When I grow up...

So true, whatever you think you're going to be when your "grow" up, chances are that's not going to be your proffesion. When I was younger I wanted to be in the NBA, and that dream stopped somewhere near my freshman year of highschool when I was still carrying some baby weight and couldn't even touch rim. Eventually I lost that baby weight and turned into a pretty good high school player, eventually even playing some college ball, but no NBA dreams even then. See the truth is when I was younger i wasn't very realistic, in college I had dreams of being a director of game operations for a proffesional basketball team, that dream is still valid, and I work everyday to try and make it come true.

During high school I never knew what I wanted to be. I worked a fast food job and hated it and never wanted to be in business. I started to work at an after school program and thought to myself that education might be the path that I want to take. During my senior year of high school, I was forced to take a marketing class. The professor I had was awesome and was really passionate about marketing and I really enjoyed it. I started to look at colleges and realized that I might want to study business. MSU had a great business program along with an education school that I was interested in. I got accepted to MSU and my life has been better ever since.

Because of MSU I was able to land an internship with a minor league baseball team doing marketing and PR for the summer of my sophomore year. It was a great experience with hands on marketing and I loved it. The following summer I worked in Chicago for a distribution company working in sales and marketing. I also enjoyed this experience because it was very different than my past experience. Now looking for full time jobs I know what I want to do. I want to work with brands. I ultimately want to end up as a brand manager for a corporation. I am starting to interview this week for companies and I hope to land my dream job.

Few students are admitted into the college of their dreams and even fewer students come into college knowing exactly what they want to study and which profession they aspire to be. I was one of the few students who was accepted to the college that I had always dreamed of going to, and I knew exactly what I wanted to study. My mother has been in the advertising industry for years and from being her daughter, I was lucky enough to meet so many people and attend the "big meetings" to realize that this is the place for me. I had the opportunity at an early start to create a social network for myself and build the necessary connection to break in to this industry. I have been lucky enough to score awesome internships and meet with the "big-wigs." I want to remain in this industry when I grow up. I might not have an exact plan if I want to be in sales or if I want to work with digital media, but I do know that I am exactly where I should be and I am so lucky to know this at the age of 20.

When I was younger I wanted nothing more than to be a teacher. I used to spend hours every evening (after spending all day at school) "playing school" in my bedroom the way other kids played house. I would be the teacher, of course, and my over-the-top collection of stuffed animals would be the students. I even begged my parents to buy my a white board to hang on my wall so I could write math problems, etc. on it just like my teacher did when I was at school. Well, once I got to college I couldn't decide what I wanted to be... I changed my major about 4 times freshman year, ending the spring semester as and education major. Obviously that theory fell through, as I am now an Advertising major. Looking back, if I want to get psychological about it, I think maybe that whole playing teacher thing was just about the power. I didn't like being bossed around at school so when I got home... I was in charge!! (I really have no idea, that's just a joke...) Now that I'm almost done with college, I've come to the conclusion that in order to find out what I want to be, I'm just going to have to experiment in the real world until I find something that makes me happy.

What I wanted to be as a child vs. what I want to be/am doing now are completely different. When I was in highschool and into my second year of college, I had my heart set on being a nurse just like my mother. That dream was soon crushed when I realized that the sight of blood and virtually anything health related made me sick. Thankfully, I decided to change my major at Michigan State to advertising. It seemed to be a perfect balance of business and creativity all with the opportunity to interact with people.

Right now I can say that I am truly blessed to be doing what I love and what I have always wanted to do. I am currently employed at Motion Marketing and Media working for two magazines they own: ing and Capital Area Women's Lifestyle. I work as an account manager for the publications and really enjoy doing advertising sales so far. Still, some day I would like to see myself working on the creative end of a magazine and possibly doing media buying. I would basically like to use my degree for all it's worth and do both business and creative work.

When I grow up? It sounds so surreal but it's actually kind of here for me. I recently just graduated from MSU a few weeks ago with a B.A. in Advertising. It is so crazy to think that after this summer online course I will no longer be a student; I have been a student since preschool. One thing I have learned is that time will just fly by and many people are not ready for the outcome's sometime, but as humans we have to be.

When I was little I always told myself that I wanted to be a mom one day. I wanted to stay at home and have tons of kids and cook huge dinners and clean my house, although looking back on it now I tend to giggle. As a 21 year old advertising student who just graduated I want to be an impacting leader to people of all ages especially in the business field someday. I want to work for a well-kown company and be on that team that can one day publish a winning Super Bowl Ad; this is what I want to do. In life you have to have goals, and of course when I grow up although it's basically now, I still want to get married have children and be a working professional in a company that is being talked about for doing something great. Looking for "big girl" jobs is extremely scary and I tend to chicken out more and more each day in trying to find that dream job, but I think to myself I just graduated and this is something that I have to do in order to get my life started. 

