Recently, I was riding in a SFO airport-hotel shuttle bus. Across the aisle sat a charming, cute, brunette 10-year-old boy, named Noah. The driver, an upbeat, fun guy from the Philippines, asked the kid the typical question that all adults ask. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Noah’s answer: “I want to be a social influencer, make tons of money, and be super rich.”
Being the nosy lady I am, I asked, “What are you planning to influence? Lifestyle? Personal care products? Sports products? Business? Fashion?”
Noah: “I dunno. I just wanna be a social influencer, and YouTube will pay me lots of money. I’ll be a zillionaire. Or I want to design video games and be super rich.”
Me: “Why do you also want to design video games?”
Noah: “Because I like playing them.”
Me: “Do you plan to go to school to learn how to design games?” Yes, I sounded like a typical adult.
Noah: “No. I’m good on a computer, so it’ll be easy.”
Me: “I’ve talked to video game writers. They write the story, script, actions, you know, all of it, and work alongside the programmers and developers. It’s a huge job and takes a big team. I bet it’s a lot of fun, though.”
Noah’s eyes lit up when he heard I’d met video game developers—probably wondering how someone my age would meet cool people like that. I met them about twelve years ago while taking screenwriting classes at L.A. film school. They were from Sony Studios. Writing video games must be a mind-boggling challenge — so many possible outcomes.
Okay, I admit. I’m “youth-challenged.”
That’s my P.C. description for “old.” Feel free to use it if you are “youth challenged,” too. But the friendly boy’s social influencer answer made me feel a little sad for him. And the look on his parent’s faces made me feel sad for them, too. Undoubtedly, as he grows older, he will have new dreams. But when did “social influencer” become a kid’s dream job? Is it because their folks gave them a phone and access to the internet at a very young age? Talk about being “influenced.”
When I was his age, back in the late Jurassic period, I aspired to be a singer, movie director, special effects makeup artist, writer, commercial artist, firefighter, veterinarian, nurse…
Some in my generation would have said scientist, astronaut, lawyer, or doctor. My depression-era mother believed that the only acceptable careers for a woman were bookkeeper, teacher, or secretary.
I sang for a while, first as a guitar-playing street singer in San Francisco and doing gigs while attending school and working at Ma Bell (the phone company). Then I joined a rock band and made the mistake of marrying the lead guitarist (my short practice marriage).
Second Career: I became a technical illustrator in aerospace, next a commercial artist, and then an advertising director — none of which my mom could fathom or acknowledge. I made a good income for years doing something I loved. Sadly, she never looked at any of my work. That’s a story for another day.
Third Career (ongoing): My husband, Mike, and I entered the restaurant business thirty-five years ago. Let me clarify that. Mike had worked in the restaurant industry for years, opening franchise restaurants for others. My only restaurant experience was my first job at age sixteen. https://pamelafrostdennis.com/my-first-job/
Fourth Career (ongoing): Writer. I love writing Murder Mysteries and plan to write family-life fiction soon. But I still would like to be a movie director and do monster makeup.
Most Important Career: Being a mom. My hubby, Mike, and I raised a couple of great guys who gave us four awesome grandkids!
The restaurants* are still going strong. My “second career” experience has come in handy over the years for our in-house graphics, advertising, and in more recent years — social media content — which is advertising these days. Long ago, I traded my drawing board for a desktop, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
I didn’t achieve all my dreams.
But I’m happy and content with what I have done. Maybe I should try
this “social influencer” thing to make scads of moola and be super rich
in my old age. I wonder what and who a seventy-something woman
can influence. Should I get a facelift and fillers so I’d look glam-fabulous?
One thing is for sure.
I absolutely refuse to do kissy-face selfies. Scary!
*Klondike Pizza Restaurants are on the C.A. central coast.
