Other reader submissions in the Dream Job Contest

Just like Dr. Seuss?

My dream job would be writing children's books. I am blessed with a colorful imagination and the thought of creating something that would make kids smile and laugh makes me smile. How cool would that be? - Becky Flansburg, Baxter

Traveling journalist

My dream job would be to travel to Africa (as well as other countries) and bring along a camera crew and journalists. I would like to visit many cities and tribes that are unknown and write about them. I also would like to learn about their culture and publish articles about them back in America. - Emilee Struss, Baxter

Going north to Alaska - on a bus

I love nature and being outside in the wilderness. After a family trip to Alaska in June 2002, I fell in love with Denali National Park when we took a bus tour inside the park. Five-hundred thousand people visit the park each year. It was like an Alaskan safari. Parts of the trip are white knuckle experiences riding in a bus with shear cliffs dropping off the side of the bus.

Inside the park you will find Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America. You also will find the best wildlife viewing in Alaska. It is truly a pristine natural environment where animals live without human interference. The bus tour road is the only road through the park and is closed to the public.

This tour showed me how big creation is and how small I am. You are far away from civilization and feel like the only person on the planet. I would love to drive the bus and give commentary about the sights on the road, kind of like giving a living presentation. I would have a clear view from my front window and know the best places to look for wildlife viewing.

The road goes 91 miles into the park to Wonder Lake. These are not comfortable coach buses, but converted school buses. The bus drivers share a sort of sign language with other bus drivers alerting one another to sightings as they pass one another on the road.

I enjoy talking and there would be lots of questions from the visitors from all over the world. I have had a longing to be a Denali Park bus driver for one summer and experience sharing the beauty of the park with people from all over the world. - Diane Schilling, Brainerd

Dreaming of killer whales

When I was 16 and went to Florida on a family vacation, my dream job was to swim and train killer whales. To be able to train and swim with these gentle and dangerous mammals has always been a dream. - Pamela Tautges, Baxter

Back down to earth

After being with a local organization for 10 years, I lost my job this past April due to department reorganization. It was a job I really enjoyed. I liked the hours I worked and the manager left two hours after I started my shift, which then left me alone in my department to assist the users with their computer problems. I was doing a job that I had gone back to school to learn, was making a decent wage and had decent benefits.

Now that I am unemployed and looking for another job in these difficult economic times, it is nice to think about the perfect dream job and if it is really out there somewhere for me! So here goes my list of perks and bennies for my dream job!

It would be working in the IT field assisting people with their computer application and PC problems. The job would have very flexible hours - three-day work week in the summer and four-day work week in the winter, weekends and holidays off with lots of vacation time available, a nice six-figure salary with all the perks and benefits like health care, retirement, stock options, etc., paid for by the company.

A boss with excellent management skills, who doesn't play favorites or get involved with office politics. A strong, confident leader with people skills, who understands the working team concept, who can give credit where credit is due and constructive criticism; encourages and facilitates an employee's professional growth within their organization.

My dream job would have co-workers with excellent people skills who enjoy working as a team with good communication and support between each other.

My dream job workplace would always have fresh coffee and cappuccino at the ready, with low-cal, healthy snacks available at no charge. The workday would have several breaks scheduled with enough time to get out for a walk and fresh air to clear one's mind or run a quick errand.

This dream job of mine sounds pretty sweet and I'm sure pretty unrealistic in these difficult job hunting times, so I'll just come back down to earth now.

In the meantime I'll keep filling out the job applications, sending out the resumes, hoping for an interview and keeping my fingers crossed that a job is offered to me where I can at least afford the health care benefits. - Carmel Jankovich, Brainerd