It was in third grade that my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. To be honest, I’d never exactly been the most organized or self-assured kid. I’d never gotten the tidy award given out each month and had, on more than one occasion, come home with notes to my parents explaining that my d�esk looked more like the site of a natural disaster rather than a workspace.
It was clear that my teacher was nearing her breaking point with me. Yet, this moment was different, this moment I had the answer. You see, if I was sure of anything, it was my future. I stood up proudly from my wreck of a desk, voice shaking ever so slightly with excitement.
“Herpetologist. I want to be a herpetologist when I grow up!”
I still remember her face to this day; I don’t even think she knew how to spell it or that it was a job that required one to work with reptiles, but it didn’t matter. For what felt like the first time in my life, I had answered with the most honest response. To feel the eagerness coursing through my young heart was something I’ll never forget and probably the most memorable part of my early childhood, but the shock on my teacher's face was a very close second.
A lot has changed since then; I’m a Content Creator now for Odyssey and I honestly couldn’t be prouder dedicating my first article to something so important to me. I no longer wish to be a herpetologist, but have now broadened my horizons because of it. I don’t want to work with just reptiles, for my calling I feel is much larger than that. I want to work with any and every animal I come in contact with, especially those who are misunderstood.
I’ve found something in these animals that people have cast aside. I found myself. It may sound silly, but I’d just like to help bring respect and maybe even kindness back to those who society and media have cast aside. I want to give back to help those who have given so much to me.
You see, it’s in these animals that I’ve found not only my passion, but my love for the world. I’ve stayed up countless nights watching my childhood hero Steve Irwin tousle with the most unappealing of ‘monsters’ only to have him remark on their beauty and importance. I’ve seen the raw power in a great white as it cuts through the water like an Olympic runner cuts through air. I’ve seen kids who spend their fondest, earliest memories catching fireflies as if it’s been a tradition that has been passed down for ages. These animals mean something; they’re alive and they’re beautiful and they inspire young hearts like they inspired mine. What disappoints me though, is that there people out there who only see ‘pests’ and empty eyes when looking at these magnificent creatures.
The truth is, if we can’t respect the lives of the animals we share the Earth with, then how can we respect ourselves? I don’t know about you, but it’s disheartening to see news of bees disappearing from the world at a rapid pace. It’s awful to see the multiple comments on articles that condone the killing of sharks and other predators just because of unkempt fears.
We let our panic get in the way; we allow it to turn into hate and we put a life below our own when coexisting is still a very real possibility. I’m going to tell you a secret though, one that everyone is afraid to admit to — it’s OK to be scared. It’s OK to not like things. What’s not OK is using fear as a reason to take unneeded, unethical actions. The truth is, I’m not here to get you to love every single animal; I’m not here to guilt you into ending your war on bugs or to urge you into becoming best friends with a rat or even to work up the courage to swim with sharks. I’d love to and I still hope to, but the truth is I’m here to help you to realize that even if you’re scared out of your mind of these animals, they’re still living things. There are still people in the world who desperately care about them. We can argue for years on what animals deserve to be here and I’m sure we will, but regardless of the answer, as a human, it’s our job to treat this planet right and surely that includes everything it homes.
We have the power to change things! We can take time out of our days to do simple things, like help bugs out of our house. We can remember that the ocean was a home for sharks before it was our playground. We can learn to be okay with the fact that maybe snakes are just as good of a pet as a cat or a dog. We can change minds!
All I know is in a world so full of chaos and heartache, one needs something that can pull them out of even the darkest of caves or the deepest of oceans, and for me as well as many others that’s been animals. Each creature I’ve had the honor of meeting, from the tiniest ant to the largest of elephants, has had such an impact on my life that I don’t even think words alone could fully convey the importance. I know I’m young, and I know I still have a lot to learn, but in regarding my passion, I hope my words will stick with all of you. Even if all I accomplish today is getting you to give a bug a second thought, then I’ve done my job. With that, I’ll close my very first article for Odyssey. I hope you’ll continue to join me for weekly submissions on the "Misunderstood Series" and have yourself a fantastic week. See you later alligators!