When I grow up I want to be a creative leader that can manage a professional team and to always have a positive attitude, even when times can sometimes get rough. When I grow up I want to tell my story and my journey at MSU to younger teens who will one day be interested in attending college. When I grow up I will always remember to tell people that I am a graduate from Michigan State University and I am proud of it.

Heading into my senior year, I am at a crossroads. I have many ways to go: I could look for work with an agency, look for opportunities online, I could look for marketing/sales job or even ways I've never looked into yet. Once I choose a creer path, I will have to fully commit to it if I want to be successful. Choosing a career path is going to be one of the most exciting an important decisions I will ever have to make.

When I first came to Michigan State University, I was a journalism major, and before the end of my sophmore year I realized it wasn't right for me. I was fuly commited to journalism until I really started to realize I couldn't see myself doing that job every day for the rest of my life. I think I will have to be fully confident that I will be happy with my future, before I make a career pathway choice.

Can't I just be a college student forever?

There are many things I wanted to be as a grownup when I was little.  I started out wanting to find dinosaur bones, then I wanted to be a fashion designer, which eventually lead to interior design and later on graphic design.  I eventually made up my mind that I just wanted to be creating art for the rest of my life.  When I later on learned that living the life of an artist wasn't really practical, I made the decision to incorporate advertising with my creative ideas.  I transferred to MSU from a community college, and my first semester here I took a creative class.  That one class helped me make a final decision that I am creative and imaginative, but not for the purpose of actually executing the designs.  After taking the required Consumer Behavior class, I realized that is what I'm most interested in.  So I switched to the management concentration and am now focusing on market research and investigating the mind of a consumer.  I will be graduating with my BA in Advertising in the Spring of 2012 and I would like to continue right after that onto getting my MS in Market Research, also at MSU.  My ultimate dream is to work for a big company such as Facebook, Google, or even the company I've worked for the last four years, Jimmy John's.  I'm dreaming big and will have to start small and work my way up, but to me it's worth the time and growing experience. 

I recently graduated this May, and I am terrified! I have one potential job prospect, but it all depends if our sponsorship pans out. Aside from that, I am on monster daily, and corporate websites nightly. I know I want to work in event management, and sponsored event planning, but I am not quite sure how to get there. It would be amazing if someone could lead me in the right direction, or say "let me take you under my wing, you wide-eyed eager recent grad you" but that has not happened yet. 

To be completely honest though, what I really want to do is own my own businesses. I want to eventually open a lifestyle center in some suburban metropolis. I want to be self owned, self made and self sufficient. I am a leader, and a good one, so I want to take the ideas I have, blend them with the ideas of others and become as successful as I see myself becoming. I have mega-dreams, and I want to have mega-accomplishments to look back on. 

However, I know with any goals worth working towards, you must take it one step at a time. So for now, I need a job, so I can save money to start my own business.... I gotta take it one step at a time. 

My dream is to one day develop commercials for a company as big as McDonald's or something close. I started taking an interest in commercials two years ago when i figured out that 90% of them are just awful. I feel like i have some great ideas for entertaining but yet informational commercials that attract consumers to buy the advertised product. I would love to just sit in a room with a group of people and just bounce ideas around until we have created a great commercial for the company i will work for in the future. That is my ideal job as of right now, but obviously being an actor or inventing something would be pretty awesome as well.

As a Creative Advertising major I've learned a lot about graphic design for print and the web. I feel like these resourses open up a world of possibilites for a future career for me. Web designer, art director, illustrator, copy writer, etc. The current plan is to go to Portfolio School, most likely the Chicago Portfolio School as it's close to home. My mother would just die if I moved  out of the midwest. There I plan to take out a crap ton of loans and study Art Direction. Dream company would probably have to be Young and Rubicam. I fell in love with their Bacardi Mojito commercial my freshman year of college and have wanted to work there ever since. Maybe one day I'll move my way up to being a creative director, I don't know if I want that much responsibility though. I just like designing for the fun of it.

After graduating college, I plan on working in the Product Placement department at Warner Brothers. I grew up with my dad working in the film industry in Burbank, California, so of course staying in the film industry would be ideal. After working there for a while, if I ever decide to find a new job, working for the advertising/ marketing department for ESPN would be my dream job where I can work on their social and digital media. 

