The Linchpen

Last week I asked: What did you say when someone asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” when you were in elementary school. Below are some answers from Twitter. Enjoy! (Also, feel free to continue the #wdywtbwygu hashtag.)

@greglinch In elem school, I wanted to be an artist. Then starting in jr high, I wanted to be a journo. Guess I’m doing both. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 11:30 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@alykat

Alyson Hurt

@greglinch I wanted to be an architect. Today I’m happy to say that I do design and build things, but not places – info. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 11:37 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@kathleensulli

kathleensulli

@greglinch I wanted to be Superman. I ended up getting his day job. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 12:01 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@matthewbyrnes

Matthew Byrnes

@greglinch I wanted to be an a librarian and read all the books in the library. Instead I became a CPA & read the tax code.#wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 1:15 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@excdinglyrandom

Susan Linch

@greglinch I wanted to be a jockey; became a public radio reporter. Now I’m in grad school, trying to answer #wdywtbwygu all over again!

January 11, 2011 1:31 pm via Seesmic for BlackBerryReplyRetweetFavorite

@trishanderton

trish anderton

@greglinch Maybe pre-med growing up, but freshman chem spiked that. US Army made me a reporter, for which I’m grateful. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 2:35 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@sdoig

Steve Doig

@greglinch lawyer like my uncle john. Then I found out what a lawyer actually does all day. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 2:46 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@fricto

Michael Paull

@greglinch I wanted to be an astronaut, a scientist, or a novelist- still somewhere between (computer) science and literature :) #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 2:54 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@katdowns

Kat Downs

@greglinch As a kid I dressed up as a reporter for Career Day. Then I wanted to be in graphics, which brought me back to journ. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 2:56 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@suzanneyada

Suzanne Yada

@greglinch in this order: paleontologist, car designer, race car driver, U.S. Senator. Then I went to college. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 2:58 pm via Twitter for MacReplyRetweetFavorite

@davewrightjr

David Wright

@greglinch I wanted to be a lawyer or Katharine Hepburn. Still got time. http://bit.ly/eRquts … #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 3:16 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@RobinJP

Robin Phillips

@greglinch I wanted to be a doctor, author, FBI agent and spent a good five years wanting to be a pathologist #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 3:57 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@rosenbaumk

Kathryn Rosenbaum

@greglinch Jeopardy winner. I’m still working on that. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 4:00 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@megterilli

Meg Terilli

@greglinch Disney Imagineer, animator, Lego designer, high school art teacher. Then I went to journalism school. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 4:01 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@karenkho

karen k. ho

@greglinch 5-15: Astronaut. 15-20: @Samuel_Seaborn 20-26: Techie Journalist. I’m 2ish for 3 #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 4:04 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@WithDrake

Drake Martinet

@greglinch I wanted to be older when I grew up. SUCESS! #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 4:04 pm via NambuReplyRetweetFavorite

@kingkool68

Russell Heimlich

@greglinch I wanted to be a ballerina, a pediatrician, an actress and a lawyer. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 4:06 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@RebeccaKesten

Rebecca Kesten

@greglinch Reporter, ballerina, writer, veterinarian, paleontologist, marine biologist. Turns out 3-year-old me got it right. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 4:08 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@jmestepa

Jessica Estepa

@greglinch A detective like Nancy Drew or Charlie’s Angels #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 4:39 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@LisaSink

Lisa Sink

@greglinch Used to want to be a garbageman. Rode in the truck when I was 6 or so. Pretty much my job now, just with a tie. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 6:21 pm via Tweetie for MacReplyRetweetFavorite

@williampd

William P. Davis

I wanted to be a doctor (help people) and then a teacher (make learning fun). I do both (most days) as a journalist #whenigrowup @greglinch

January 11, 2011 6:29 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@JMBorchardt

Jackie Borchardt

Wanted to be a farmer, actress, rabbi, graphic artist, writer, researcher, teacher. Saw comp skills as integrated, not distinct. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 6:29 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@michelleminkoff

Michelle Minkoff

@greglinch at 63 I still don’t know what I want to do #whenigrowup

January 11, 2011 7:50 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@wcochran

Wendell Cochran

OH on a metro platform: “I *still* don’t know what I want to be #whenigrowup.” (slight laugh; from a 20-something) #wdywtbwygu #serendipity

January 11, 2011 7:59 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@greglinch

Greg Linch

@greglinch I said architect or astronaut. I still enjoy building things, just not buildings (& I still like the beauty of space) #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 8:08 pm via Twitter for AndroidReplyRetweetFavorite

@vaguity

Sean Connolly

@greglinch A newsman on the tee-vee. Or President. One for two. #wdywtbwygu

January 11, 2011 8:14 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@pergam

Andrew Pergam

@greglinch I wanted to be a vet. My daughter wants to be a hippie even though I tell her that’s not a job. #whenigrowup

January 11, 2011 8:15 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@kimgrinfeder

Kim Grinfeder

P.S. I love the Twitter Blackbird Pie plugin for WordPress.

UPDATE: Read some of the responses.

Quick thoughts from this evening:

When you were in elementary school, what did you say when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Do you see any connections between that and your current job or interests?

Thinking about this makes me feel thankful for all the great opportunities I’ve had and continue to have in journalism and technology.

UPDATE: Read some of the responses.