all of this is done, I will have to have some kind of experience in the field. I would have to do something like parole officer, probation officer, or youth advocate. Then after about five years of fieldwork, I would send in my resume to the Special Victim’s Unit.
It will take me a really long time until I can pursue my career choice. With all of my schooling, it will take me about four years just with college. Then after I’m done with all of my college work and have graduated, I will have to do something for fieldwork for about five years. So all together I could have less than nine or I could have more than nine years before I can go and pursue my career in the Special Victim’s Unit.
Having a job in the Special Victim’s Unit interests me because I have always wanted to have some kind of job in the Criminal Justice System. Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a police officer. Then as I’ve grown up, it changed to being a detective, and when I found out there were a few types of detective work, I decided to learn more about them. When I found out about the Special Victim’s Unit, I decided this was the kind of career choice I wanted to pursue. This job helps little kids and adults who are being abused and to me that is the best kind of help that anybody could provide them.
I want to go into this career field, because it helps people who really need it. In this career field, I would be helping people who have been treated wrongly for a while get the justice they deserve. Being in this career would help me make a difference in so many people’s lives. This is the career choice for me, and these are all the reasons I want to pursue it.
Professional writer
By Abagail Elliott
Grade 5, LCS
Today’s steps make tomorrow’s future. Today I want to take steps to become a straight A student, professional writer, and horseback rider. Goals today are so important because they will help us move forward to achieving our dreams.
If I get straight A’s in school I can go and write a book. If I become a horseback rider I can write a book on my experiences. When I become a professional writer I can go horseback riding and get ideas. I think best when I am riding.
The steps I take today will help me accomplish my dreams. I love writing so that’s why I have a dream like that. When I write books I feel like I’m in Wonderland. All these dreams can be accomplished if I put in hard work, dedication, and a belief that I can do it.
Physical therapist
By Sarah Hemphill
Grade 8, LCS
For my future I want to succeed. To do this I am going to have to finish high school. Finishing high school isn’t just showing up. I need to get good grades. The better my grades are the more likely I will get into a good college. I have to keep my grades up by doing my class and homework. I need my work to be organized. My grades have to be above failing or it will be hard for me later on. I fall of this is done, I can start thinking about college. I will do research and send out applications to get into good colleges. If I get accepted, then I will need a side job to help pay for it. I have money saved up for college, but the cost of college may be more than what I have. If I have a side job, then I won’t have to take out a bunch of loans.
During college, I need to think of what I want to be. I have to look at the amount of job offers and their salary. I’m kind of thinking of being a physical therapist (PT). A PT is someone who steps out and helps young and old people who have problems with movement. I will make a lot of money and have whatever I need and want. The job will be fun, because I like helping people in need. PT isn’t easy. I will spend hours in the lab, memorize the parts of the body, master complicated science concepts, take the GRE test, learn about physical therapy, work hard for grades in grad school, and volunteer in physical therapy clinics. If I want to do the job correctly, then I have to have patience. Some people can’t walk, and my job is to change that. I need to help them with their muscle problems, and it may take a long time.
After college I will need to move to where I will be sure of getting a job. I have to pass my tests if I want to be accepted. There are over 190,000 jobs in the U.S. Next to clergy, PT is ranked highest in job satisfaction. If I try hard enough, stay up all night to study, I think I can become a physical therapist.
Basketball star
By Jacob Soucy
Grade 5, LCS
When I get older, I want to be a pro basketball player. That is why on my free time I short hoops. I love to play even on hot summer days. I and my brother either just shoot or play make it take it or pig. Pig is when you take turns shooting, and if you make it, then the other person shoots from the same place. If they miss, they either get a P or an I or a G. Make it take it is when you shoot it and make it. You go again until you miss it.
The more I practice the better I will get. The better I get, the more of a chance I have to going to the NBA! I could be on the Celtics, Bulls, Heat, and many other NBA teams. I would even have a chance to go pro!
