September 24, 2009 
The earliest that I can remember wanting to be an artist was at age 8. Many children enjoy drawing, but I won several art awards when I was in Elementary and Middle School, which meant to me that I was good. Continuing even up to my junior year of high school, I continued to plan to be an artist when I grew up. However, it was in that year that I applied to get into the North Carolina Governor’s School for Art and didn’t get in. It was at this point that I considered perhaps I was not cut out to make a living at being an artist. Instead, it was at that time that I decided that perhaps I would major in Art History, therefore still working in the art world and just making money off of other artists!
That is how it came to be that at 16 years of age, I chose my college major and 6 years later graduated from Hollins University with a B.A. in Art History. How many people do you know that pick their college major in high school and actually stick with it? Even better, how many art history majors do you know that actually used it in their career? I was lucky enough to become the Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council for four years, which I enjoyed immensely. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy fundraising and came to NBC 17 to work in the community department.
I say all of that to say that while I think its unique that I actually did study art and work in the arts field, my childhood dream was to become an artist. I think to complete this one (for me), I will have to sell at least one piece of art. Of course, to do that, I need to create!
What did you want to be when you grew up? A doctor? A lawyer? The president? Space Cowboy?
Hiya, Jessica.
This is a great question: “What did you want to be when you grew up?”
I’m having to think hard about it!
I know in a vague sense what I wanted to be.
I wanted to be an author of kids’ books.
I loved the work of Enid Blyton (Famous 5), C.S. Lewis (The Narnia Chronicles), and Stan Lee (Marvel Comics. Not a book, but still storytelling.)
At age 34, I’m only now starting to bring that to fruition. And even now, I struggle to have time… scratch that… make time… to SHIP my first kids’ book.
This question was a great reminder. Thanks for that.
p.s.
I also knew that I wanted to travel the world. Despite having no idea what Lifestyle Design was. And having no concept of nontraditional careers that wouldn’t require me to go into an office every day. We live in amazing times…