Kids need to be affirmed that they can make a choice about the way they live their lives, no matter the color of their skin or whether they’re a boy or a girl. As a matter of fact, we all need that.

When I grow up to be twenty-three
A storyteller’s what I’m gonna be
I’ll tell stories every day
He’s a good storyteller you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be twenty-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be thirty-three
A teacher’s what I’m gonna be
I’ll teach kids every day
She’s a good teacher you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be thirty-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be forty-three
An archeologist’s what I’m gonna be
I’ll look for ancient things every day
He’s a good archeologist you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be forty-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be fifty-three
A vet is what I’m gonna be
I’ll take care of animals everyday
She’s a good vet you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be fifty-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be sixty-three
An oceanographer’s what I’m gonna be
I’ll study the ocean everyday
He’s a good oceanographer you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be sixty-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be seventy-three
A dancer’s what I’m gonna be
I’ll go dancing everyday
She’s a good dancer you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be seventy-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be eighty-three
A hockey player’s what I’m gonna be
I’ll play hockey every day
He’s a good hockey player you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be eighty-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be ninety-three
An interior decorator’s what I’m gonna be
I’ll help people decorate rooms everyday
She’s a good interior decorator you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be ninety-three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

When I grow up to be one hundred and three
An architect is what I’m gonna be
I’ll design buildings every day
He’s a good architect you’ll hear them say
When I grow up to be one hundred and three
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me
I’m still gonna be me, yeah
I’m still gonna be me

© Bill Harley, all rights reserved. Reprints with permission only.