Ahh, to consider those earnest, tried-and-true high school essay or speech topics: How I Spent My Summer, My Philosophy of Life, My Choice of Vocation in Life.  The last one is particularly one that a student should choose with care for the paper or speech.  The rule of thumb is: present yourself as idealistic, to assauge the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Da Good Sistahs!.  Saying that you want to be a doctor or nurse or social worker are good ones.  Proposing that you want to be a lawyer is iffy, since the Learned Counselors often have slimy reputations and hang out with unsavory types like criminals and pols.  Of course, if you say that you have a vocation to be a nun, then fate will smile on you for the remainder of your high school career.  This can be parlayed into many excuses and out-of-room slips; and, as long as you do not appear to be boy-crazy or immodest, out of a lot of grief.  An engineer?  Well, that's not entirely lady-like; but Chem. E's or Pet. E's draw about 45 K when they leave the starting gate (thus Dear Ole Dads like that) and you get excused for a lot of bad taste in dress.
  
 Did I go the safe route?  No.  Instead, I wrote that I would like to be a trophy wife.  I was sent to three days' detention for having a 'bad attitude.'  I thought that was standard equipment.
  
 Later on, my poor mother got a phone call from the head nun.  I overheard her explaining the difference between a trophy wife and a kept woman.  Go figure.