Do you remember those “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” questions? Or maybe they were the “where do you see yourself in 5, 7, or 15 years?” You get them in school, in interviews, and even from family. It’s made to make you ponder your future, what you want out of life, and where you’re going/how to get there. I’ll be honest. I hated those questions, because you don’t know what’s going to happen in a 10 year or 5 year or even a year timeframe. I mean, another 2020 could happen and no one predicted that! Whenever I was asked those questions, I vaguely answered. In school it was always: “Yeah, maybe I’ll be working toward vet school” or “I’ll probably be working with animals, in college, living on my own, etc. etc. etc.” But I always kept in mind that the future isn’t set in stone and just because I said I was going to become a veterinarian for most of my childhood/teen life, it doesn’t mean that I actually am going to become a veterinarian. Because I didn’t. And I’m not going too. I’ve got a whole new goal for the next ten years and if you’ve been keeping up with my website posts, you already know what it is. So, let’s not focus on the 10 years forward right now, but instead, let’s look at the 10 year back.
Where were you 10 years ago? 2011? If we look back at the exact month of August, I would be getting ready for my senior year of high school–getting ready for band camp (and I really loved band camp)! I was still writing my story (I drew pictures of one of my villains all over my planar with little hearts right next to him). I went to my dad’s every other weekend. Went to youth group every Wednesday. Things were alright. And you know what? I do remember, during one if my years high school (not sure which one), I had to answer the question: “where do you see yourself in 10 years?” I ended up writing my answer in a poem format. I don’t remember the actual poem, but it was something along the lines of cleaning kennels in a vet clinic while working toward a doctrine in veterinary medicine. My biggest regret about that poem isn’t that I’m not working toward a doctrine, but because I didn’t listen to my teacher. My teacher back then had pulled me aside and suggested that I submit my poem to the school paper/creative magazine and I didn’t do it. Back then, I wasn’t pushing so hard to become a writer. I didn’t think that was what I wanted to do. But, sometimes other people see your talent and the road you should take before you do.
Going back to the question at hand. Do you remember where you were 10 years ago? If you do, do you think the you then would be proud of the you now? Did you meet the expectations of the “see yourself in 10 years” question? Or did you achieve something better? Something worse? I honestly don’t think the me from 10 years ago would be thrilled with me now. I know in some ways, she’d be disappointed. However, I think all that would change when she realizes how much growth I’ve gone through since then.
That’s what really matters, right? The growth. There’s probably some things you would do now that your you from ten years ago would never consider doing. Ten years ago, I wasn’t someone to speak out, lead, or confront someone, but I’ve been growing quite a bit in that lately. Then there’s my writings. If you compare my novel now to it ten years ago, you’d be surprised how far it’s come.
I dare you to take a look at your growth. Maybe you’re not at the place you wanted to be ten years ago, but you’ve certainly come a long way somehow. Knowing where you were ten years ago, where do you hope to be in the next ten years?
nikki diekemper 