Kiwanis Writing Contest 2nd Prize Winner

When I Grow Up ...

When I grow up I want to be a famous actor who does his own stunts. In other words I want to be a stunt man like my idol Tom Cruise. He is a great actor, an amazing stuntman and has ADHD like me. I know I can do this because I already have the makings for it. It would be really exciting and a fun way to make money, and I believe that life is meant to be lived.

As I mentioned I have ADHD so I don't do well when I am bored. Being a stunt man will keep my life exciting and filled with money. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is also known as full brain thinking, and I'll need to use my whole brain when I am planning and doing stunts.

To be a stunt man you have to be very athletic, strong and do well when you have an adrenalin rush. For example, when I have an adrenalin rush I have a million things running through my head in a split second. Then my body has to keep up with the things going on in my brain. By doing things like gymnastics, skateboarding, bike riding, surfing, climbing and jumping on trampolines, I keep my body ready.

Tom Cruise in an actor just like me. I go to acting school to learn timing, listening and responding. Actors also need to be very smart to learn their roles and memorize their lines. The cool thing about acting is that you need to research the role of the character you are playing. This is a fun way to learn things like history, languages, geography, various careers and so much more.
Everyone needs money to survive. So many people hate their jobs. I want to get up every morning excited and willing to go to work. People who have fun at their jobs are healthier, happier and continue to make money.

I want to make a lot of money so that I don't have to worry about paying my bills and taking care of my family. When I saw Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Asia on the news, I sent money to help those people who aren't as lucky as me. If a disaster happens again in my life I want to be able to send a lot more money than I did when I was younger.

Being a stunt man is my dream and I plan on achieving it. It will be great for me because I will always be learning, staying in great shape, making lots of money and most of all having lots of fun. I would also be a great role model for kids with ADHD and let them know that it is not a deficit, it is a gift. It will feel good to make lots of money and be able to help those in need. When I grow up I don't want to be bored, I want to live each day like it is my last and I can do this by being a stunt man.