5. PROFESSIONAL ATHLETECoolness factors: Getting paid to play your favorite sport; a boatload of extra cash from endorsement deals; idol worship by fans all over the country (and the world)Lameness factors: Relatively short career; loads of travel (especially cross-country trips); risk of injury (particularly in football and hockey); public scrutiny if you have a bad game or twoMore realistic option: Personal trainer (maybe one with an endorsement deal, like Tony Little)

4. SCUBA DIVERCoolness factors: Being out on the water all day; exploring underwater plant and animal life; fantastic opportunities for “Take-Your-Children-to-Work-Day”Lameness factors: Having to wear heavy scuba gear; possibility of shark attacks/making contact with coral; ears popping from pressure in deep waterMore realistic option: Ship captain

3. ZOOKEEPERCoolness factors: Going to work at a zoo; playing with and taking care of many different kinds of rare animalsLameness factors: Animals are messy; going around to every cage and monitoring every animal over and over again; having to tell kids not to tap on the glassMore realistic option: Veterinarian

2. ROCK STARCoolness factors: Musical ability; selling out arenas and stadiums all over the world; appearances on MTV; hearing your songs on the radioLameness factors: Nobody buys music anymore; gas prices make touring ridiculously expensive; battling with your record label over creative effortsMore realistic option: Entertainment lawyer

1. NICKELODEON TV HOSTCoolness factors: Never really having to grow up; getting to dump slime on people; hanging out with TV stars like Danny Tamberelli and Melissa Joan HartLameness factors: Career only lasts as long as the show lasts (usually not very long); getting slime dumped on you; people may not take you seriouslyMore realistic option: Nickelodeon screenwriter (how hard can that be?)