If you could go back what would you be............?

In fantasy land? I'd have done something more creative, starting with art school instead of university. By now I would be successful as a painter/jeweller or fashion designer and I'd also breed and train horses. My legal and social care work has been rewarding but I think those of my old friends who weren't afraid to do what they were really passionate about have had happier lives.

My daughter in law's father was a teacher and then headmaster for many years, He ended up hating it because the kids were so rude and unruly. When he retired he went off to Africa and taught there for a couple of years. He was thrilled because the kids there were so nice and respectful and really wanted to learn.

I was an accountant all my working life was mostly spent in Finance but I wish I'd been a detective.

I would definitely not go into teaching again as it is now. Enjoyed it when first qualified as able to get on and teach in own way then. Admire anyone who enters the profession these days.

Computer programmer. I actually became an accountant but I don't love it - too much of a hippy. But I've done quite a bit of (self-taught) programming over the years and I would have been a natural.

I always wanted to be a midwife or hairdresser.
In reality I couldn't wait to earn some money and left school at 15 and was a sewing machinist.

Day 6
Do it!
I joined am dram musical theatre after I divorced.I’m very shy but once you’re on stage,music playing, lights bright- no better feeling!
Time over? Don’t give up your life for your children.
Feeling ever so slightly bitter this afternoon!

Stood up to my Dad and gone to catering college ,I
did go in my early 30s after a bad marriage and he boasted to everyone how well I did and was doing .

I have hugely enjoyed most of the things I have done. However I would go back to My teenage first choices. First choice was vet, told by up itself hateful school that I wasn't clever enough, veterinary nurse at that time only required 2 Olevel passes so was told no A---y schoolgirl went in for something like that.

Art historian/curator, I wasn't important enough for rearranging of timetable to accommodate my A level needs. Rubbish of course and should have insisted on Art, and fitted something like French and Geography around this. No help from either school or parents to facilitate this. My sixth form years were truly miserable, thank goodness for the solace of my pony. At least I had the guts in the end to stand up for myself. It still rankles.

I have had a lovely career but if I had my time again, I would do something involved with being outside a lot, a naturalist or doing trading at Kew in horticulture.

I regret not going for further education and trying for a career, rather than settling for a job. But that’s what most girls did then. And maybe I wasn’t clever enough, who knows. My dad was ill and died when I was 16, so financially it probably wouldn’t have been viable . I had to work to help my mom.
I’ve loved music all my life, so maybe a career involving musics .

I would have loved to have done something creative, such as designing houses (inside and/or outside) or landscaping gardens.

I expect that this would have meant running my own business and I had neither the capital to begin or the confidence needed.

My teachers would be appalled at the downhill path my working life took.

I would have joined the police or the forces. Never had the confidence or the backing of my parents to go for it.

I would still have married at 23 and had my kids at the same age but I definitely would have made different choices with my marriage. We are still together 36 years later and still in love but made some bad financial decisions.

*Single. No marriage, and frankly, no children.*

Can’t get my head around “no children”

Wish I’d followed my desire to act - size 14, thought I was too fat.
Should have married my ex flat mate who adored me, he went on to be quite famous and very wealthy.

If I had my time again, I would still want to be a secondary teacher, same subject because I love it. Would I have married the same man - no - but then my children and granddaughter would be different! No I wouldn't want that. Maybe divorced sooner, if I had my time again.
What I would do differently, I wish I'd learned skills for which you need confidence - speaking languages, art, playing piano.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I would like to have been a designer. I used to make some of my clothes as a teenager. Would love to have gone to art college .
I ended up later on being a social worker. For those who said they wished for this as a career , you had a narrow escape. Long hours , loads of stress, very little thanks.

an ethical Tour operator- specialising in history, wildlife and nature, x country skiing, herbs and wild flowers and wild mushrooms. Might still do that... starting a business at 70 would be fun (Brexit dixit)

As others have said, I became a nurse at 19 and it was the best/only career I could have had. My own talents, personality and eventually pay made the best job ever. Retirement has been a mixed blessing.

Too rich to have to work!

A florist, not the shorthand/typist secretary with the Council that I was encouraged to become as ‘highly respectable’! I’ve done floristry and flower arranging classes since retired and find it so satisfying and relaxing. Hey ho!

I started trainng as a nurse when I was 17 1\2. I worked as a nurse until I was 63 and couldn't imagine doing anything else. I loved every minute of it. Good and bad.

Anything to do with gardening. Love growing from seeds and cuttings and prefer gardening to housework. Another reason I hate winter, I can’t get out there. Would love to have been a horticulturist.