When I was 10, we had mock elections in our classroom. I ran for Speaker of the House and won. For several years after that, I wanted nothing more than to enter politics. In fact, I was probably the only 5th grader who wrote fan mail to Tip O'Neill!
At 15, I discovered my love for Germany as a summer exchange student. I wanted so badly to earn my degree in German and live and teach over there. I took my Deutsch class more seriously than any other in high school and did, indeed, earn my first college degree in German. Of course, by the time I graduated college I was a blissful newlywed--and fleeing to Europe to live the life of an American abroad just didn't seem a natural fit to my plans anymore. I went on to get a second degree in Interior Design--which I still use to this day. Being a Mom soon became my primary and most important job, and I have passed my adult years happily away in that overworked, underpaid, but still ever-so-amazing position.
What all this is leading to was the letter I re-discovered tonight.
It was one I wrote to myself on some random day of my Senior year of high school. They had everyone write them. And then, at our 10 year reunion (which was 5 years ago!).......they gave them to us. I don't know who had been forced to keep a box of hundreds of letters kids wrote to their future selves for ten years---- but I'm glad they did! I remember reading it the night of the reunion, laughing at what I thought I'd be doing, and putting it away. I didn't remember where I'd put it though.... until I opened up my old year book just an hour ago. Look!---there I am! The one with all the early 90's Julia Roberts curls and the faraway look on my face:
So, according to said letter, here are a few things I was thinking about 'future me' back in 1993:"Will I be Mrs. David Rall by now? I'm sure I'll be living in and traveling all over Germany--teaching, writing music and poetry, and doing some interior decorating. I'll probably have some odd color of hair, be dressed in black, and still stomping around in my Doc's. I hope they keep making Revlon lipstick in Blackberry Red in 2003! If it's up to me I'll have 2 children named Balthazaar and Constanza.... "
Oh thank heaven (!!!) I did not name my children those names!.....And that I didn't marry Dave, and even that I didn't end up in Germany. (I do still have Doc Marten's and Revlon Blackberry lipstick though! and if gray-striped brown is an 'odd color of hair'---I'm in!) ***My life, currently, isn't exactly as I'd like it to be, but I have learned in the course of my 33 years that once God reveals His perfect plan for me--I wouldn't want it any other way. His ideas always get me to such better places than I could ever dream up for myself... even if I don't always enjoy the journey there!
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*this whole post inspired by Kat and her upcoming 20th reunion! :)
28 comments:
When I was a kid I always wanted to be a teacher. And I always wanted to teach the grade I was currently in!!
In college, I got turned off of teaching by the method the college taught and the private school they ran. I ended up majoring in psychology and then worked in the medical claims field and then customer care and phone sales.
So what do I do now? I work in an elementary school!!! And I absolutely love it. I am thinking about going for a teaching degree.
Jennifer, I love the hair in the yearbook!!
Don't you just love the 90's poof bangs! My school didn't have us write those letters, but I wish they would have. I would love to read it and see what I thought was in store for me.
I always wanted to be a vet during early high school years.
I have tagged you.
Come over to my blog and find out what it is about.
I love your high school picture. Our hairstyles were sure hot... you looked good with it though. I constantly changed what I wanted to be except that I've wanted to be a published authror since 1st grade and that hasn't changed... maybe someday... oh and love the kids names! Haha.
That's cool that they kept those letters. I had an English teacher that had us do that our Freshman year and promised to give them to us on graduation, but she never did.
Thank goodness that we don't always get what we we want!!
Balthazaar and Constanza??? What were you thinking???!! Ha! :)
look at your blonde hair!!! (that is you, right?) Thank goodness that life doesn't always end up how we thought it would when we were in high school.
How fun! I used to have one of those letters,now I kind of want to find it. You look so different in your high school picture, very pretty, though. A little like Kelly from "Saved by the Bell." :)
Wow, you sure had a lot more next to your picture than the dude below you! It's funny to think about what we thought our life would be like back then. I have a letter I wrote to myself 5 years ago that I still haven't opened; I have no idea if I'll be surprised or not.
Balthazar! now that is funny. i don't think that i ever had kids names that were that....unique in my list when i was 17. that one really got me laughing.
I love the yearbook shot. I have no idea where I put my annuals. With all the moving we've done, there's just no telling where they are.
But I am constantly amazed at the different paths my life takes. Even 5 years ago...I wouldn't have pictured that this is what we would all be doing.
