Some kids are born with a love for sports or music, but I was born with a love for animals.
Ever since I can remember, I have been absolutely head-over-heels for anything that involved animals.
Starting back when I was a toddler, I could look at any dog walking down the street and call out exactly what breed it was, and I'm not just talking about telling the difference between a Labrador and a Golden Retriever.
Have you ever heard of a Schipperke, Bedlington Terrier, or a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever? No? Well, thanks to a set of dog breed flashcards I latched onto at a bookstore, I could spot them in a heartbeat.
Every day I watched Animal Planet nonstop. No matter what was on, even if it was a graphic veterinarian show, I wanted to watch it.
And don't get me started on "Crocodile Hunter." I was Steve Irwin's biggest fan -- there is no argument. I saw every episode of his show multiple times, had my mom record his movie on VHS, I remember the exact moment when I heard he passed away and I loyally supported his daughter Bindi when she briefly had her own show.
I was a shy kid, but if there were animals involved, I was all for it.
Chiropractor appointment? No problem, the doctor had a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in his office named Dabo.
Long car ride ahead of us? Tell me we will be there in exactly three "Crocodile Hunter" or "Scooby-Doo" episodes and I'll settle in for the long haul.
Family shopping trip to BJ's for our groceries? I'll happily tag along because while my dad stood in line at checkout, my mom and I would go over to Petsmart and look at all of the pets.
To this day, informing me that animals can/will be involved in the plans for the day will guarantee that I'll be the first to hop in the car.
Although I'm still trying to factor in more animals and time around them into my life, I can confidently say that they will be permanently woven into my life. I'll find a career, or at least a hobby, that keeps me surrounded by all sorts of animals.
But for now I will just have to be content with my small collection of pets and frequent visits to various pet stores.
The passion that I have for animals may come across as odd to some people, but I wouldn't want to trade it for the world.
Does it come with its downsides? Yes. Like when I see an animal injured on the side of the road, I burst into tears or I beg my parents constantly for more animals and get extremely upset when they say no. Also, the financial side of caring for animals is insane sometimes.
But keeping the critters I love happy and healthy is never something I hesitate with. I mean, even my betta fish are spoiled with their air pumps and unique diets depending on what food each one prefers. Yes, I'm crazy. I get it.
Overall, I look at the love I have for animals as a gift that I am thankful for every day. The fact that simply being greeted by my dog every morning is a good enough reason for me to get out of bed each morning, no matter what lies ahead of me that day.
Seeing how far a little love can go with each animal motivates me to rescue more and care for the ones that I can. After all, humans have the power to save or destroy an animal's life.
I'm excited to see where my animal-loving self ends up in a few years. Hopefully I'll have many more animals of my own and a job that pays me to take care of or hang out with others.
If that is what my future looks like, then I feel like I will have stayed true to myself and made my younger self proud.
