12.12.12

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 11 December 2012 14:13

These 12-year-olds from Hillsboro Middle School accepted the challenge of answering this question: “What do you want to be doing 12 years from now?” Pictured are (from left) Callyan Lacio, Sam Moss, Jorge Hanschu, Lane Flaming, Joe Knoll, Tiffany Shaw, Shelby Johnson, Kayla Gunn and Kylie Brown

It’s an occurrence that can happen only once every century, and perhaps even less often for a newspaper.

The Free Press publication date this week happens to be Dec. 12, 2012—or 12.12.12 in numerical shorthand.

Struck by the opportunity, our staff discussed ways to mark the occasion and finally settled on this idea: Let’s ask the 12-year-olds at Hillsboro Middle School to respond to a probing question: “What do you think you will be doing 12 years from now?”

With a length limit of three sentences, here are the aspirations of those who chose to respond. When their dreams come true in 2024, remember: You read it here first.

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• Kylie brown: In 12 years I will be getting a job as a teacher at a wonderful school. I will have a car to drive and a small house to live in town. I want nice neighbors to talk to and have them come over to have fun.

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• LANE FLAMING: I will be in a mechanic shop working on a car/truck. I will have black and green on my hands. The black will be from oil and the green will be from the AC compressor. Grease, gas, AC compressor fluid and oil will be all over the floor at my garage while I’m working on the customers’ vehicles. The waiting room will be packed full of customers while I’m getting parts for them, painting and simply changing tires.

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• Kayla Gunn: I’m going to be an aide at Salem here in Hillsboro. I want to live in a huge house on a farm and raise a bunch of cattle. Lastly, I want to go to California every summer.

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• Jorge HanschU: I will be hopefully getting out of college.

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• Shelby Johnson: I picture myself in 12 years 24 years old, living in Paris, France, writing my first novel. I will live in a nice flat with two birds, three dogs and one cat.

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• JOE KNOLL: I think that in 12 years from now I will be playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. I will also be a teacher.

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• CALLYAN LACIO: In 12 years, when I’m 24, I will still have four years of college left. I hope to become a veterinarian or a zoologist.

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• SAMANTHA MOSS: In 12 years, when I am 24, I will be a goalie for the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. We will be pursuing the World Cup title against Spain.

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• Tiffany Shaw: I believe I will be an author at the age of 24. Even though I will probably still be living with my parents and annoying them, I assume that would be the best job for me. Overall, writing and typing are my best talents so far. Also, if I write a good enough book, with my money I would buy insurance for all of my family.