I'm thrilled that I "inspired" you!
I am so glad you ended up with the children you have. I remember your plans in school and I must say, I think things turned out much better!!! I am certainly nowhere that I planned but am thrilled to have taken the detour.
I love this post! When I was four, I wanted to be orange Jell-O when I grew up! What?! I was a strange child. It's so funny to look back and to see what you were thinking back then. Loved the hair, buy the way!
Yes Kat's post made me do some soul searching and thinking too. I feel blessed to be able to say I'm right where I thought I'd be. (Obviously I wasn't very adventurous in my future planning.) Love the year book picture. I think you look very pretty (as always). And I'm glad you didn't end up as a Motel 6 maid.
That is cool they did that and too funny about your letter.
I wrote in my high school book that I saw my self being a psychiatrist in 10 years!! lol What I should of wrote, was that I would be Seeing a psychiatrist in 10 years.
Hi Jennifer
I saw that my friend Caroline listed you on her blog so I throught I'd stroll on over and check your blog out. You are so funny. I am employed by a 22 month old daughter and it is the hardest job ever and the most fun!
I love your blog-you go girl!!
Hi Jennifer
I saw that my friend Caroline listed you on her blog so I throught I'd stroll on over and check your blog out. You are so funny. I am employed by a 22 month old daughter and it is the hardest job ever and the most fun!
I love your blog-you go girl!!
Wow Jennifer, I couldn't even recognize you in your HS yearbook. I wasn't sure which one was you even with your description for a while. But I think I got it right. You looked very pretty then and are very pretty now too, just different.
Amanda,
It was called an hour a day with my curling iron EVERY DAY! I would seriously get up at 4:30 every day to curl and curl and curl my hair. Darn Julia Roberts :)! But thanks for the compliment!
Lauren,
My hair only looks blonde there. It was still brown---only about 3 shades lighter than what it is now. After I had my kids, my hair just got darker and darker (and grayer and grayer!). In HS, I would change colors every other month---blonde, brown, red, burgundy, even had blue stripes for a while!
I always wanted to be a writer and an artist until I hit highschool and decided I didn't want to be poor, so I took every business class and started college with the intent to be an international marketing genius. I wanted to wear power suits and intimidate business men, sort of like in The Secret of My Success!
Considering where I am now, its funny. Much closer to my first passion than my second.
Oh, and it was fun to meet up with you last night. Good luck with everything.
I always wanted to be a nurse and I am still working on that goal. I do waver in what I do though and right now I am doing what is most important. Being a wife and raising my kids the best way I can. My Step-mom always reminds me that I need to slow down and enjoy this time cause I have so much life still to live. I have tried to live by that and it helps when I feel that I am last on the list. I also have to remember that I would not have all this fun had I stayed on the path I originally wanted to follow. I would be alone, maybe wealthy and very selfish. Although the world thinks those things are alright, I am glad that I listened to a higher power and changed my course.
Jennifer! I had to turn off my own music and listen to yours on this one. I think I like this song...
But on to other things:
Your picture! Oh my goodness, I'm so glad you talked to Amber about it through your comments because I was really searching too! I can't believe that's you! I had that kind of hair too (and it's sort of funny my own post right now, I swear I didn't read yours first...I promise), and it took me just as long to get it just right back in the day (darn Julia). So worth it to look pretty though.
Anyway...I fully plan on trying for my dream. I'm not, however, as confident in making the dream come true, that one of elementary school teaching. I just love it, but other things have just become more "life applicable" lately, like money. You just don't make much teaching, and I kind of want to use my time going back to school (if I ever do) knowing full well that I will get a return on the investment.
Is this greedy? I often get sad at the thought of not teaching. I wish there were some combo (teaching and making enough to support a family). Hmph.
Amen! My life hasn't always happened as I planned, but it has been better than I could have imagined. His ways are greater and better!
Lisa Q.
Oh boy this was an enjoyable read! :)
I wanted to be a teacher for the longest time. An English teacher to boot...but when I got to college and realized that there were so many jobs in accounting I headed into Business. I don't think I actually knew what an accountant was in high school! And I think your boys should be kissing you right now for naming them the strong names you did. Costanza??? As in George Costanza? What if you had had a girl???
That's so awesome you got to read a letter you wrote in high school. I was laughing at the names you wanted for your children. hehe
What a cool idea!! Next time I'm hurting for blog ideas I'm coming to you!
And those names!?! Your kids will thank you.
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