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Question of the day

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* He tells this story often during school visits

Before diving into politics, Gov. Bruce Rauner made his bones as a private equity investor. But the Republican said Thursday he earlier had been interested in bones of a different type.

During a visit to a Rockford elementary school, Rauner told students that his third-grade dream was to become an archaeologist.

“Boy did I ever want to dig up dinosaur bones,” he said. “I thought that was going to be so great.”

The governor touted the importance of hard work in school and told students they would be interested in different things as they grew up — just like he was. Besides archaeology, Rauner said he considered being a police officer, doctor and scientist before eventually settling on economics in college.

Rauner wanted to work with dinosaurs as a kid. Instead, he got Madigan.

Anyway…

* The Question: What did you want to be when you were a kid?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:47 pm

Comments

  1. I laughed. I always wanted to be an inventor for the army (not exactly a real profession, but I was 8) . Ended up in the property and casualty insurance industry.

    Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:51 pm

  2. Professional baseball player. I never considered anything else until reality hit me my junior year in high school.

    Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:51 pm

  3. I wanted to live in a van down by the river.

    Comment by Juice Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:51 pm

  4. A meteorologist. And living in a state with a full-year, fully funded budget.

    Comment by Linus Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:55 pm

  5. I wanted to be an architect. But sloppiness with any writing utensil in my hand and a complete lack of artistic vision squashed those plans.

    Comment by MSIX Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:55 pm

  6. paleontologists dig up dinosaur bones, not archaeologists.

    Comment by Homer J. Quinn Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:56 pm

  7. Sky King, in my v-tail bonanza.

    Comment by walker Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:56 pm

  8. Always wanted to pretend to be an architect.

    Comment by Art Vandelay Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:56 pm

  9. Quinn: But archaeologists do study the remnants of ancient cultures.

    Comment by walker Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:58 pm

  10. Not to be a bore, but an archaeologist studies HUMAN history and prehistory. If our very educated governor had really wanted to dig up dinosaur bones, he would have pursued a career in paleontology.

    Also, I always wanted to be a fireman.

    Comment by 35/Shields Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:59 pm

  11. I too wanted to be an archaeologist, and thought I had hit paydirt in the small stream behind the house one day during some exploring. Found a large bone, was convinced it was that of a T-Rex.

    Dad was less thrilled, as apparently a cow had fallen into the stream, died and the only remains left were the rear leg bone and some others we later found.

    My dreams were shattered after a stern discussion about not playing in the creek from my mom.

    I was 8 or 9.

    Comment by How Ironic Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:59 pm

  12. It is so stereotypical, but… Pro football player or a fireman.

    Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:59 pm

  13. Archeologists dig up human artifacts and paleontologists dig up dinosaur bones.

    https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-paleontology-and-archeology

    Comment by History Channeln Police Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:59 pm

  14. Fighter Pilot, all the way…I still get to fly, just not for a profession and not anything that goes mach 2

    Comment by prairiestatedem Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:00 pm

  15. I wanted to be a meteorologist, doing research on severe summer weather.

    Comment by RIJ Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:01 pm

  16. Farmer

    Comment by Boat captain Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:02 pm

  17. Movie director

    Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:02 pm

  18. And by the way Walker the V tail Bonanza is a pretty good way to go!

    Comment by prairiestatedem Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:02 pm

  19. I grew up in the sixties, so astronauts and secret agents were viable career choices.

    Comment by A Jack Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:04 pm

  20. I wanted to be shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals

    Comment by Saluki Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:10 pm

  21. Farmer, writer, scientist- stated that in first grade. Was born into farming on our family farm. Have also done the other two to certain degrees so far as well:)

    Comment by Anon221 Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:10 pm

  22. Always wanted to play 2nd base for the Cubs. As a kid, anytime being around Wrigley and then baseball, that was a huge dream. By Junior High, no way. Sports are the easiest Darwin example.

    The best guy on your team, neighborhood, area, region, state national region, then national. Whew. When you’re 12 or 13, those realities become all too real.

    There are other dreams to chase, some just as real now, just as cool too. But, as a kid, man, 2nd base for the Cubs, that was my dream.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:15 pm

  23. A Harlem Globetrotter

    Comment by Macomb Resident Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:17 pm

  24. When I was a senior in high school, my father sat me down and asked if I wanted to go to college to be a nurse or teacher (I am female). I said I wanted to be a secretary. I fulfilled that dream in the private sector with law firms, insurance brokerages and sales organizations for 25 years. I then destroyed that dream ending my career with 20 years of state service. I did get a pension and insurance, though, so I guess it was worth 20 years of frustration, debasement and dehumanizing.

    Comment by Gone, but not forgotten Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:17 pm

  25. Meteorologist (seems a common theme here) or Jack Buck.

    Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:19 pm

  26. Had no clue…

    Comment by Liberty Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:21 pm

  27. Marine Helicopter Pilot. I wanted to fly the air cobra.

    Comment by JS Mill Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:22 pm

  28. I wanted to be a detective. I shoulda stuck with that, my local police department needs the help.

    Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:23 pm

  29. A golf club……..

    Comment by PlayK8 Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:24 pm

  30. A math teacher. Or Bjorn Borg.

    Comment by Earnest Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:28 pm

  31. Astronaut. Then I figured out I couldn’t see well enough. Probably better for everyone this way.

    =-=Rauner wanted to work with dinosaurs as a kid. Instead, he got Madigan.

