Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Young Adults - The 20-Something Club What Do You Want to Be When You "Grow Up"?

Wow Pyro!
That's a really great thing you're going to get going! I really wish I could do something like that, although I'm sure I would get far too attached to the animals to have a productive business
There's also the issue that I am very, very allergic to hay... Not a great combo.

I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get your own farm someday!

Ken, have you looked into owning your own restaurant? As head chef/ owner, you would be able to be a little kinder to your body, and still realize your dream. You would be able to create fabulous food, teach new and aspiring chefs, and stand and sit as you needed. You could also look into things such as being a personal chef, teaching culinary, or many other pathes in the food industry.

As for what I want to be when I grow up? I am going back to school in the fall (I hope) to get my MBA. I want to move into the marketing department in my current company. I am currently a Restuarant Manager, and while this job allows me to be in motion rather than sitting at a desk, I have days where it is very taxing on my body. I love marketing, I love people, and I love food. I can't imagine any life other than the service industry I just decided to find a new angle to pursue it from.

Asgirl, that's perfect. I dream of working in the design department for Starbucks, my previous employer.

I am a full time artist. I had to quit my second year of art early because i had a massive flare up. I was able to get my money back and I instead and i built a studio out on my parents farm. I am on dissability now. but the art is something i can do when i feel like it usually more then 40 hours a week.

www.jthomasstudios.com is my website

I had 500 hours as a heavy duty mechanic back in high school, I have also worked as a Resident assistant in college and last job i tried was autobody. i lasted 2 days then flared up for 4 days. it was not even hard work i just stood there and moved around a bit sanding body panels. i sure wish i could go back. I like working on cars and old tractors. Its therapy for me. I relate to old cars people often abandon them cause they are not as good as a new machine. quite often how i have been treated i like fixing them up to working or new condition and showing people how capable these old machines are. plus i cant fix myself but i can fix them

LittleArtist, that's awesome, though. Certainly, it would be ideal to be able to work fulltime anywhere like a fully able-bodied person, but it really sounds like you're making the best of it. I'm working toward working on my art full-time for myself (well, for clients, but no particular "employer") so I have a bit of jealousy for your studio space, personally set flexible schedule, and self-employment.

Wow!! I'm fascinated by all of the diverse passions and how everyone is figuring out how to make jobs accommodate needs. My dream job would follow along the lines of the 4 Hour work week by Timothy Ferriss. So far I haven't found such an opportunity, but I keep looking! =)

I'm very fortunate to be a Speech-Language Pathologist in an elementary school. I love my job most days. I see students every 30 minutes. When I am finished with a group, I walk to get the next group rather than having their teacher send them. It is an ideal amount of sitting/movement for me through out the day. I'd highly recommend the profession to anyone thinking about being a teacher but worried about being on your feet, stooping over desks, etc. There is a lot of paperwork though and I have had to sit through a few 2 1/2 hour meetings where walking/stretching is not very feasible. Strangely, vacations have been an unexpected challenge for me. I struggle with finding a routine that isn't over taxing or lazy, but it's a nice challenge to have to figure out =)

When I grow up I want to be an Administrator for a group medical practice. It is a very different field than what I wanted to be when I was 18 and wanted to go into politics. I figure that I have 2 edges for this field. The first being that I am following in my mother's footsteps. The second being that I have been the patient so I understand where they are coming from. Luckily for me I work for an amazing doctor in a solo practice as the office manager. Unfortunately, I really need to finish my BA and then get my MBA in healthcare administration. I have repeatedly attempted to go back to school with no luck. I get into it and cannot finish because I flare so bad. I am currently taking a break and hoping that come fall I can start with just 1 class. The other complication is that I am a single mom of a two year old whose father is not involved with her at all. While she is the light of my life and the reason I fight so hard everyday, she takes what little energy I have left after working 40 hours a week. So while I hope to follow my dreams, I am also learning that sometimes you have to take baby steps instead of massive leaps forward.

Yoga therapist. After I discovered yoga helped my pain and stiffness tremendously, it inspired me to teach I'll be starting my program in 2 weeks.

Wow! I am really impressed with all of your career paths. I am really happy to hear that you guys are able to alter your original dream to make it into something you love and that works with AS. That is a difficult thing to do. You are very strong, inspiring people.

I planned on being a neuroscientist because I love science and medicine. Now as I get older I think I would have eventually become a doctor since I think I would really love it. In college, when I was in too much pain to go to the required science labs, I wanted to be a social worker. Unfortunatley, I had to stop school because I was in too much pain. I have never been able to go back. I still can't believe that I worked hard all my life with straight A's and now don't even have a college degree. I have really been struggling with that. I just feel I don't have the energy or strength to even try school again since I am much worse now anyway. I went to a pretty good private school, but I didn't realize their credits wouldn't transfer well to a state school, so I'd basically be starting over. At the beginning I assumed I would be out a semester, figure out what was wrong with me, get medication, and then go back to school. Hard work and school was such an identity to me. Since I am in too much pain to work, it's hard to think about going through school again to get a degree when I probably can't put it to use. Now I have found stamping and card making which is fun and helps distract me from my pain. I still have to get used to the idea and embarrassment though. But we all have to change things according to life experiences. I'm sure it will all work out someday. I am very lucky in most of my life besides my illness.

Good luck to you all!

I was diagnosed with AS last year after about three and a half years of trying to find out what was wrong. I was feeling so bad and having health issues that I had to take a lighter course load to work toward my bachelor's degree. I am now 29 and I recently graduated. Before I was diagnosed, I was considering of becoming an elementary school teacher. Since I am on medicine that suppresses my immune system, I came down with whatever virus during my student teaching time. Teaching can be a stressful job and more stress usually leads to illnesses. Needless to say, I thought that was not worth it and decided that teaching was not for me. I was able to finish college and graduate with my liberal arts degree this past May. I am looking for a job as a assistant librarian or a secretary. I also make jewelry as a hobby and I sell some of it. The key to a happy, successful career is to do what makes you happy.

I am on Remicade every eight weeks and take methotrexate.