When I Am Older, I will have…
Just over 40 years ago, 14,000 British children, aged 11, were asked to write a 30-minute essay on were they aimed to be as a grown up. Now in their early 50’s, these people have been asked to review and comment upon their essay, and how closely they have managed to follow their plan for their life.
Surprisingly, a good percentage of people managed to achieve most of what they set out to do; most interestingly, a good percentage of the girls that wrote their essays saw themselves in the workplace, as well as getting married and having kids.
If this generation of 11 year old’s were asked to write the same essay… firstly, would they? secondly, would they consider marriage and children and a home life as a desirable future? thirdly, would they have the support from schools and family’s to dare to dream, and dare to pursue that dream?
Modern life has given us liberties and opportunities that our parents and grandparents couldn’t even comprehend; but is it always for our own good?
