Daily writing prompt

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

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When I was five years old, what did I want to be when I grew up? The truth is—I don’t remember ever thinking about it. Unlike some kids who confidently declare they want to be astronauts, doctors, or superheroes, I was more focused on the little joys of childhood. At first, I thought I had no memories of being five at all. But as I sat with the question, small moments started coming back to me, like scattered puzzle pieces waiting to be put together.

I remember getting my ears pierced. It hurt—a lot. But that moment is burned into my memory, probably because it was such a big deal at the time. I also remember being baptized, though more through a photograph than an actual memory. And then there were my beloved gold gladiator sandals. Oh, how I adored those sandals! Even though the straps kept falling down and annoyed me endlessly, I refused to stop wearing them. I loved them too much. That stubbornness, that determination, feels so familiar even now.

Another vivid memory? My manga coloring books. My mother sent them from Japan, and I spent so much time carefully coloring each page, making sure everything was neat and perfect. I didn’t just color for fun—I wanted to get it right. That attention to detail, that desire for things to be aesthetically pleasing, has stuck with me through the years. Looking back, I see how those small moments—fixing my sandals, perfecting my coloring—were little indicators of the person I would grow into. My love for creativity, design, and authenticity? Maybe it all started right there.

So no, at five years old, I wasn’t thinking about my future career. I was thinking about my favorite shoes, the colors on a page, and the small joys of childhood. And maybe that’s exactly how it should have been. Because even though I didn’t have an answer back then, I now see that those early interests shaped me in ways I never realized.

Funny how memory works, isn’t it? What do you remember most vividly from when you were five?