Becoming a cowgirl was my dream job as a kid

5-year-old me took on the Wild West during my kindergarten school play.

Seeing my relatives’ faces when they asked “What do you want to be when you’re older?” was always priceless.

“Emma, you should be a lawyer when you grow up. You get to help people in court, and everybody respects you. Or you should be a plastic surgeon. They make a lot of money.”

When I was younger, my parents reiterated these words to me countless times. In a typical Asian household, often the only acceptable job aspirations are doctors, lawyers or engineers. But I never wanted to hear about the difficult careers I’d be forced to pursue in the future. I wanted to live a fun and eventful life.

After watching “Sofia the First,” a TV show for kids on Disney Channel, I wished to build a similar connection with animals that the protagonist, Princess Sofia, had when her magical amulet gave her the ability to speak with critters.

Disregarding my parents’ plans for my future, I decided I wanted to become a farmer. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why would a little girl want to work on a farm?

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do was watch people riding horses. It looked so fun and liberating.

It’s weird, I know, but this is what encouraged me to audition for the role of a cowgirl in my kindergarten spring play. Expecting a real horse to ride on, I was disappointed when I got a stick with a horse head on it instead. Despite not getting to ride a real horse, I fully immersed myself in the role.

When I got home that night, I fervently watched my dad’s recording of me dancing in place with a cowgirl hat, sunglasses and a stick. I looked so cool playing the role that I decided I should be a cowgirl when I grew older.

Shortly after my experience of playing a cowgirl in the school play, I also discovered a new passion for animals at my friend’s kindergarten birthday party.

My friend had arranged for a petting zoo to take place in her backyard, and I was immediately entranced by all the farm animals trotting freely around in the enclosed space. I had never seen real farm animals before, except for baby chicks, which was an unpleasant experience that I won’t go into detail about.

I was beyond excited to play inside the pen. Feeding all types of animals, from goats to rabbits, I felt peaceful and relaxed, since it was adorable to watch the animals eat out of my palm. It also made me feel as if I was doing something useful. As I watched the caretakers pet and feed the animals, I realized that if I became a farmer, I would be able to work with animals for a living. To a little kid, doing something you love and not having to do actual work seemed like a win-win situation.

I now realize that being a cowgirl would not bring me very far in life, but they were aspirations that shaped my childhood and make me laugh every now and then as I grow older.