Meghan: What did I Want To Be Growing Up

As a child, what did you most want to be when you grew up? Did you end up doing this? Why or why not?
January 5th, 2011


My obsession growing up was animals, more specifically, dolphins and whales. I loved being outside, nature, animals and all the fun things you could explore and do outside. But by late elementary school I constantly talked about dolphins and whales, to the point that one Christmas I remember getting just books upon books on these amazing creatures! I would sit, read and look at pictures for hours. Eventually I got the idea in my head that one day when I grew up I wanted desperately to be a dolphin trainer. My favorite place to go was the Baltimore aquarium and watch the trainers interact with the dolphins. Even after graduating high school, my parents took Dwayne and I on a trip to Florida in which one of our days was spent at Sea World. I ,of course, only wanted to go to see the Shamu show, but convincing Dwayne was another story. He would only go if I went on the roller coaster which consisted of several loops. If you know me, I'm not much of a ride kind of gal because I get horrible headaches after they are over. This day was no different and I remember going on the roller coaster and having the worst headache afterwards(especially since the temperature that day was around 95 degrees) but I didn't care. In my mind, I'd earned the right to watch the Shamu show!

I obviously, living in Lancaster, Pa, am not a dolphin trainer. I think one of the biggest drawbacks was always that there was nowhere close by to pursue this dream of mine. I am a homebody and couldn't imagine moving away. Still to this day I do love these animals. As a graduation present to one of best friends Lindsay I asked her if on our travels to Florida if she would go to Discovery Cove with me to swim with the dolphins. She of course said yes and so we did! The experience was one I will always treasure and I would swim again with them in a heartbeat if given the chance.