When I was five, I didn’t dream of growing up—I was just lines of code waiting to be written! But I can share quotes that resonate with childhood aspirations:
“When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” – Often attributed to John Lennon.
What did five-year-old Ishaq dream of becoming when he grew up?

When You Were Five: What Did You Want to Be When You Grew Up?

When you were five years old,the world was a sprawling canvas of possibilities. Your imagination ran wild, unburdened by the practicalities of adulthood or the weight of reality’s limitations. The question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” wasn’t just a casual inquiry from a teacher or a parent—it was an invitation to dream, to step into a future self that could be anything, anywhere, anytime. For many of us, those early aspirations were a blend of whimsy, wonder, and a touch of the absurd, shaped by the stories we heard, the shows we watched, and the people we admired. So, let’s take a journey back to that tender age and explore what we wanted to be when we grew up—and what those dreams might say about us, then and now.

The Magic of Five

At five, you’re at a unique crossroads. You’ve got just enough awareness to understand that the world is full of roles and jobs—firefighters, doctors, astronauts, teachers—but not enough experience to grasp what those roles truly entail. Your perception is filtered through a lens of pure, unadulterated curiosity. A firefighter isn’t someone who trains rigorously and faces danger; they’re a hero in a bright red truck with a siren that screams adventure. A doctor isn’t bogged down by years of medical school; they’re a magician who makes boo-boos disappear with a Band-Aid and a smile. At five, every job is a costume you can try on, a story you can live.

For me, at five, I wanted to be an astronaut. It wasn’t just about space—though the idea of floating among the stars was undeniably cool—it was about exploration. I’d seen pictures of the moon landing in a book my parents had, and I’d watched reruns of Star Trek with my older brother. The idea of blasting off in a rocket, wearing a shiny suit with a bubble helmet, and discovering new worlds felt like the ultimate adventure. I didn’t know about the math or the physics or the years of training; I just knew I wanted to go up. What about you? What was your five-year-old dream?

The Classics: Firefighters, Doctors, and Teachers

Certain professions seem to dominate the imaginations of five-year-olds, and it’s easy to see why. Firefighters, doctors, and teachers are often the first “grown-up” roles we encounter. They’re visible, tangible, and tied to emotions we can understand—safety, care, and learning.

Take firefighters. At five, you might’ve been mesmerized by the flashing lights of a fire truck or the sight of someone in a big, bulky suit wielding a hose like a superhero. Maybe you saw them in a parade or on a field trip to the station, and that was it—you were hooked. The idea of saving people, of being brave, of riding in that loud, fast machine was enough to make it your dream. Did you ever pretend to put out imaginary fires in your backyard, wielding a garden hose like it was your trusty weapon?

Doctors, too, hold a special allure. At five, you’ve likely had a check-up or two, and the stethoscope, the little light they shine in your ears, the way they seem to know what’s wrong—it’s like magic. I knew a kid in kindergarten who’d carry around a toy medical kit, “diagnosing” everyone with a case of “too much fun.” For some, wanting to be a doctor came from a desire to help, sparked by a sick pet or a grandparent’s stories. For others, it was the white coat and the air of authority. Did you ever play doctor with your stuffed animals, prescribing jellybeans as medicine?

And then there’s teachers. At five, your teacher is a godlike figure—someone who knows everything, from how to spell “cat” to why the sky is blue. They’re kind but firm, and they have the power to make every day an adventure with storytime or crafts. Wanting to be a teacher might’ve come from a love of school, a fascination with books, or just the thrill of being in charge of a room full of kids. Did you ever line up your dolls or action figures and give them a lesson, complete with a tiny chalkboard scribbled with nonsense?

The Wild Cards: Astronauts, Superheroes, and Dinosaurs

Not every five-year-old dream fits neatly into the real world, and that’s where the magic really shines. Some of us wanted to be astronauts, soaring beyond the Earth’s limits. Others went even further—why settle for a job that exists when you could be a superhero? At five, the line between reality and fantasy is blurry, and that’s a beautiful thing. Maybe you wanted to be Superman, swooping in to save the day, or a ninja, stealthy and unstoppable. The logistics didn’t matter—capes and superpowers were as real as anything else.

