I am here today to share the life story of one of my role models: Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter. For those of you who may not know who Steve Irwin was, he was an Australian crocodile and snake hunter who was the face of conservation in Australia. I will share with you why he is my role model, some of his accomplishments and what he left behind for us.

First, Steve Irwin was a fantastic human being. He was one of those guys that you just immediately loved. I mean how could you not when the guy saw beauty in everything. Now, if you've ever seen his show, you know what I'm talking about. This dude will grab the nastiest piece of work, like a Tarantula, in his hand, and put his face right up next to it and proceed to point to its "lovely" fangs and its "beautiful color" and its "amazing size." I mean, what else would you expect from an Australian, right? This impacted me because it helped me to lie. You ever seen an ugly baby? Yeah, you have. Bless you, Steve Irwin.

Steve Irwin was also hardcore. I mean this is a guy who could tackle an alligator to the ground, pin it and tie it up, then kiss it and proceed to show you how this animal was beautiful without getting his arm ripped off. I tried to catch a bird in the pool office last summer and let me tell you....that was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but knowing that Steve Irwin was looking down on me from heaven–that's what got me through the day. After I accidentally broke the bird's wing and he stopped flying, it was a fairly easy removal.

His hardcore lifestyle didn't stop there, though. On one episode, he single-handedly caught the Inland Taipan. Which, according to the Australian museum, is the most venomous snake in the world. He once followed a gator he had just brought up on land back into the water because it escaped him. He then dragged it back out. In 1991, Steve was filming on a TV show with a snake around his shoulders. While they were live, the snake bit him on his neck. Instead of freaking out, Steve kept talking until the hostess asked if he needed help. Steve instead asked the camera man to zoom in and get a better shot. He also once chased and caught an emu, brought a python on Jay Leno, as well as baby snakes on the Late Show with Connan O'Brian.

Seeing the Crocodile Hunter's perseverance through the challenges in his day-to-day job has taught me a lot. It has taught me to really experience life and to do something with my life rather than sit in at a meaningless job just to make more money. Sometimes, the scariest things you could do are also the most rewarding. Sometimes, you have to follow the gator back into its territory to make your point. You're not giving up, no matter what. He has taught me to ignore all of the hate and comparison that’s around, because just like a non-venomous snake bite, if you stay cool and collected, you'll be fine. He taught me pursuit. I can't imagine how long Steve was chasing that emu. I can't even begin to think how the thought, "I want to catch that bird" even came in his mind. But when I apply that to my life, I can definitely relate. I took two art classes in my life before I straight-up decided that I wanted to teach art at the collegiate level, and therefore needed to either invent my own degree program or apply for three majors. Just like Steve, I know people think I'm crazy. He's also taught me how to have fun and love your job. If you get the chance, go watch the Jay Leno show with the python or the Connan O'Brian show and try to tell me that guy didn't absolutely love what he did. In our society, we're so focused on money sometimes that we forget how what we enjoy and our God-given abilities are what make us great. Steve is a role model because his goal was not to become famous through TV, but to share what he loved.

Steve Irwin's accomplishments are amazing as well. According to Nick.com, in 2002 he won the Kid's Choice Award for "Best Burp." In 2007, according to Australia Zoo online, The Crocodile Hunter was post-humorously inducted into the Logie Awards Hall of Fame. This honor was for revolutionizing the documentary industry. Steve best explained this in a quote where he said, "We've evolved from sitting back on our tripods and shooting wildlife films like they have been shot historically, which doesn't work for us." He got us, the people back home in the United States, excited and up close with these dangerous animals that we'd have otherwise either killed or ignored. This devotion was amazing. He was also awarded TV's "Favorite Personality" in 2007, according to ASTRA awards online. With a catch phrase like "crikey," it was hard to imagine why not. The videos shot before he passed are in more than 142 countries. According to Steve, "Every cent we earn from Crocodile Hunter goes straight back into conservation. Every single cent." But what Steve Irwin's best accomplishment was is what he left behind for us. Steve Irwin created the Australia Zoo and the Wildlife Warriors. He created the zoo and its program by getting involved from a young age and learning about animals. He used to tag along with his dad and learn how to catch snakes, birds and alligators. His parents, originally owning two acres of land, grew it and gave Steve the four acre property when they retired so that he could run a sanctuary off of it. Steve had bigger plans though, and over the next decade, he turned it into the Australia Zoo, totaling over 1500 acres, with local animals, a wildlife hospital, live shows and kid's programs. His goal in this wasn't to get rich, but to share what he cared about and to teach others. The Wildlife Warriors, although mainly started after Steve's death in the Barrier Reef, has had a tremendous impact on conservation efforts around the world. According to Wildlife Organization online, the Wildlife Warriors' goal is, "To be the most effective wildlife conservation organization in the world through the delivery of outstanding outcome-based programs and projects, inclusive of humanity." Their focuses are on Australian wildlife, Grey Nurse Shark research and conservation, Sumatran Tiger and Cambodian Elephant conservation, as well as South East Asia Elephant tusk, Rhinoceros horn and Cheetah skin trafficking.

Although Steve Irwin is no longer with us, his love for learning and life...and his hardcore lifestyle, live on through his videos and family who run the zoo and Wildlife Warriors. In closing, I'll leave you with these wise words from Steve from Goodreads online: “Crocodiles are easy. They try to kill and eat you. People are harder. Sometimes they pretend to be your friend first.”