I have had an interesting journey is trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I began my college career at West Virginia University studying Aeronauticaul Engineering, which turned into Mechanical Engineering. A year passed and I had realized I wasn't cut out for engineering and turned to Accounting. With many of the pre-requisites done, I decided to transfer to Michigan State University coming into my junior year. Michigan State was 11th in the nation at time for Accounting. With my first Accounting class at MSU, ACC300, I realized this is not what I wanted to do either. I did my research and turned to Advertising over the summer. And here I am as a fresh Advertising major with only a year worth of experience in the field. I understood how behind I was and took on leadership roles and responsiblities as well as obtaining two internships. I realized I needed to get my foot in the door somehow. Experience was the way to go. So now I strive to work for an agency and work my way up to possibly a creative director. I also would love to do advertising for the Detroit Red Wings or any company in the video game industry such as Bungie or Activision. 

I've always been an perfectionist. An idealist. That will never change. My goals as an expression of that fact, however, will always remain fluid I'm sure. Growing up, I wanted to be a Supreme Court Justice, the President, a singer, a teacher and really anything where I could be in the position to change the world. My tastes have always been ecclectic to say the least, and I always struggled with how I could cope in a monotonous career. Any time I start down a path as a means to an end, I realize my interests and curiosities aren't fostered. Any career path I could think of would limit my thinking - except advertising. When it occured to me as a potential career path, my brain nearly exploded with possibilities. I wouldn't have to think about just one thing in my career - every field and piece of information has the potential to be a campaign. My favorite aspect of advertising, however, is the strategy of it all. The idea that the infinite chaos of the universe can be ordered into a finite strategy is exciting. It requires clever thinking and stretching your mind to encompass all possibile solutions. Getting into art direction and copywriting allows me to creatively make bold statements about products, strategy, and the world at large. Advertising gives you a soap box to stand on. It gives you the opportunity to create influential pieces relative to pop-culture, taboos and social issues beyond just product related pieces (which even still allow you the opportunity to create strategic art). Being in the industry is enough for me to be satisfied and happy with my life, especially if I have the chance to take advantage of these types of unique opportunities within advertising. If I could work anywhere in the world, though, I would live inside Wieden+Kennedy. I think their work is not only brilliant, their clients are impressive heavy hitters. W+K holds the accounts for some of my favorite brands (from the actual products to advertising of them) - Nike, Disney, ABC, ESPN, Converse and about a trillion more. W+K if you hear this - I'm keen!! I'm not holding all my hope out for W+K though. Whether I land there or not, above all, I aspire to change the world and I hope everything I learn here will put me further down that path.

When I started college I was enrolled in Computer Science and Engineering wanting to write gaming programs. I love computers and videogames and thought it would be a good idea to write programs and do something I love. When I started taking engineering course I quickly realized that this major was not for me. I would not want sit in front of a computer day in and day out writing programs by myself. I am a people person, I like interacting with people whether it be in business meetings or presenting to new clients. I thought of every possible major I could possibly do this in and I ended up with advertising management track. This allowed me to learn the business side of advertising and to work on my public speaking skills. While in advertising I am still able to work with computers and still be creative but in a different way. I wasn't sure if I wanted to add the creative track of advertising or try to find an internship working with creative advertising. I ended finding an internship with Harvest Creative Services and it could not be any more perfect fit for me. They handle clients and also handle photo, music, and video editing. I am not very good with the editing programs just yet but I am getting better and learning something everyday. I can really see myself working in this type of business for a career and be happy I chose this profession.

As a child I always had high hopes for myself. I just knew I would follow in my fathers footseps and work as part of Ford Motors marketing team. But as I journeyed toward college and i began to take classes my interest veered me a little. Now im no longer a marketing major, i have since moved on to Advertising. My heart has always been toward helping to rebuild the American car companies, and thats what I plan to do. I have not been able to land an internship with either of the big the auto companines yet, but no one ever said the road would be easy. I am continuing my education, gaining experince through internships and other work related groups and projects. I have a few more semesters here at Michigan State University and i dont plan on letting go of my dream. I was always told "the only direct route to your dream is through hard work, determination and perseverince" I continue to live by that.

When I was younger, as I am sure most people believed, I always thought I would become a famous singer or actor. I took singing lessons, attended performing arts school, and did community theater. But as I became older, I began realizing the struggle people who wanted to be “famous” had to go through and gave up on that dream. I wanted to be rich, not wait tables. I never lost passion for the limelight, however, so when I enrolled at Michigan State University I thought I would be on television as a world famous news reporter. Everyone would recognize me for breaking incredible news stories and giving hard-hitting interviews with celebrities.

