Theresa Byrne ~ What did YOU want to be when you grew up?

14 May 2014 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:42

In this brief, first‑person monologue, Theresa Byrne reflects on the unconventional career fantasies she held as a child. She recounts wanting to be an exotic dancer or a unicorn—anything but a traditional ballerina—because she craved something "cool" and imaginative. She describes staging her Barbies on a makeshift stage where the dolls sang or spoke while the Kens sat in the audience, turning playtime into a performance. She also recalls a Barbie "executive kit" that included an adding machine, a briefcase, and a male assistant, which fascinated her and reinforced her vision of a whimsical, self‑crafted world. The narrative showcases her creative imagination and the ways she personalized popular toys to fit her unique aspirations.

Chapters

I wanted to be an exotic dancer. I wanted to be a unicorn. I never ever wanted to be like a ballerina or anything. I didn't, I just didn't want to. I wanted to be something cool. Something like literally when I had Barbies, and I did, I had Barbies. Barbies would be up on stage and they were either singing or speaking. And then the Kens would be in the audience. I know, right? I also developed when I was a kid the little executive kit. So I don't know why, but Barbie had an adding machine because she was apparently adding. She had a briefcase and a male assistant. I was like, yeah! I like my world!