What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

"You find out a lot when you ask them what they want to be when they grow up."

It was one of those little bits of insight that has stuck with me for years. When I ask that question to each of the girls as they come in to our care with their own stories it proves to be one of the best measuring sticks to go by. 

I sit down across from them, look into their eyes and ask, "What are your dreams for your future?" 

Monument of Christopher
Columbus in the Colonial
Zone of the capital city in
the Dominican Republic

Some don't have any clue. They might pull out a version of "I wanna be a firefighter" - like when we were kids and the entire adult world was a wonder. And just like when we were kids with no real idea of what we actually wanted to be when we grew up, their "I wanna be a dancer" changes the next day to "an astronaut", "a teacher", "a doctor", etc. 

Some do have a dream of what they want to be but have no idea of how to achieve that goal or don't know what it actually takes to get there. Like the little one who has always wanted to be a nurse but is in her late teens already and hardly knows how to read or the concept behind 2+2. It's hard for her to grasp that in order to actually become a nurse she has to dedicate hours to studying and advancing her education. She would rather be using her creativity in designing jewelry pieces or painting nails than practicing reading or mulitplication. 

Cool building in the
Colonial Zone

Others come in knowing exactly what they want to do and have answers that are very real and very probable. Like the tough one who wants to join the military. The people she has surrounded herself with are people who hold positions in law enforcement and military personnel. She knows every requirement and expectation and has focused all of her energy, time, and attention to that dream. 

A measuring stick. Insight into their world.

Treasure among the ruins

As the girls grow, learn, and realize what real goals are and true purpose is I see some of their answers only solidify and become more real and I hear other answers changing into something completely different. 
I've seen the one who is determined to join the military realize that there are other things in this life that she would like to do, like travel and see new places, own her own home, and study languages. 
I've seen the one who wants to become a nurse realize that since she is actually very good at nail art that maybe she would like to open her own salon one day instead.
And I've seen the one who said she wants to be a dancer since she couldn't think of anything else realize that she really has a good head for math and organization and maybe becoming a manager at a resort one day is actually a very real possibility. 

Exploring the Colonial Zone
with this handsome guy on a
weekend off

In each case, they begin to find things that are reachable for them yet fulfilling and full of potential - just like they are. Dreams that give purpose to their lives and help them think of their future and beyond just surviving today. 

I have the amazing privilege of watching girls who come in saying "God is nothing to me and I don't care what kind of plan He has for my life" change to praying to their newfound Father every night and watching the difference in their own lives inspire them to move on and grow in faith, become part of a family, and realize that they truly do have a future. 


It's exciting! It's exciting to be in the business of changing lives for the better. It's exciting, this life of following Jesus Christ.