My freshman year, I became the host of a student-run television show, MSU & U, and received my first experience being in front of a camera and conducting interviews with students, business owners and MSU officials. I also joined the student-run broadcast news show called Focal Point, and have been the vice president since. I had my own web-show where I reviewed movies and music, and I helped other students run their own web-shows too. I was on-track to having an amazing reel for graduation and I was really enjoying myself, but I wanted more.

I was interested in learning how my segments for MSU & U went from me standing and talking in front of a camera to becoming a television show. So I asked my producer to teach me how to edit. And I fell in love. With him yes, we ended up dating for a little over a year, but I had a much deeper love with editing. All I wanted to do was learn more about Final Cut Pro and all of the magic it could create.

When I came to MSU I added journalism as my primary major but I also knew I loved advertising so sophomore year I added advertising as a dual degree. Since I already had two degrees, I didn’t want to add telecommunications as a third degree so instead applied for the design specialization. As a design specialist, I am permitted to enroll in any telecommunication class I want and therefore, am able to learn everything I need about film and editing.

Last summer, I worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as an intern and created over a dozen videos for their internal and external communications. It was there that I was able to learn and grow my skills and ability with Final Cut Pro and realized there was more to editing than just television shows and films. It opened my eyes to a new way I could use my skills, so perhaps corporate communications is in my future is my dream job falls through. After all, it is a steady paycheck, I would be doing something I enjoy and I can for the most part do it from home on my own time...

I threw away the idea that I wanted to be on television, I knew now that all I wanted to do was edit, however, I still have a strong passion for advertising.

So here is what I've decided… I want to edit movie trailers. It is a perfect combination of excitement, entertainment, editing and advertising. I would be able to enjoy the glamour of fame, without actually having to be on camera and I would be creating something exciting to sell to consumers. After I break through to movie trailer editing, I would love to transition into editing actual film. After watching the Oscars this year and learning that editing was a category I could win an Oscar far, I have set a life goal to win an Oscar for editing a film by the time I am 50.

I know a lot of people have already said this, but I have no idea why we all rush to grow up. When I was little I swore I could be just like Peter Pan and stay young forever. Unfortunately, this plan was failing. So I turned to Plan B, becoming a Princess or a ballerina, then a movie star and a singer. When I first went to Michigan State University and my friends around me all were going in with majors or some idea of what they wanted to be, I have to admit I panicked a little bit. I took a bunch of classes not knowing what I would enjoy and ended up landing in Communications. I don't regret this decision, and I also somehow fell into specializing in Public Relations as well as Health Promotion. Right now I am doing an internship at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor for the communications and marketing departments. When I look back at these past few years I have to wonder where they went. I am graduating in 3 years without coming to MSU with any additional credits. I know I am not the typical college student, and believe me I've heard it from all of my friends. They tell me that I am crazy and their 5-year plan is better than my 3-year plan. When I took a moment to see if I really liked what I am getting myself into, I realize I like the career path I've chosen. However, I am still going to delay growing up a bit longer by taking on the Disney College Program this August-January in Florida. Hopefully this will give me some extra time to relax before I have to really enter the real world! But in the end, when I grow up I want to be doing public relations for some not-for-profit organization.

I've always had the outlook in life that I was never exactly sure what I wanted to be. I love so many different things that I want to do them all. Until I was ten I wanted to be a veterinarian, and at that point to be honest I didn't know how many other careers were out there. I am a very creative person, and love sports. My dream job would be to work with Sports Marketing/Advertising. I want something that I can do everyday and love it.

There is always the cliche "I don't ever want to grow up" therefore avoiding the responsibility that comes along with it. I am far past growing up - the responsibility of running businesses and raising families have taken care of that. Now I think I'd like to grow "down" just a little bit. Eliminate some of the psychosis of responsibility (or over-responsibility) and become more care free. Maybe that is the "NEW" definition of growing up. Amen. - Dave

When I orginally transfered to MSU from Washtenaw Community College I wanted to get into the business school and pursue a degree in Marketing, after I looked into it more I realized the marketing degree at MSU felt more like a general business degree so I switched into Advertising because it involves a more creative way of thinking about business. After I graduate this fall, my friend is hooking me up with a job in Chicago (which I am extremely excited about). But I would love to work on any campaign involved with Red Bull, I feel that they completely revolutionized snowboarding marketing (which increased sponorship and popularity among the sport) the reason I bring this up is because I am an active snowboarder. So by using advertising and one of my favorite sports, Red Bull was able to do something original while benefiting a sport, and still increasing profits, I think thats genius and the type of people I would like to learn from. After working within the business for a good chunk of time learning everything I can and making the right connects, I would eventually want to start my own advertising business. 

