For most of us, getting our engineering degree then becoming a practicing engineer is a dream. However, some of us became part of this profession despite having a different dream. Some really wanted to be a teacher, a writer or a doctor. Others like David Joyner, he wanted to be on television!
And he did. He played one of the most beloved television characters of all time:
Barney the Dinosaur
Source: Black Sports Online
We all know Barney as the large purple dinosaur who likes to hangout and sing with kids. He became so huge but who would have suspected that an engineer like Joyner would be wearing the Barney costume for 10 years? He certainly thought it was no accident.
Before Joyner made a career shift, he got his degree in electronic engineering technology and eventually worked as a software analyst in Texas Instruments for six years. It could have been a good career for him but unfortunately, his heart was not in it.
So after auditioning for the role of Barney, people behind the show called him and asked if he could be the purple T-rex. It became the start of a wonderful journey wearing the purple costume. For 10 years, he took on the challenges of being inside the costume that was too big for him and sweating profusely. When he got his first residual check, he couldn’t believe how big it was.
According to him, “Barney was beautiful. Barney was very, very good to me. I loved being Barney. I loved everything about being Barney. But that chapter is gone.”
He eventually left the show and moved to LA where he took on roles for different shows such as “Shameless”, “ER”, “That 70s Show”, “The Young and The Restless” and “24”. Now, Joyner is hip-hop rapping, break dancing teddy bear that runs an after-school center called Hip Hop Central on the show called “Hip Hop Harry.” He doesn’t mind being costumes at the age of 53.
Joyner inspires us to go for what we want. If you’re still an engineering student, you aim to get that degree despite the hardships. If you’re an engineer who is not happy with your current job, look for a new one and quit the old one. If you’re someone who happens to be in the wrong career, it is never to late to follow your passion and be a success in whatever you put your heart and soul into.
Source: Business Insider