    Rich wins the internets today.

    Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:31 pm

  32. Rauner’s Friday assignment (not optional, must be completed before your next presser)-

    “How do you make an archaeologist really mad, really fast? Ask her if she’s found any dinosaurs. SciShow helps you Know Your Scientists by explaining the many differences between archaeology and paleontology, and how they’re each awesome in their own ways”.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6OjU8UvY54

    Comment by Anon221 Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:32 pm

  33. President of the United States.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:33 pm

  34. I wanted to be Sweet Swinging Billy Williams. Sadly, the only thing I had in common with him was being left handed!

    Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:34 pm

  35. Somebody with the power to fire the current gov.

    /s, but true.

    Comment by sal-says Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:35 pm

  36. I wanted to help others. I lucked out and got to do it.

    Comment by illinoised Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:42 pm

  37. Orthopaedic Surgeon. Wasn’t cut out for medical school though. I got weeded out by Illinois Wesleyan’s Premed program quickly.

    Comment by Tom B. Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:43 pm

  38. Madigan always wanted to be Speaker so he could negotiate reasonable budgets with reasonable people.

    Instead he ends up with Rauner.

    Comment by MOON Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:45 pm

  39. A Blogger….alas, no one knew what that meant.:)

    Comment by A guy Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:48 pm

  40. A citizen of a solvent, well-governed state.

    Comment by IllinoisBoi Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:53 pm

  41. =I too wanted to be an archaeologist, and thought I had hit paydirt in the small stream behind the house one day during some exploring.=

    Brother and I were digging in our backyard once and were sure we’d found a buried treasure chest. We had just the top of it uncovered and figured it’d be easier to get Dad’s big sledge hammer and break into it from the top rather than dig it up. Dad wasn’t at all happy about us busting open the gray-water pipe to the cesspool.

    Comment by MSIX Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:58 pm

  42. Audie Murphy

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:58 pm

  43. Bobsledder. I was impressed by the 76 Olympics.

    Comment by Dr X Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:03 pm

  44. Play drums with Led Zepplin and I got to do it. Unfortunately the other guys looked nothing like the band and the basement was not exactly the Aragon Ball room. But after some beers….

    Comment by zatoichi Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:11 pm

  45. Cowboy

    Comment by SAP Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:14 pm

  46. As a practicing geologist I appreciate that many of you saw the error in the Governor’s story. I’m sure there have been kids in his audiences biting their tongues so they don’t embarrass him.

    Always wanted to be a scientist. I get to call myself one!

    Comment by Lefty Lefty Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:19 pm

  47. Land surveyor like my grandfather. Ended up as a civil engineer like my grandfather.

    Comment by Huh? Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:35 pm

  48. If anybody asked, I always said a hermit.

    Comment by Excessively Rabid Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:52 pm

  49. Bruce, it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. The world needs more archaeologists. Please, listen to your heart, and head off to a dig as far away as possible right now and don’t come back.

    Comment by Anon Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:55 pm

  50. Astronaut. Space exploration still fascinates and as a child it was everything.

    Comment by Amalia Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:58 pm

  51. How strange…front-line archeologists are pathetically paid…yet they deliver a more valuable product than the line he chose…vulture capitalist and neoliberal hobbyist.

    Comment by Stumpy's bunker Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:09 pm

  52. A major league baseball umpire

    Comment by Demoralized Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:20 pm

  53. A nurse.

    Comment by Mama Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:33 pm

  54. A cowboy-didn’t hardly move without a cap gun on my hip…Wished for a horse every birthday; finally actually rode a horse when I was 18, discovered they had minds of their own…

    Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:42 pm

  55. I wanted to make music like they played on WLS and WCFL.

    Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:44 pm

  56. Maybe that’s why he closed the ISM, one of their staff shattered his childhood dream by explaining to him that archaeologists don’t dig up dinosaur bones.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:51 pm

  57. Maybe that’s why he closed the ISM, he figured that all the archaeologists who work there really didn’t know what they were doing if all they did was dig up people instead of dinosaurs.

    Comment by dutch3001 Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:53 pm

  58. Deputy Governor.

    Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:03 pm

  59. Secret Service agent. Aced the written test and first interview. Flunked the physical fitness test bigly.

    Off to the IL bureaucracy I went. Still get a tingle seeing dudes and gals with hard pins, dark shades, and the earphone/sleeve mike.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:09 pm

  60. - Liberty -

    “Had no clue…”

    I’m with ya!
    All I wanted to be was not bored…

    Comment by WhoKnew Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:28 pm

  61. Astronaut or veterinarian.

    Comment by Archiesmom Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:41 pm

  62. President

    Did 25 years as electrical/production/manufaturing engineer. Laid off last year when factory moved south of the border. Now biding my time as an elementary and middle school substitute until Donald Trump brings all those jobs back to the US/ snark

    Comment by train111 Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:44 pm

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