When I was in gradeschool, I wanted to be a teacher. I actually don't know why but I remember if anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, my answer was to be a teacher. But when I took a marketing class in highschool, I knew that's what I wanted to major in marketing or advertising because I really enjoyed the class. I'm actually not sure still what I want to be when I grow up, but I hope to work for a big advertising company.

Well, if you were to ask me this 10 years ago I would have said I wanted to be an astronaut, haha. Anyways, when I was accepted to MSU, my original major choice was advertising, then somehow I made the change to pre-nursing and wasn't accepted to MSU's nursing school not once but twice.  So as I thought about where else I would apply for nursing school I realized that nursing just wasn't right for me.  And here I am back in advertising...never should have left! So now, I would have to say that when I grow up it would be amazing to work at an in house agency for a fashion/clothing company like Calvin Klein, or really anything that would allow me to travel. 

Ever since I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian. That was the plan, always. Well, clearly I was just a delerious animal lover because one year after starting at MSU I changed my major to advertising. I can honestly say I have no clue what I want to do with the rest of my life. I know for sure that I don't ever want to have a stuffy office job. Currently I am managing a brand new horse farm and I absolutely love it. Being outside working with the animals that I love is the best thing that has happened to me yet. If things keep going the way that they are (minus the rainy weather) we are hoping to start a young rider lesson program of which I will be the instructor for. I have finally found what i love to do and I'm hoping that I can continue to pursue it. Though, as I like to tell everyone, I have no current plans to ever "grow up."

When I was in high school, I was absolutely certain that I wanted to be a lawyer. I chose MSU and my entire undergraduate course of study based on that goal and, up until my second senior year, I stayed on that path. When it came time to either sign up for the LSAT or figure something else out, I suddenly had a change of heart. I realized it wasn't something I was passionate about anymore and that I had been too stubborn to admit it sooner. I applied to a few PhD programs for Sociology around the country thinking I REALLY wanted to do research and policy work in the field of juvenile justice and corrections. Then I didn't get into any of those schools. I was forced to reevaluate my life plan and I realized that the answer had been right under my nose. I started working at MSU's telemarketing program 4 years ago and have moved up the ranks and am currently in the highest position a student can hold in the program. Once I stepped back, I realized I was not only good at fundraising and development, but I really ENJOYED it. I'm hoping to go into the field either staying with higher education or working with another non-profit. I'm thinking I'll be a lot happier than I would have been as a lawyer.

I'm not exactly sure what I want to do when I grow up, its actually a scary thing to think about because I will be graduating soon. Thanks for reminding me haha. My realistic guess is an entry level job in media buying, I've been told it's a esier market to get into right now as opposed to some of the other advertising tracks. Who knows what I could be doing though, Ive seen people get degree's in certain areas and make careers in completely different fields. The one thing I'll continue to do as I look to the future is network because at the end of the day connections are huge in getting your foot in the door. Interesting post, now you have me thinking.

For the longest time, I wanted to get a PhD in psychology, have a boy and a girl eventually, be married- the whole shebang. Now, I'm reconsidering all of it. I'm majoring in Ad Management and no longer see the happiness I used to see in having a family. There are so many goals I want to accomplish and things I want to do that I just don't think would be possible with children. I would like to be the President of a company one day or own my own, I would like to not only travel the world but live for lengths of time in other parts of the world, and I would like to be able to go out at night without worrying about a seven-year-old with the chicken pox. Basically, I want to be successful, and I want to have independence. We'll see.

I don't know where I want to be when I grow up. I could say I want a luxury corner office on Madison Avenue in New York City, which I might have one day. I could say I want to climb to the top and eventually own an advertising agency and then sit on my pile of money and retire, also is a possibility. But to be completely honest with you I have no idea, I could get into the advertising business and absolutely hate it or maybe I could love it. When I was younger I wanted to be an oceanography, High School an architect, freshman year in college an interior designer, junior in college an advertising Media Buyer/Planner and I'm sure this will change. I'm not sure what I want to be when I grow up but I'm going to start my adventure in the advertising field and if I'm not happy, the adventure continues.

When I was in elementary school, I may have had one of the more interesting answers to the question 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' Movie director.  Then by the end of middle school that answer had quickly changed to teacher once practicality began to sink in.  A path in education held for a while and then late in high school I teetered between psychology and business as I realized having my own children one day might be my true passion over pursuing a career as a teacher. Currently I am pursuing a career in Public Relations and feel this could be a great fit for me as I soon begin my life as a professional upon graduation in two years. 

