When I Grow Up
Justin, a ten-year-old boy with an adventurous spirit and autism, faces a dilemma about choosing his future career. As he navigates through various obstacles and considers giving up, he learns the importance of honesty and following one's true passion.
Justin sat in his classroom in Ottawa, pondering over his teacher's big question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" He realized he didn't have an answer, and this made him nervous. Justin wanted to be honest about his dreams, but he was unsure what they were. He feared disappointing his parents and friends if he didn't have an impressive answer. The pressure was overwhelming, and he knew he had to find a solution soon.
During recess, Justin overheard his friend Oliver talk about becoming a scientist. "That sounds exciting," Justin thought to himself, but he wasn't sure it was right for him. As he imagined himself in a lab coat, he tripped over a rock and fell, feeling discouraged. "Maybe I'm just not meant to be anything special," Justin sighed. The uncertainty loomed over him like a dark cloud.
In art class, Justin's friend Mia mentioned she wanted to be an artist. "I could do that!" Justin exclaimed, but as he tried to paint, his brush slipped and splattered paint everywhere. "Oops!" Justin laughed nervously, feeling clumsy. He admired Mia's paintings and felt like he couldn't measure up. "Maybe being an artist isn't for me," he thought, feeling a pang of doubt.
At lunch, Justin sat with his friends, still unsure about his future. His friend Lily talked about becoming a farmer, and Justin's eyes lit up. "Oooooh," he mused, imagining the fresh air and open fields. But then, he remembered he didn't know much about farming. "How would I even start?" He wondered, feeling his confidence waver again.
Justin felt overwhelmed and considered giving up on finding the perfect career. "Maybe I should just say I want to be a teacher like everyone else," he thought, feeling defeated. He sighed deeply, feeling like he was letting himself down. "What's wrong, Justin?" asked his teacher, noticing his gloominess. "I'm just... stuck," Justin replied, feeling lost.
During a quiet moment, Justin's teacher sat with him and shared a story about following one's heart. "Honesty is important, Justin," she said gently. "You should be true to what you love." Suddenly, it all became clear to Justin. "I love helping others," he realized, thinking of how he always enjoyed tutoring his classmates. A spark of hope reignited within him.
Inspired by his teacher's words, Justin decided to pursue his passion for helping others. "I'll be honest about what I love," he declared confidently. He shared his new dream of becoming a community helper with his friends. "That's amazing, Justin!" Lily exclaimed, giving him a high-five. Justin felt relieved and proud of his decision.
Justin's honesty about his passions led him to happily embrace his future. He realized that being true to himself was the most important thing. "When I grow up, I'll help make the world a better place," he promised himself. His friends and family supported his journey, excited to see where his honesty would lead him. Justin felt ready to face the future with confidence.
Justin sat in his classroom in Ottawa, pondering over his teacher's big question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" He realized he didn't have an answer, and this made him nervous. Justin wanted to be honest about his dreams, but he was unsure what they were. He feared disappointing his parents and friends if he didn't have an impressive answer. The pressure was overwhelming, and he knew he had to find a solution soon.
During recess, Justin overheard his friend Oliver talk about becoming a scientist. "That sounds exciting," Justin thought to himself, but he wasn't sure it was right for him. As he imagined himself in a lab coat, he tripped over a rock and fell, feeling discouraged. "Maybe I'm just not meant to be anything special," Justin sighed. The uncertainty loomed over him like a dark cloud.
In art class, Justin's friend Mia mentioned she wanted to be an artist. "I could do that!" Justin exclaimed, but as he tried to paint, his brush slipped and splattered paint everywhere. "Oops!" Justin laughed nervously, feeling clumsy. He admired Mia's paintings and felt like he couldn't measure up. "Maybe being an artist isn't for me," he thought, feeling a pang of doubt.
At lunch, Justin sat with his friends, still unsure about his future. His friend Lily talked about becoming a farmer, and Justin's eyes lit up. "Oooooh," he mused, imagining the fresh air and open fields. But then, he remembered he didn't know much about farming. "How would I even start?" He wondered, feeling his confidence waver again.
Justin felt overwhelmed and considered giving up on finding the perfect career. "Maybe I should just say I want to be a teacher like everyone else," he thought, feeling defeated. He sighed deeply, feeling like he was letting himself down. "What's wrong, Justin?" asked his teacher, noticing his gloominess. "I'm just... stuck," Justin replied, feeling lost.
During a quiet moment, Justin's teacher sat with him and shared a story about following one's heart. "Honesty is important, Justin," she said gently. "You should be true to what you love." Suddenly, it all became clear to Justin. "I love helping others," he realized, thinking of how he always enjoyed tutoring his classmates. A spark of hope reignited within him.
Inspired by his teacher's words, Justin decided to pursue his passion for helping others. "I'll be honest about what I love," he declared confidently. He shared his new dream of becoming a community helper with his friends. "That's amazing, Justin!" Lily exclaimed, giving him a high-five. Justin felt relieved and proud of his decision.
Justin's honesty about his passions led him to happily embrace his future. He realized that being true to himself was the most important thing. "When I grow up, I'll help make the world a better place," he promised himself. His friends and family supported his journey, excited to see where his honesty would lead him. Justin felt ready to face the future with confidence.
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