"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I have a confession to make. 

At no point in my formative years did I ever aspire to be a teacher. 

An explorer? This is what my six-year-old self would have told you. A barrister? Only before I was old enough to really understand what one was. A surgeon? It certainly sounded important; "everybody will be so impressed!" In short, my answer to the question was inevitably designed to sound as though I had BIG dreams...

...only I didn't. 

I only thought I should.

In actual fact, in my early years as a teacher, I always felt a little embarrassed, particularly as a trainee, talking to others on my course whose entire, meticulously chartered journey had led them ever closer to their dream of one day shaping young minds, inspiring the next generation, becoming...

'A TEACHER.'

My saving grace was that my training took place as a music specialist in a secondary school. A BMus graduate, my route into teaching came as a solution to the problem of how to earn a living as a chronically risk-averse musician with plans (though I wouldn't call them "dreams") to own a house and a car big enough to fit a drum kit in and to put a definitely-not-cheap-looking ring on my then-girlfriend (now very patient wife's) finger.

How thankful I am for the series of incidental events that preceded my arrival in the classroom. I have found my dream job without ever dreaming of it. Whilst my specialist subject led me into teaching, I made the eventual move to primary, with a passion for creating meaningful learning opportunities which surpasses all other aspects of the job. 

One of the greatest tools we have as teachers is to ask questions. Questions unlock thinking, challenge assumptions and take children (and adults) in new directions. But, whilst we teach our pupils that not all questions have answers, many feel anxious if they don't have one. And for some big questions, the need to have an answer - the answer - can leave them feeling somehow incomplete.

So, for one ubiquitous question, might I suggest a slight amendment?

"What do you want to try when you grow up?"

Let's be honest about it, no one can be just one thing, anyway. Take away the myth that success begins with a road map and suddenly we all have permission to roam a little. 'Trying' still encourages choosing a direction. There is no lowering of expectation, no suggestion that children need not aspire to greater heights. There is, however, inherent permission given. 'Trying' does not commit you to a singular path. It does not require you to have dreamt a future in technicolour.

If you have dreams, follow them. If you do not, then that's fine. Follow your interests and let your dreams find you.

It certainly happened to me. And with no definite point of arrival plotted, I remain open for it to happen again.

Come to think about it, perhaps my six-year-old self had it all worked out, after all...