“As a kid you are always asked what you want to be when you grow up. This question is asked less and less over the course of your grammar school years, but resurfaces as you approach your final year of high school. It then morphs into ‘What do you want to study in college?’ Once you finish college, there are more questions asked of you by employers. ‘Will you work Saturday? Can you pick up my dry cleaning? What is your ten-year plan with this company?’
This week I was lucky enough to be asked the following question: “Do you want to climb to the top of a crane being hauled on a ship and shoot its attempt at clearing the 193-foot tall Vincent Thomas Bridge?” If that question had been asked when I was a child, it would have saved me four years in business school. My response would have been ‘Yes, what job is that and how do I get it?’ Enjoy my view!” – John Moody
You can read about John’s story on NatGeo’s America’s Port Blog.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Capt. Jack // Apr 23, 2008 at 4:50 am
I grew up in a desert. In high school I was studding to be a computer programmer. No one knew who Bill Gates was at the time.
Now my home is on a sailboat. I’m a licensed captain and
sailedmotored around the world 1 & 1/2 times. Who knew?I wish I could get back 7 years computer programing and 22 years in retail sales for more years of the sea.
~~__/)__~~
2 Fred Fry // Apr 23, 2008 at 8:33 am
When I was living in Finland I gave a presentation on the Merchant Marine to a (US) Boy Scout troop there. One of the kids was the son of a diplomat there who happen to have had a career in the Air Force. I heard back later on that his kid had gone home and proudly declared that he wanted to be a merchant mariner when he grew up. Apparently it was the news that you can eat all the ice cream you want on ship that sealed the deal. the cool photos I brought didn’t hurt either. One was of a container of circus lions we were getting ready to ship out of Charleston.
That episode of America’s Port was great. A bit overdramatic, but I gues that’s needed since things really happen much slower, except when things go wrong.
3 Kennebec Captain // Apr 24, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Fred - You made a better impression then I did. I talked to my boy’s class when he was about 3 ft high. I showed them a 8×10 color photo of the ship, told them I was the chief mate, I was in charge of the cargo and so on. Any Questions? First question: Did you BUILD that ship? Me: No, I didn’t build it . I work on board. I’m the Chief Mate. I am in charge of cargo. Second Question. Do you OWN that ship? Me: No, I don’t own it, I just work there. ….Tough bunch, next time I’ll bring some pictures of lions.
4 Capt. Jack // Apr 24, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I work for a school that does merchant marine license training for adults. Our latest experiment is teaching High School students. This is a CG approved class. I think we are the first in the Nation to do such a thing. The questions we get are a bit different from your guys and gals. Now they ask us how question like How much do make? What are the benefits? Where have you sailed to? We are waiting to see what the end result becomes of the experiment. There is one student that is a Sea Scout. Im sure he will continue on. I can see salt water in his eyes.
They have about 4 more weeks before the exam out. They are getting a bit bored with the class. I think its time to bring out the Lion Pictures!
~~__/)__~~
5 Fred // Apr 27, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Got a lion photo in Maritime Monday 5. Will post another this week.
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