When I grow up

It is so funny to sit back and think about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I of course was not ever like anyone that I knew. I never wanted to be a doctor, I knew I didn't like blood then or a fireman, because I was not trying to get burnt up. I didn't want to be a teacher because everyone else in my family was a teacher and they didn't make any money. And I especially didn't want to be a police man as they beat people and I wasn't in to that.

So what did I want to be? A Star!! From the age of 2 I would tell my parents that when I grew up I was going to be a star. For the duration of my school career, I prepared myself to be a star. I would participate in plays, singing groups, dance classes all in the ultimate pursuit of being a star. I went to college and majored in theatre because I was going to be a star. Then I got out into the real world, got whooped up on a few times and realized. I DON'T WANT TO BE A STAR. What I have seen people do for stardom are just not things I am willing to do.

Lately, however, I have been thinking about what it means to be a star and I have realized that I have reached stardom. I am a star in the eyes of the many students that I reach every day. Yes, I became a teacher. Shut up. Back to my point. I am a star to the cheerleaders that I coach when admonish and praise them for their hard work. I am a star to my younger cousins when I take time out to talk to them about their life goals before they go to the Army, help them become the best cheerleader on the squad, when I help them with their hair and style, when I listen to them when they feel that no one hears them, when I spend time with them and only them, when I watch the Cheetah Girls movies with them, when I can talk about the latest teen sensation and actually know what I am talking about, when I am able to defend them when they are getting a little chubby because they are prepubescent, when I am able to give them hugs when they really need it. I have reached my goal. I am a star to a few people and that for me is enough at this juncture in my life. The only things I had to sacrifice to gain this title were time, love and affection, all things that I am willing to sacrifice for stardom. Although I don't completely consider myself grown-up (my bills do), I do see myself as growing. So, I have reached part of my goal of stardom and it is nice, but now I am trying to figure out what I want to really be when I grow up.

Ms. Denva