Often early in life, sometimes as early as Kindergarten, the question is posed to us, asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Maybe, around Middle School age, the question may get re-posed as, “Where do you see yourself in your twenties?”

The answers to both of those questions may be the same from age five to 12 or 13, or they may be different, and if asked a similar question in anywhere from a few more years to age 20, the question might even be unanswered as the person being asked may not have decided, as of yet, what she/he wants to do with the rest of their working life.

Between ages five to early twenties, we may have an idea of what we want to be/do. We see the plan in our minds, but as so often happens to many, reality reminds us of the words of Robert Burns, written in 1785 which echo in our minds, those being, “The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry.”

Things don’t always go according to plan for some, so as a baseball player facing a pitcher with a great slider has to do, we have to adjust if we want to stay in the lineup. If Plan A doesn’t go as planned, we need to go to Plan B, C, or even D. That’s okay though, because sometimes our true calling, may lie in one of those later plans.

In our immediate family, we had one member who made up his/her mind in Fifth Grade and is now doing what she/he planned back then. One member couldn’t make up his/her mind until a couples into college, but when the decision was made, she/he ended up in a profession. Three other members had to change courses to find their futures in employment, two of them creating successful businesses, and one in health services. All of us were/are blessed to have found something we were/are proud to do, and enjoy(ed) doing very much.

At my 50th High School Reunion, celebrated last summer (a year late due to COVID-19), we saw many classmates, some still working, most retired after working 25 plus year careers, in a wide variety of fields. Back in 1971, though, many of us just hoped and/or dreamed of what we wanted to do for the next 25-40 years.

In a recent “stroll” through Facebook, I ran across a video that sang of a group of school students, identified by the song title, Class of ’57,” telling a story of how their lives worked out after graduation.

As has been an effective technique for me to learn myself, and teach others, I share the lyrics of that video performance (see YouTube) by the American Country music, gospel and vocal group from Virginia, the Statler Brothers, two of them (Harold and Don Reid) who wrote the song, Class of ’57.

Here’s to the Class of ’23 and all the classes to follow.

The lyrics of that tune are:

“Tommy’s selling used cars, Nancy’s fixing hair

Harvey runs a grocery store, and Margaret doesn’t care

Jerry drives a truck for Sears, and Charlotte’s on the make

And Paul sells life insurance, and part-time real estate

Helen is a hostess, Frank works at the mill

Jenett teaches grade school, and prob’ly always will

Bob works for the city, and Jack’s in lab research

And Peggy plays organ, at the Presbyterian Church

And the class of ’57 had its dreams

We all thought we’d change the world

With our great works and deeds

Or maybe we just thought the world

Would change to fit our needs

The class of ’57 had Its dreams

Betty runs a trailer park, Jan sells Tupperware

Randy’s in an insane war, and Mary’s on welfare

Charlie took a job with Ford, and Joe took Freddie’s wife

Charlotte took a millionaire, and Eddie lost his life*

John is big in cattle, Ray is deep in debt

Where Marvis finally wound up, is anybody’s bet

Linda married Sonny, and Brenda married me

And the class of all of us, Is just a part of history

And the class of ’57 had its dreams

But living life, day-to-day

Is never like it seems

Things get complicated

When you get past eighteen

But the class of ’57 had its dreams

Oh, the class of ’57 had its dreams”

(*This one lyric different from original)

These lyrics telling the story of this fictional class, paint a picture of dreams that probably didn’t happen as hoped/planned to a number of young people, made when the time was at hand to begin their futures.

Truth is, sometimes, the best laid plans don’t always happen when, or exactly how, we hope. Sometimes, other jobs may be needed until the right one comes along. Sometimes original plans need to be scrapped or changed. Sometimes, what we hoped would be magic, turns out otherwise. Sometimes, while waiting for life’s breaks to come to us we miss opportunities, instead of being aggressors, making them ourselves. But that doesn’t mean graduates today are destined to the same fate of some of the Class of ’57. Life gives many chances to create new dreams, and/or make new magic, so have multiple plans, be patient, don’t get discouraged, keep working hard, and in the words of Journey, Don’t Stop Believin’. You all can reach your stars.

Congratulations, and Good Luck, Class of ’23!