At the dawning of a new year, most people make time to take stock of the past and look toward the future.

Although fourth and fifth-grade students at LCES do not have much of a past to regret or celebrate, they do have a future that is wide open, full of promise, and bright with all kinds of possibilities.

With this in mind, The Lincoln Journal asked these students what they want to be when they grow up and why. Here are some of their answers:

Savannah Beal — a teacher. “Teaching is fun. I like teaching. I pretend I am a teacher and pass out work. I taught my brother to add a little bit. It’s fun. I also like to read.”

Bentley Beggs — a funeral director. “When I grow up I want to be a funeral director because my grandfather was a funeral director, and my father is a funeral director. I want it to be sort of like a family tradition. I want to be a funeral director and a mortician.”

Dominique Haynes — a basketball player. “I would like to be a basketball player because I’m really good at it. I want to be a professional basketball player. My cousin and I play basketball every day. I shoot and dribble very well.”

Garret Lewis Reed — a bull rider. “When I grow up, I want to ride bulls because I like a challenge, and they are very mean and dangerous.”

Taylor Benning — a doctor. “I would like to help people. I want to work at University Hospital. When patients come, they’ll be better before they know it. Then, they’ll tell everybody about University. If Mrs. Mason (teacher Mary Mason) comes in, I’ll give her the special if we have one.”

Ross Glidewell — a lawyer. “I want to be a lawyer because they get a lot of money. I also like to argue with my mom so I think I would like to be a lawyer. I think it would be interesting.”

Jonathan Partlow — a soldier in the United States Army. “I like the clothes that they wear, and I want to serve my country.”

Drew Seymour — a football player for the University of Alabama. “I want to go to school there. I want to be a QB which is a quarterback.”

Andy Ray Wengrow — a cop. “It would be fun. Cops are nice. They are mostly fun. That’s what I want to be when I grow up.”

Emily Banks — a cheerleading coach. “I like to cheer. I want to coach for the Red Devils. I will teach them how to do their back handsprings and how to cheer.”

Jasmine Hearst — a soccer player. “Soccer is fun. When I kick the ball, the ball goes far away from me. I don’t know what team I want to be on. I want to play professionally.”

Colen Mattison — a surveyor. “I like working in the woods. It’s very fun to me because I like to run around and so stuff for people. I work with my dad sometimes already. I like working around creeks the most in the summer, but I like working around dirt roads during winter. I like working around creeks in the summer because you can get wet and cool off. I don’t know why I like working around dirt roads in the winter.”

Whitley Wright — a model. “I would like to be a model because it’s fun, and I love all of the clothes and how they make them — it’s fascinating. I love the way they look on the runway.”

Seth Clark — a mechanical engineer. “I would like to be a mechanical engineer because they make a lot of money. My uncle is one. He said it is hard in college. When you get out, it is easy. My uncle has three houses — one in New Mexico, one in Augusta, and one in Colorado.” crime, you shouldn’t pay the time.”

Hailey Rosser — a piano teacher. “I want to be a piano teacher because I can play beautiful songs on the piano and I like teaching kids. Another reason why I want to be a piano teacher is because I like to praise God through my music. Also, my dad got a degree in music. When I grow up, I want to be able to play lots of songs.”

Taylor Smith — a veterinarian. “I love animals. I would like to be able to spend time with dogs, cats, and other animals. If an animal was ill and I made it better, I would feel really good.”

Jamie Byrd — a farmer. “I would like to own calves, goats, pigs, chickens, and other farm animals.”

Alia Hawes — a beautician. “I would like to be a hair beautician because I love to do hair. I would like a shop to myself. I would sell candy in my shop. I would paint it pink.”

Travous Simmons — a truck driver. “I want to be a truck driver because my dad drives one — they are so cool.”

Toni Jones — a teacher. “I want to be a teacher who runs a daycare center for the children who haven’t started school. I will teach them how to hold a pencil. I will teach them how to write their letters and numbers. I will teach them anything they want to know. I will have them all set and ready for school the next school day.”

Blake Murray — a football player. “I want to be a football player because you make a lot of money. I also want to be a football player because I enjoy it. When I have a football in my hands, I have a great chance of scoring. It is my favorite thing in the world to do. I have the passion for it. I love the crowd roaring and just playing the game. It is my dream to be drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and play in the Super Bowl.”

Laura Bryant — a lawyer. “When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer because I have to go to college twice, and I love to learn.”

Anjdrea Garnett — a psychologist. “I want to be a psychologist because I have never been to one in my life. A lot of people want to be doctors, lawyers, or even pro football players. My mom wants me to be one and my sister to be a lawyer. One day hope to own a psychologist business. I don’t know anyone else who wants to be a psychologist. I want to be a psychologist and others might, too.”

Renee Beeland — a nurse. “I enjoy helping people, and people depend on you when you’re a nurse. I have several nurses in my family, and I look up to them. Also, the money isn’t so bad.”

LaTrone Norman — a football player. “I want to be drafted by the Atlanta Falcons because they are my favorite team. I want to play running back or defensive back. I love to play football because you get to tackle people and you get to run people over. I like to play running back because I can run the ball a lot and get a lot of yards. I love to play defensive back because I get interceptions.”

Jasmine Benning — a pediatrician. “When I grow up, I want to be a pediatrician at MCG’s Children’s Hospital because I will be able to help little children. I also want to make a difference in the children’s medical field, and I want to let the little children know that they can overcome their sickness. This is a very important dream of mine. I will accomplish this dream someday.”

Jessica Reid — a missionary. “I want to be a missionary because most people in this world are not Christian. I can’t stand to have people (friends or family) not Christians. I could help people become Christians and then they can go to heaven. I would love to be a missionary.”

Grayson Ashmore — a pilot. “I want to be a United States Air Force pilot. It has always been my dream to get in the air force. I love flying, and I’m already an Ultralight co-pilot. My pop (Terry W. Brown) is the one who got me starting flying. July 6, 2001, was the day of my first flight. The minute I left the ground I knew flying was going to be my hobby. I owe all my flying experience to my pop. Without him, I would still be stuck on the ground. I hope I will make it to the air force.”

Dasha Bussey — hip hop dancer. “I want to be a hip hop dancer because I’ve been dancing ever since I was five. I love to dance around my family because they join in too. I really hope my dream will come true.”

Christina Taylor — a pediatrician. “I want to help little kids when they get sick and have a cold. I don’t like to be sick so I will give my knowledge to little kids when I grow up. My dream is to be a pediatrician. I hope I don’t get sick.”

Johnetta Elam — a teacher. “I want to be a teacher because all my teachers say they have fun teaching their pupils. Being a teacher looks enjoyable because some people would like to get their education and go to college. That’s why I’m in school now because I want to go to college and be successful. Mrs. (Julia) Leverett and Mr. (Michael) Fogarty teach me everything I need to know for right now at my age. When I grow up, I hope to be a teacher just like my teachers.”

Jamier Jones — a basketball player. “I want to be a basketball player because the game is fun and exciting. Also, I am a team player, and I show sportsmanship. I hope I can play for the Miami Heat.”