When I was in Culiacan last month I had an interesting conversation with my 14 year old grandson. He starts high school next year and is already thinking about a career. He told me he’s interested in becoming a psychologist, especially in the area of marriage counseling. We then talked about therapy and the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

Flash back almost thirty years ago and I recall having a similar conversation with my son about careers. My son was an avid bowler and ate, slept and breathed bowling. His goal was to someday own a bowling alley. When he was older and the opportunity arose to invest in an alley with friends, he turned it down. Instead my son became an accountant and is a partner in his firm. He rarely sets foot inside a bowling alley.

Years ago when I taught in Guadalajara I had a class of teenage girls, fourteen and fifteen year olds. One of them was very interested in cosmetology and wanted her own salon. Today she is a doctor. Another one had her sights set on becoming a nurse. Instead she married young and had a baby right away and never did go back to school.

I think back to when I was fourteen. Back then girls were expected to be teachers, nurses or secretaries. I wanted none of that. Yet today I look back on my life and the most rewarding times were when I was teaching; whether in a classroom, a water aerobics class or as a fitness instructor. And I volunteer my time teaching English now in Mexico.

My granddaughter in Canada is only five but I wonder what her aspirations will be when she is fourteen. I look forward to a very interesting conversation.