Pre-schooler was asked what she wanted to be in the future — no one was ready for her wild answer

At preschool and kindergarten graduations, it’s almost a tradition, one by one, children take the stage and proudly declare their dreams for the future. The answers generally range from doctors and astronauts to singers and firefighters. They are often sweet, predictable, and heartwarming. But when it was Harley Hickerson’s turn, the room could not stop laughing. It was one of those unexpected moments. Of all the things her future might involve, stethoscopes, space helmets, and microphones, her dream was grounded in mud. What followed was a wave of chuckles that echoed through the room and, soon after, across the internet.

The now-viral moment was posted by her mom, Jenny Goforth, on her Instagram account, @goforthwellness, which has garnered over 320,000 views online, and took place during her pre-school graduation ceremony. As the announcer prepared to call her on stage, she grinned and said, “This is one of my favourites,” before revealing Harley’s unexpected dream: “Harley Hickerson wants to be… a pig who plays in the mud.” The crowd burst into laughter, and you can hear her parents laughing the loudest in the background. 

Overlay text on the video reads: “My guess was she’d say gymnast or singer. Dad was hoping for something magical like a unicorn or a mermaid.” But Harley had her heart set on something far more down-to-earth, literally. The clip was shared with a hilarious caption that read: “Other kids: ‘Doctor!’ ‘Firefighter!’

My kid… Pig. Mud. A true creative visionary. Ahead of her time. I’ve never been prouder.” Kids today often feel they have to pick big dreams, but Harley’s funny and honest choices are the correct example of kids being just 'kids.'. Her parents didn’t expect it, but they couldn’t be prouder.

The internet had a field day with this video. One user, @daphne_pray, summing it up perfectly said,  “I love when adults don't force an answer that’s a real profession. Just let the kids be imaginative while they still can be.” The netizens went all out in letting the spirit of freedom and creativity shine through in the comments. @thetarynkelah humorously wrote, “Harley wants to be happy when she grows up."

Another parent, @itsmeela, wrote, “My daughter is 3. She wants to be a doctor for animals… but only for giraffes.” It doesn’t have to make sense—it just has to matter to them. Then there’s @abigail.roeller, who asked her 3-year-old what she wanted to be when she grew up. The little girl looked back at her mom and said, “Just me!” To which Abigail responded, “Yes, absolutely, baby girl.”

Children often have the most innocent dreams, and the internet is full of delightful examples. In one such viral compilation, kids from all over the world take turns sharing what they want to be when they grow up. One little boy, beaming with pride, declares that he loves McDonald’s so much he wants to work there. Another girl, very innocently, says she wants to be pregnant when she grows up. Then there’s the child who confidently announces her dream of becoming one of the Spice Girls, and another whose unique aspiration is to be a professional turkey hunter.

For more such videos, you can follow @goforthwellness on Instagram!