I have tried to make connections to all of these aspirations I have had throughout my life - as I believe how children are a young age can and does reflect on the type of person they are to become.  I have come to realize what I really aspire to be, as all my past career choices have indicated in some way, is a leader. I enjoy being 'in charge' and I thrive on responsibility and 'friendly' competition. I am quick to be held accountable for my actions and do everything i can to prevent feeling I have disappointed someone. I expect a lot of myself and although I am not sure where Public Relations may take me or any other future career choice, I have set high standards for myself to be a leader or manager in some way, and plan to reach this goal in any career I choose.

It's amazing how much my thoughts about what I want to be when I grow up have changed since I was a child. Back then I wanted to be a judge...until I figured out you had a to be a lawyer first. What do you mean their's no "judge school"?

Either way, I've been committed to the communications, public relations, and marketing field since I was an undergraduate student at Michigan State University and am even more committed since I started purusing my graduate studies there. Right now I'm pleased to be doing things like writing press releases, managing social media and website content, designing publications, and other things to get my employer noticed and recognized as an expert in our field. But eventually I'd love to be a high level executive - perhaps a Director of Marketing and Communications - for an organization or business and work on long-term planning and goal setting.

Ever since i was a child i knew that my dad went to Western Michigan to become an accountant and he had done very well and now runs acouple companies so naturally i wanted to become an accountant as a child. Well that all changed very quickly as soon as i took my first accounting class in high school. I then changed my aspirations to finance, and then hospitality business and now im sticking with advertising. I like to think i have a very creative mind and i also would love to have my own company some day so i felt advertising along with the business experiences i have gained through my dad and grandparents was the perfect combination to get my career rolling.

My whole life I've always been the typical "people person" and my scores on those career tests always showed that I should work with people in communications or a related field. So of course when I came to MSU I declared communications as my major. Being raised by my mother, THE volunteer, I was always donating my time to worthy causes whether I wanted to or not. Through those experiences I learned that my greatest fear in life is to not be a positive impact on my community. This led me to non-profit public relations. I love event planing and promotions but can't image promoting soemthing I don't believe in. I want my work to truly make a difference and be something I am extremely proud of no matter what. I'm not sure where these goals will take me exactly but I know that making a difference is the most important thing to me.

When I grow up, I want to be a contract lawyer for an NBA or NFL player. I first want to work for ESPN in the PR/Advertising department. I love everything about sports, waking up to Skip Bayless in the morning on ESPN hearing him critique every player and team. I have a great portfolio set up and this class will just add to my knowledge of social media! I'm super excited to learn all these new things.

However, when I was younger I had two jobs in mind. As a child, I wanted to be a teacher. I thought I wanted to teach elementary education all the way up until the 8th grade. By then, I had learned about other careers and I wanted to be a lawyer, but instead of doing contract law, I wanted to do Criminal Law. My last name is Gambino and I thought how fun would it be to move to NYC and represent criminals in the city and possibly even the Gambino Crime Family! My mother was not having that idea! She told me I would have to change my last name if  I moved there. Later in my high school career, I discovered my true passion which was sports, writing, and talking. I knew I never wanted to sit behind a desk all day long, I want to be out there talking to people and networking. Thus far, I've done a pretty good job. I've worked at Walt Disney World and made a few incredible connects there, while also landing an intern position with the Campus Special and an Advertising Account Exec. I'm looking forward to what the future brings!

When I first got to MSU I was majoring in Art education. Until my sophomore year, when we were placed into classroom to help out as teacher assistants, I hadn't thought of ever switching. Going to the classrooms and actually being in the environment is a great way to learn if what you think you want to be is actually for you. I knew, it wasn't for me anymore and decided to change my major. I loved art but what were some jobs that incorporated that into it. Who knew that the job I was basically surrounded by when I was little would be the what I wanted to pursue. Both my parents worked in the advertising industry on the creative side, and I remember watching my dad work on editing a logo when he was working from home. 

So I changed my major to Advertising with a Specialization in Design and I have never been more excited about working!

When I first started at Michigan State, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. From a very early age, I thought about being a doctor but that idea was squashed when I realized how much actually goes into it. I tried nursing and other science majors and just couldn’t find any passion for it. I started looking into advertising and marketing and thought this was something I would enjoy. After taking some classes and visiting some agencies with the Michigan State University Advertising Association, I was hooked. This is an industry that interests me and it is always changing. There is always something new going on and it never gets dull. I had looked through careers and decided media planning and buying is what I would like to do. Just a few days into my internship this summer with Know Advertising in Royal Oak, I have changed my mind, yet again, and would like to work with the account team at an agency. For the future, the most important thing for me is having a family of my own. Keeping that as a priority, I also hope to become an advertising professional working in an agency working my way up the corporate ladder.