I would be able to travel all over the U.S.A. I could be like Paul Pierce getting 26 to 36 points a game. I could be like Ray Allen swishing three point shots like nothing. He makes it look so easy, just swishing them all game long. Swish! Swish! Swish! It would be as easy as finding a rock on a summer day.
Hearing the reporters say SLAM DUNK would be great. When you try your best, you are a good player. You would be like Lebron James who gets 30 to 40 points a game, or Michael Jordan with 50 to 60 points per game.
I would have to play college ball to be a pro. I would have to be a really good basketball player. I would have to have lots of fun playing basketball to make this my profession.
Broadcast journalist
By Lakeisha St. John
Grade 8, LCS
In order to be successful in school, I need to work hard at everything I do. I need to pay attention during class as well. Say I have a big test coming up; if I work hard at studying such as taking notes and studying those notes a few times before the test, I will do better at passing my classes. Passing will help me in the future.
Working hard will help me pass my classes and get into high school. As I get into high school, I will have to work even harder to graduate and get into college. College will help me get a good paying job and will help me succeed in life.
All subjects are important but the most important subjects are math, technology and language arts. Math is all around me. I need math just to bake a batch of cookies! Without math I couldn’t GET a job. Now that there are computers and tablets, they help people do their job. I will need to know how to work those things. Taking technology will give me a good idea of how to work with computers. Language arts is also another subject that’s all around me. I will have to know how to read and write for ANY job.
As I get older it’s important to know certain things about my education and my future. I will need to think about what things interest me and how I can fit my interests into a job.
When I figure out what job I want to do, I’ll have to find a college that’s just right.
I want to be able to understand what I am doing in class. I want to work as hard as I can do to keep my grades up and stay on the honor roll.
When I graduate I want to go to college in Boston and study journalism. I want to be one of those journalists who are on TV and talk about celebrities.
Ultrasound technician
By Corin Howard
Grade 8, LCS
My expectations for the future are just going to college, getting a good job, and having a family. In my opinion, it’s the best life you can get. Others disagree. I don’t see why, but people have their reasons.
I want to go to college to become an ultrasound technician, because every time I see someone get an ultrasound done, it just amazes me. No matter if it’s for a pregnant woman, or for someone to get their knees checked on, things like that are just fascinating to me.
Now of course, what can I do to help myself reach all of that? Well, first I have to get good grades throughout the rest of eighth grade, high school, and college. To do that, I have to pay attention in class, so I know what is being taught. I have to go to school every day, and try my hardest on both schoolwork and homework. After high school I want to go to a regular college to get my basic courses like English, math, etc. Then I will transfer to the best college that teaches ultrasound technicians.
During college, I am going to have a job so I can pay for an apartment, food, and things for college, books and other expenses. After college, I obviously want to be an ultrasound technician. I may not become one RIGHT after college, but I am hoping to become one soon after college.
I have always dreamed of having a family when I get older. I want to get married and have two kids, a boy and a girl. I want to get married first, because I don’t want my kids to grow up without a father. I want the family to live together and not have the kids go to their father’s one week and come back to my house the next. I want a boy for my first child, because he can protect his sister when she is being bullied or made fun of at school. I want a girl because I would love to do her hair and all the girly stuff, plus I’ve always wanted a girl. I don’t want twins, because that’s too much at once.
Now that you know what my expectations are for life, I would like to tell you why I want all this. I want to go to a good college, because I want my kids to have a good role model. I want to make my family proud of me. I need jobs to keep myself stable and to take care of things needed in life. I also want a family, because I don’t want to be lonely all my life. I would like to take responsibility of having kids and a husband.
All that I have told you is exactly what my expectations are in my life. The school, the jobs, and the family are everything I want. Why? Well, because it all interested me since I heard about it and learned what it all meant. I know it may be hard to get to do all those things, but I’m willing to do it all.
