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What Do You See in the Future?

We all have dreams for the future

by Helen Levesley (revised, originally published in 2010)

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To consider our hopes for the future.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need a leader and three readers.

  • Optional: you may wish to prearrange for adults to be ready to answer the question in the ‘Assembly’, Step 1.

Assembly

Leader: There is a question that people often ask us when we are younger. It is a question that some of us find very easy to answer whereas others really don’t know what to say! The question is:

- What do you want to be when you grow up?

If you have primed adults to answer this question, listen to their answers. Hopefully, some of them will be funny!

Im sure youve all been asked this question at some point by grandparents, aunts, uncles and probably your mum and dad. You may even have thought about the question yourself.

There are many possible answers to this question and the answer may not remain the same throughout your life. For example, I wanted to be prime minister/a ballet dancer (insert your own here if you like). However, I have ended up as a teacher, something that I considered, but did not really pay that much attention to. And yet here I am, in a job that I think suits me and one that I enjoy.

Maybe you want to be a footballer, a pop star, a neurosurgeon, an astronaut, a train driver, an actor, a nurse, a lawyer, a weather forecaster . . . or dare I say it, even a teacher. You may find that your thoughts and ideas change with age and experience and when you have a clearer understanding of what your strengths and weaknesses are.

If your ideas about your future do keep changing, don’t worry! There are some very famous and amazing people who began their life or careers as one thing and ended it as another.

Reader 1: Jesus Christ began by following his father, Joseph, into the family business of carpentry. After his temptation in the desert, he knew that there was another path for him. That led to his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. His life changed the world.

Reader 2: Siddhartha Gautama started life as a prince and had everything that he could wish for, including a wife and son. He became dissatisfied with life and left everything behind to become the Buddha.

Reader 3: Muhammad was the founder of Islam. He was brought up by his uncle, who was a merchant. Muhammad followed in his uncles footsteps into that trade. He became very successful and wealthy. However, after an experience in a cave where he realized that he was needed for greater things, Muhammad felt called to a different vocation.

Leader: None of these people began life truly knowing what they would become when they reached maturity. In fact, they did not really know until they felt called. So if youre still not sure and you’re worried, don’t be. Its very rare to be certain when youre young about what you want to be when you grow up. Just look at the examples we have just heard about, and you’ll know that you are in good company. However, if you do know what you want to be when you grow up, keep persevering in achieving that goal!

Time for reflection

Let’s think for a few moments about our hopes and dreams for the future.

Pause for reflection.

Prayer
Dear God,
Allow us to realize that our ideas and thoughts about the future may change, and that this is nothing to be afraid of.
Allow us to discover our strengths – they will show us where our future lies.
Allow us to discover and accept our weaknesses – they will show us where our future lies.
Allow us to follow and fulfil our dreams – they will help us to achieve the future that we desire.
Amen.

Song/music

‘One more step’ (Come and Praise, 47)

Publication date: February 2017   (Vol.19 No.2)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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