I try to avoid this question like the plague, I'm not saying I'm still deciding between rock star and ballerina, but what's a girl to do when she just can't decide what excites her most. When I came to MSU, I knew advertising was for me, but it wasn't till I was knee deep in copywriting, design and sales that I realized I loved it all and I was being pulled in all different directions, it wasn't until this year that I finally set my roots in design.  And I honestly think it's gonna be GREAT! I find it so exciting to have complete freedom to create, sure the client may have specific ideas, but as the designer you have the opportunity to try try and try again with any idea that comes to mind and that is such a powerful and exhilarating position to be in. Looking to the future.... when I grow up I want to design stationary or dinnerware. Not exactly advertising but I would love to build to that, start in a small firm and learn the ins and outs of the industry. Then move to a more specific type of advertising for weddings and formal party accessories and then eventually work my way into a designer position. It may not be the most traditional path in advertising, or use for the major, but I think the trick may be using it to do exactly what you want, or think you want.

Cause in reality, this is what I want today, but in five years my dream may be turned inside out and flipped upside down. But that's the great thing about growing up, the only way to go is up.

When I first entered college, I wanted to be a big shot Lawyer like my cousin. I wanted to be the lawyer who won every case, like on TV. So I followed this dream, to the James Madison College at Michigan State University. For a year, I studied law and politics but then everything changed when I was offered a job as the sales and owner's assistant at the Young Automotive Group. Here I found a passion for sales and marketing. This passion has stuck with me as now I am an Advertising and Sales Communication major. 

My entire life, I have loved two things, cars and sports. (I know, this is what every guy loves)  Because of this, someday, I want to run ESPN or own my own car dealership. My love for sports was further strengthened this previous summer with an internship at rEvolution, a sports marketing agency in downtown Chicago. At rEvolution, I was involved in business development, or rather, selling ourselves and rEvolution to other companies trying to sign them as clients. I had hit the jackpot, sales and sports, my favorite. Cars or sports, sports or cars, in the end I guess I'll have to decide. This is a very hard decision that eventually I will have to make, but for now, I am still young, so can't I have both?

So what do I want to do when I grow up? I want to run ESPN AND own my own car dealership. Oginsky Automotive

Right now the U.S. is F** up. Effed up in a variety of ways, I'm sure we are all well versed in, and the time for passion over paycheck has come.

My passions include Education and Design, and in my wildest of dreams I am an educator, a teacher, discussing lesson plans from a curriculum book that I myself have created, from font to informative graphic. What we learn shapes us to what we know. I have experienced too many distorted histories and neglected appreciation for cultures in our education systems to let them stand as they are unchallenged. I would also like to begin a free newsletter for Xican@s updated with social justice issues, art, and the nation's reforms, illustrated with DOPE graphics. This of course would not bring in the money and paychecks one would desire, however when I grow up I want to continue growing and assisting communities until their is no me. 

Well at least in Memory.

Dee

Although some would say I'm already grown up, I'm still striving for something more. I graduated with my BA in journalism from MSU and helped start a paper in Mason, Mich., then went on to do a little more reporting in Tennessee until I realized it wasn't the life I wanted to lead (long days, little pay). I switched over to non-profit communications, which filled a need I had to feel like I was making a difference (days were shorter, but little pay remained). When my husband and I moved back to Michigan, we both had a goal of working at MSU and eventually we achieved it. About three years ago I realized that I wanted to learn more - more about new technology and new writing styles, and I found the DRPW program at MSU. It's really opened my eyes to the possibilities. It's also been my saving grace, since many of my co-workers have been laid off over the last two years, but my new skills have kept me employed. I'm not sure if I'll be at MSU forever, but I know I'll always be a writer.

I started out in Eli Broad at Michigan State and after two years of class I decided to change my major to advertising management. I am somebody who completely has no clue what they want to do when they graduate college. I do know that I want to go into sports promotions and sponsorships. I have always been a sports fanatic and enjoy every aspect of sports. My dream job would be working for a major sports team in a big city like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, or Miami. I would like to have a job that can provide for my family and hopefully have a job that requires me to only work week days, but in the sports world those kind of jobs are hard to come by. I definitely would like to have some disposable income to enjoy other passions of mine like water sports and traveling.

Growing up, something I hope to never do. However, when I enter the professional world I would like to... and this is where my cursor sits blank for several minutes. I majored in creative advertising with a specialization in design and public relations. However, I worked the last three year in ad sales for The State News which I grew to love. So the path I am starting to head down now, since I just recently graduated, is job prospecting in advertising sales. I absolutely love the creative part of advertising and plan to do freelance design on the side.

