Growing Up or Giving Up?
By Yashmitha Sritheran
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
It is one of the first questions adults ask children. The answers are often filled with excitement and imagination. A little girl dreams of becoming an actress. A little boy wants to be a musician. Another child pictures themselves as a dancer, an athlete, a painter or a filmmaker. At that age, careers are not defined by salaries or status. They are defined by joy.
But somewhere along the way, those dreams begin to change.
The aspiring actress starts studying medicine. The talented singer pursues accounting. The gifted artist becomes an engineer. The child who once spent hours dancing in front of a mirror quietly packs away their dancing shoes, convinced that passion alone is not enough to build a life.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with becoming a doctor, engineer, lawyer or teacher. These are meaningful professions that shape society and improve lives. The real question is whether people choose these careers because they genuinely love them, or because they feel they have no other choice.
For many, growing up is not simply about discovering who they are. It is about learning which dreams are considered acceptable and which are dismissed as unrealistic.
From a young age, many children are encouraged to excel academically while creative interests are treated as hobbies rather than potential careers. Singing is something to do after school. Dancing is fine on weekends. Acting is entertaining, but not a "real job." Slowly, children begin to understand that some dreams earn applause while others invite doubt.
Parents often play a significant role in this journey, usually with the best of intentions. They want stability for their children. They worry about financial security, social acceptance and the uncertainties that come with creative professions. Encouraging a child to pursue a respected career often comes from love, not control.
Yet even the best intentions can unintentionally silence a child's natural talents.
A young person who constantly hears that music will never pay the bills may eventually stop singing altogether. Someone with extraordinary artistic ability may choose a completely different path because they fear disappointing their family. Over time, they become successful professionals, but a quiet question remains in the back of their minds: "What if I had tried?"
Society also plays its part.
We celebrate graduates, promotions and prestigious job titles, often measuring success by income and professional status. Meanwhile, careers in the arts, sports and entertainment are frequently seen as risky choices that should only be pursued as a last resort. As a result, many talented individuals spend years convincing themselves that their greatest passion is simply a childhood phase they need to outgrow.
But talent does not disappear because we ignore it.
It simply waits.
Many adults still find themselves returning to the hobbies they once loved. They join community theatre groups, learn an instrument in their forties, paint on weekends or finally enrol in dance classes they were never allowed to attend as children. These moments reveal something important: our passions often stay with us, even when life pulls us in another direction.
This does not mean everyone should abandon practical careers to chase artistic dreams. Reality brings responsibilities. Financial stability matters. Families need support, and not every passion can immediately become a profession.
The challenge is finding balance.
Children should not grow up believing they must choose between happiness and security. They should be encouraged to explore their interests, develop their abilities and understand that success comes in many forms. A child who loves science should absolutely become a doctor if that is where their heart lies. But the child who comes alive on stage deserves the same encouragement to discover whether performing could become a fulfilling career.
Equally important is recognising that talent cannot always be measured through examination results. Some children communicate through music. Others tell stories through art. Some inspire through dance, sport or performance. These abilities are just as valuable as academic achievement because they contribute to culture, innovation and human connection.
Perhaps the question we ask children also needs to change.
Instead of asking, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" maybe we should ask, "What makes you feel most alive?" or "What do you love doing?"
The answers might reveal not just future careers, but future purpose.
Growing up should never mean giving up the parts of ourselves that bring us joy. It should mean understanding our strengths, embracing our individuality and having the courage to pursue a life that reflects who we truly are.
Not every child who dreams of becoming an actor will stand on a famous stage. Not every young singer will record an album. Not every dancer will perform before thousands. But every child deserves the opportunity to explore those dreams without being told they are impossible before they have even begun.
Because sometimes the greatest tragedy is not failing to achieve a dream.
It is never allowing ourselves to try.
As we encourage the next generation to prepare for the future, perhaps we should remember that a meaningful life is not measured only by professional titles or impressive qualifications. It is also measured by whether people have the freedom to nurture the talents that make them unique.
Growing up should not mean leaving our dreams behind. It should mean carrying them with us, even if the path ahead looks different from the one we first imagined.
