Did you achieve the goals of your youth?

Reflecting on my teenage years, I find myself pondering whether I achieved my life goals. Did they remain steadfast by the time I reached twenty? As I look back, I realize how age, maturity, and newfound wisdom can shape our aspirations. External forces also play a significant role in shaping our lives. Looking back, I’m often struck by how things eventually unfolded.

In retrospect, I acknowledge that I did achieve some of my goals. However, they didn’t turn out exactly as I had envisioned. From a young age, I had a passion for working in radio. Music has always been an integral part of my life, and I believe that radio was the ideal platform for me to be involved in the industry. Around the tenth grade, I began considering a career in Armed Forces Radio and Television, specifically the Air Force. By the time I was a senior, influenced by a girlfriend, I decided to pursue the Broadcasting curriculum at a local community college, with the possibility of transferring to Syracuse University later.

Unfortunately, this plan was only partially realized. I attended community college, but it was a challenging experience. After a breakup, I decided to take a day off and talk to an Air Force recruiter. I didn’t sign up that day because I had to take the ASVAB (Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery) test. I kept my intentions a secret from everyone. I knew I needed to escape my current situation. Surprisingly, I qualified for any job I desired in the Air Force. However, the recruiter misled me by telling me that the Air Force no longer offered that particular career path and that Ground Radio Communications was the closest option. In reality, it was a shortage career field, and he likely scored points for getting me in the field. I had lost interest and was struggling with college and my life at that point. As a result, I opted for delayed enlistment. It would take almost a year before I could secure a spot in basic training and technical school. I kept my decision a secret for a while. Eventually, I informed everyone, underwent my physicals (I needed multiple due to a knee injury in high school), and embarked on my journey.

The career path I chose was far from what I had envisioned. Surprisingly, it indirectly led to a job that aligned closely with my college experience. Just three months after arriving at my first duty station, I was selected for the White House Communications Audio Visual Department. My responsibilities included setting up sound and lighting systems for various events at the White House and globally, recording, using teleprompters, and making public address announcements. While it wasn’t exactly radio, I had taken classes in all these areas, including Omega Studio classes in studio recording. I had planned to pursue a career in audio after leaving the Air Force. I was particularly interested in working in the movie industry, either as a sound engineer or as a recording studio engineer, as I had occasionally worked on sound for bands.

My life took a different turn when I met my wife. We moved to the Pittsburgh, PA area (you can read more about our move there and the reasons behind it in my 80s blogs). Guess what? I ended up working in radio. Unfortunately, I discovered that the field offers limited financial opportunities. I worked at two radio stations and in retail to make ends meet. I even briefly worked as a State Prison Guard. I applied to become a State Trooper, but was told I was too old at the time. After a tragic event, we decided not to move to the eastern side of the state where the prison was located. A few months later, I was fortunate enough to get the job I had retired from—a steelworker.

Another goal I had since I was very young was to get married and have a family. I told an old girlfriend that I wanted to have two or three kids, buy an old farmhouse, and fix it up. While I didn’t achieve that with her, it’s exactly what happened. My wife and I had three kids. We bought an old farmhouse that had been partially fixed up but not finished. Unfortunately, we never finished fixing it up. In fact, we hadn’t even been there long when I got sick, and we couldn’t keep up with payments, especially with fixing serious issues like a new well and roof. So, we went back to renting as I was forced into an early retirement.

Did I achieve my goals? Well, I guess I did achieve some of them. I worked in radio and did sound and lighting. I achieved the biggest goal of my life, which was having a wife and children. I don’t think any of it turned out as expected when I was a teenager or even in my early twenties. I know of a few people who followed through exactly on their high school plans. I give them a lot of credit for their perseverance and determination to achieve their goals. So, did I fail? I don’t think so. I’ll close with a short story.

Years ago, I met someone who was a couple of years older than me. In fact, she’s a month older than my wife. We had a very brief romantic relationship before we simply became friends. She mentioned early on that she generally only dated older men because she believed that men my age were still uncertain about their life goals. I was 24 when we met. Unfortunately, I didn’t pursue the career path I had envisioned after the Air Force. At the time, I thought she was right. However, in hindsight, I realize that she was mistaken in my case. The truth is, money, career, and work goals weren’t as important to me as family was. I was willing to take on any job that was necessary to support my wife and children. They were my top priorities in life, and I achieved them.