In Honor of Labor Day

What Did You Want To Be?

It's Labor Day weekend! The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. According to the US Department of Labor, Labor Day "is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

In honor of work, we asked our staff about what they wanted to be when they were growing up. We got some great answers! And it's exciting to see how many of them have always wanted to be teachers...and are doing so today.

What did YOU want to be when you were growing up? Leave a comment and let us know!

I wanted to be a zoo keeper, and then I wanted to be a park ranger, and how that turned into a special education teacher is beyond me.
—Diane Eversmeyer, Tutor for Intermediate/Middle Math

In kindergarten, I wanted to be a babysitter.
—Dana Marra, Interim Director of Operations

I always loved horses, so in kindergarten I wanted to be a cowgirl.
—Lisa Steen, Elementary Teacher

I wanted to be an actress.  :-)
—Kathy Anderson, Music Teacher

I wanted to be a marine biologist!  I had the most awesome biology teacher in middle school and from there on I was hooked on Science.
—Cindy Willits, 6^th Grade Teacher

I wanted to be an actress! Then an interior designer, then a writer. Now I live vicariously through my students!
—Heidi Bazilian, Director of Experiential Learning

I wanted to be a Pediatrician or run my own resort.
—Jason Billups, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

I seriously wanted to be a news reporter.  I used to go around interviewing people with my thumb sticking up as a microphone.  My hero was Kermit the Frog, who did a News Flash segment on Sesame Street when I was little.
—Tammy Bacon, Academic Support Teacher

I have always dreamed of being a midwife.
—Nina Cimino, Special Education Teacher

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember!  I loved my 1^st grade teacher.  She made school fun and I wanted to be just like her.  I’m lucky to be able to do what I’ve always wanted to do!
—Renee Keiser, Elementary School Teacher

I wanted to be an architect and interior designer.
— Meg Dubbs, Director of Creative Services

I wanted to be a Fashion Designer.  And a Musician. And a Teacher.
— Jamie Shedd, Senior Project Manager

I thought my orthodontist had the easiest job ever and I wanted to be one.
—Debby Adamo, Title I Academic Support Teacher

When I was younger, I wanted to be the ice cream lady at Dairy Queen.
—Jennifer Burke, Middle School Math Teacher

First I wanted to be a teacher, because both my parents were teachers. Then I changed my mind and wanted to be an actress or an anthropologist, because both my parents were teachers!
—Rebecca Scalese, German Teacher

I took a career aptitude test in high school and the results stated that I should be a funeral director!  Instead, I chose education – I like working with the living!
—Carol Alvarnaz, Academic Support Teacher

I wanted to be a teacher.
—Diana Perney, High School Principal

I actually wanted to be a teacher!  I also wanted to be a Broadway performer and a photographer.
—Katie Barnett, 1st Grade Teacher

I ALWAYS wanted to be a teacher.  I played “school” from the time I was very young.  I am living the dream.  Children are amazing and it is an honor to be part of their world.
—Mary Ellen Moore, Language Arts Interventions Specialist, III

I wanted to work with gorillas and orangutans at the zoo. I think I just wanted the job description to focus on feeding them a lot of bananas and making sure they felt loved.
—Heather Schaffer, Family Support Coordinator

I wanted to be an astronaut!! Far cry from being an English teacher!
—Pamela Slater, High School English Teacher

Professional Baseball Player/Bass Master Pro.
—Rich Costa, Operations Coordinator, Reclamations and Facilities

I wanted to be a teacher or a journalist!
—Julie Craig, 4th Grade Teacher

I went back and forth between teacher and nurse.
—Michelle Verga, Elementary Principal

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a teacher.
—Lisa Giannuzzi, Title 1 Parent Engagement Coordinator

As a young adult graduating high school, I had wanted to be a librarian.
—Kristin York, Project Manager, Pupil Health

When I was growing up I wanted to be a teacher and a mommy.
—Melissa Barto, Special Education Teacher

I always wanted to be a teacher.
—Jacqueline Sieber, Teacher-Grade 4

At five years old I taught myself the manual alphabet and ever since I've wanted to work with the deaf.
—Johnna Kinney, Special Education Teacher

I wanted to be a teacher and I am teacher. Go figure.
 —Robin Elder (Walbeck), High School Mathematics Teacher

I have always liked to cook, so I wanted to be a chef.
—Sarah Goodwin, High School Physics & Math Teacher

 I've always wanted to be a science teacher! It’s true, I've always loved science and found a way to inflict my enthusiasm on others.
—Kay Hollenbach, High School Teacher