My absolute dream job would be (at the moment) wedding planning. My hobbies of design and photography have allowed me to help out several friends of mine that are getting married. I have designed all the save the dates, wedding invitations, menus, ceremony cards, and much more. I have also taken several engagement photos for couples. I spend several hours a week on StumbleUpon.com, where because of my said interest it brings up wedding trends and wedding blogs. These always excite my interest and I love the personalization that one can bring to a wedding.

Basically, I have now confused you on what I want to be when I "grow up." My plan exactly, because ultimately I am not sure. All I know is I am excited for the journey and what the future may hold.

When I grow up (since I dont consider myself grown up yet) I want to work in sports. I know i'm an advertising major but I feel that my real passion is in the sports world. I want to go to graduate school at Northwestern University in Chicago to get my masters for Sports Administration and just to be in a big city! I have been in Michigan all my life and am ready to experience a larger city. It's weird though, because when i was younger I always wanted to be a doctor or plastic surgeon. Those big bucks jobs. Then I realized how long doctors have to be in schol (and found out how squeamish i was with cutting skin). Then I put on my sights on being a lawyer. Just like Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde movies. I even named my dog Bruiser just like her. Then once I got into college I realized that law is...boring. Advertising is a fun major and I am excelling in the classes but after 5 years in college I realized where my passions are. Sports and the inner workings of the teams you see playing on the weekends. It's amazing to see the transformation from a younger girl who was focusing only on money and a more mature woman who realizes that living comfortably is more important than an extravagant life and that most of all, having a family and having TIME to enjoy your family is what really matters. The future is scary and unknown, but I couldn't be more excited.

The first step I took to become the person I want to be was to step outside my comfort zone.  It had been twenty six years since I had sat in a classroom. Yes, before the computer existed......well the personal one anyway.  Determination and grit would propel me forward, I knew I wanted to be an MSU Spartan.  I spoke with the registrars office and they informed me to start at the local community college. The first of many hurdles of red tape I would jump through. So I swallowed my pride and enrolled.  I needed both math and writing classes to be accepted to MSU.  Now this may seem simple to the twenty something crowd, however at forty four years old it scared me to death.  Not the writing, I can pen prose with the best of them.  It was MATH, my arch enemy, my nemesis, the achilles heal of my previous college attempt.  I obviously have a math phobia.  I sucked it up, and with each class I took my confidence grew.  Today I start my final math requirement at Michigan State University, wish me luck. 

Grow up ?  I have no intention of growing up.  I simpy plan to keep growing.  Emotionally, cognitively, spiritually and technologically of course!

See you online,

Jody Strank

When I grow up I'd like to be working for a corporate cooperation, Fortune 500, in Digital Communications. I have a B.A in Media Arts and Technology with a concentration in Television, Cinema and Radio. I am currently pursing my masters degree in Telecommunications, Information Studies and Media. When I grow up i'd love for my job to entail each one of my education elements in addition to marketing mediums because I have a passion for creativity. I will feel as if I have accomplished my lifelong goals once I achieve this standing and will not have to worry about anything financially nor emotionally. I want to be a successful woman with a beautiful family whose able to retire when ready and continuing living my life for christ and while traveling the world.

Honestly, if I could be doing anything in the world then my dream job would be to be a travel writer. As much as I love traveling and learning about other cultures, my practicality kicked in and I decided to pursue a BA Degree in Advertising Management. I'm also working on a minor in Women's Studies because psychology and anthropology is another huge interest of mine. After graduating I would like to get a job in advertising account management or account planning at an agency. I've always thought it might be nice to work for a non-profit marketing department and their advertising initiatives too. 

I have been interested in art and advertising since elementary school and earned a BFA in Advertising Design at Wayne State University. I have been lucky enough to enjoy working as a graphic designer for 18 years, but now the marketing side of advertising beckons.

David Ogilvy's "Ogilvy on Advertising" was required reading for me in college too. I still have the book. If I remember correctly, Ogilvy was very much a proponent of research-based, copy-heavy ads that educated the consumer. Fast forward 60+ years and I bet he could still get his big idea across in Twitter's maximum of 140 characters.

When I was an undergrad, I wanted to work at an ad agency in art direction. Then I did an internship at an agency and I realized the cutthroat atmosphere wasn't for me. Now that I've been out of school and working for a few years, I'd like to be a great communicator. Working in internal communications, I have great opportunities to educate and engage with fellow employees. I hope learning more about these new tools helps with that!