And then there were the truly out-there dreams. I had a friend who, at five, insisted she’d be a dinosaur when she grew up. Not a paleontologist—a dinosaur. She’d stomp around the playground, roaring at anyone who dared question her career Ascending the monkey bars of ambition, she’d point to her little brother and say, “See? I told you I could climb higher!” It didn’t matter that dinosaurs were extinct or that humans can’t transform into them—her five-year-old logic was ironclad: if she could imagine it, it could happen.

What wild card did you pull at five? Did you want to be a pirate sailing the seven seas, a rock star belting out tunes, or maybe a dragon tamer? Those dreams weren’t just silly—they were a glimpse into your untamed spirit, your belief that anything was possible.

Influences: TV, Books, and Heroes

Where did these dreams come from? At five, your world is small but vibrant, colored by the things you see and hear. Television was a big one—shows like Sesame Street might’ve inspired a love of teaching, while Power Rangers fueled superhero fantasies. For me, The Magic School Bus planted seeds of scientific wonder that fed my astronaut dream. What shows shaped your five-year-old self? Did you watch Barney and dream of singing, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and picture yourself fighting crime?

Books played a role, too. Picture books with bold illustrations—firefighters dousing flames, astronauts floating in space, doctors tending to smiling patients—made those jobs feel alive. Maybe you had a favorite story that you begged to hear again and again, each reading cementing your dream a little more. And don’t forget the people around you. A parent who fixed cars might’ve sparked a mechanic dream. A grandparent’s tales of the war could’ve turned you into a soldier in your mind. Who were your heroes at five?

The Evolution of Dreams

Here’s the thing about those five-year-old dreams: they don’t always stick. Life has a way of nudging us down different paths. My astronaut dream faded when I realized I wasn’t great at math—and that space might be a little too far from home. But the spirit of it, that hunger for adventure, stuck with me. Maybe you didn’t become a firefighter, but you found a way to help people. Maybe you didn’t turn into a dinosaur, but you’ve got a fierce streak that roars when it needs to.

Some do hold on, though. I know a guy who wanted to be a doctor at five and now works in a hospital, stitching up wounds like he once patched up his teddy bear. Another friend dreamed of being a teacher and now shapes young minds every day. For them, that five-year-old vision wasn’t just a phase—it was a seed that grew. What about you? How close is your life now to what you imagined back then?

Looking Back with Kindness

It’s tempting to laugh at our five-year-old selves—those big, impractical dreams seem so naive. But there’s something pure about them, something worth cherishing. At five, you didn’t worry about salaries or job markets or student loans. You didn’t second-guess your worthiness. You just dreamed, bold and free. That fearless imagination is a gift we often lose as we grow, traded for practicality and caution.

So, let’s look back with kindness. That kid who wanted to be a superhero wasn’t wrong—they were just ahead of their time, believing in their own power. The one who dreamed of being a dinosaur? They saw no limits. And the one who pictured themselves in a rocket or a classroom or a fire truck? They were reaching for something bigger. What did you want to be when you were five? Take a moment to remember—not to judge, but to smile at the kid who dared to dream.

The Echoes Today

Those early dreams don’t vanish completely. They echo in who we are now. The astronaut in me still loves a good adventure, even if it’s just a hike instead of a moonwalk. The superhero wannabes might channel that energy into standing up for what’s right. The dinosaur kid? Maybe they’re the boldest voice in the room. Our five-year-old selves weren’t predicting the future—they were showing us what mattered: courage, care, curiosity, creativity.

What echoes do you hear from your five-year-old dream? Maybe it’s not the job itself but the feeling behind it—the thrill of discovery, the joy of helping, the rush of being seen. Those feelings don’t age out. They’re still there, waiting for you to tap into them.

An Invitation to Reflect

So, here’s your homework: ask yourself—or better yet, ask someone you love—what you wanted to be when you were five. Dig up that memory. Was it silly? Grand? Totally impossible? Write it down, or just let it sit with you for a while. Then ask: what part of that dream still lives in me? You might be surprised by what you find.

When I was five, I wanted to be an astronaut. I didn’t make it to space, but I’m still chasing stars in my own way. What about you? What did your five-year-old self see in your future? And what can you learn from them today? That little dreamer had something to say—and maybe, just maybe, they still do.