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A Completely Pointless Post
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by Chance on September 30, 2007
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I turned 25 a week or so ago and recently started my official career (teacher). I suppose you could say I'm an 'official' adult now. I was reading some old posts just for nostalgia's sake, and came across some that really brought home a few things. Looking back along the past 6 years, the time frame in which I've been keeping venomous snakes, I can honestly say they've been the most rewarding and biggest learning experiences of my life. I've have the opportunity to keep a staggering array of venomous animals - from small native species such as our osage and southern copperheads, to crazily dangerous exotics like mambas and PNG taipans. I've been able to interact with animals I otherwise would only have been able to see in a zoo or on a nature program. I know I don't even need to make this point here to all of you, but seeing these creatures in zoos, on tv, or online, pales in comparison to actually getting to see their behavior in person.
Now, my experience certainly hasn't been all fun and games. I've lost some very valuable snakes, speaking both of their price and their rarity, due mostly to some stupid actions on my part - not treating recent imports right away, buying w.c. animals sight unseen, etc. I've also certainly gotten in over my head a time or two (or three or four) getting species for which I wasn't completely prepared. For these mistakes, I received quite the arse whipping here and other places online, and though at the time I bristled in my defense, I can now look back and say "Yes, you're right, I wasn't ready for those animals at that time." Most notable has been those to which I alluded earlier, the big elapids like mambas and taipans. Fortunately, whether due to skillful handling, cautions taken, or just sheer luck (probably a whole lot of the latter), I've never been bitten by anything venomous.... *knock on wood*
I suppose I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank those of you still around who offered your advice, and/or criticisms in the past. Though I might not have appeared to take them to heart, that I did, and it may be why I'm still around today. I plan to continue keeping venomous and using them to educate my students from now until I die...or until the government says I no longer can.
Anyone else feel like babbling about his/her learning trials, experiences, etc?
-Chance
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RE: A Completely Pointless Post
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by Cro on September 30, 2007
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Chance, you make some very good points.
The problem is that we "live within" the age we are now, so it is very difficult for us to see ourselves as others view us. We also get support from our peers who are the same age, and this makes it even more difficult for us to take a look at the "identity" we are wearing in present time.
We can look back on the different person we were in previous years, and marvel at how we have changed.
After 52 years of looking back on my past, I find it quite interesting at times to think of the places I have been, the people I have met, the adventures I have had, and what I have learned, and the mistakes I have made over those years.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: A Completely Pointless Post
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by Buzztail1 on September 30, 2007
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Not at all pointless, Chance.
You are embarking on a career where you will get to be on the other end of the advice giving teeter-totter and will get to feel the frustration of all those young people who you want the very best for, refuse to take your good and heartfelt advice only to learn that you were right all along.
Do not despair!
Some will quietly take your advice and some will come back and thank you later.
I am glad you survived your "growing into it" period.
Good luck with your career. I passed on a career as a teacher as being just too dangerous and joined the military instead.
And ...
You're welcome.
Karl
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RE: A Completely Pointless Post
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by Crotalusssp on October 1, 2007
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Good luck Chance. I took the jump to teaching 3 years ago and it has been one of the greatest decisions I have made. I truly enjoy getting up everyday and coming to work. The kids can be trying sometimes, but the rewards are far beyond the trouble. Take care.
Charles
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RE: A Completely Pointless Post
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by BobH on October 1, 2007
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Congratulations Chance, I hope you will like your job. Teaching has it rewards as well as its problems.
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RE: A Completely Pointless Post
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by Chance on October 1, 2007
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Thanks for all the well wishes. I honestly didn't mean this to be a self-congratulatory post, just more or less a 'looking back on my herpetological life' post. I do appreciate the kind words nonetheless.
As for your sentiment Bob that teaching has its rewards and problems, I personally believe most of those problems are rewards in themselves. Not if some crazy kid decides to come shoot up the school of course, but all the issues I've had with students being unwilling or uninterested in the information have been learning points for me, and they've been making me a better teacher. The old educational saying goes that you learn more in your first year of teaching than you did in 4 years of university. That couldn't be any truer. Not only have I already learned a vast amount academically, but sociologically as well. If there is one thing teacher education courses in university settings don't prepare you for well enough, it's the sociological factors that come into teaching.
Of course, in addition to teaching my subject areas, I've been taking every opportunity to throw in some blurb about herps or inverts where I can. My administration is very supportive of me keeping animals in the class - so I keep quite a menagerie, from pythons, to colubrids, to birds, gerbils, and various invertebrates. Nothing venomous, mind you, though I do bring them periodically so the students can watch their behavior up close and in person. I figure being able to do that benefitted me greatly as a person, so maybe it'll teach them a bit and show them that snakes aren't just to be feared and reviled.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Thanks again for the nice words.
-Chance
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RE: A Completely Pointless Post
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by Atrox788 on October 1, 2007
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As probably your biggest critic over the years I will also say your welcome. I never doubted your intellect, just your resolve and pride. Im glad nothing horrible ever happened and I am glad you realized we weren't just being stuck up with our criticism either.
Now, if you can just stop selling your animals right after you get them in we will be ok :-)
Take care Chance,
Jeremy
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RE: A Completely Pointless Post
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by Chance on October 1, 2007
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Eh, what can I say. My interests are ever changing, and I find it hard to pass up good opportunities. Too many snakes, not enough cash or space...lol. Oddly enough, the one group of animals I'm able to really stick with with little variation is the giant birds. I've kept emus and rheas since I was in 7th grade, and I'm still going strong. Just one of those weird things. Thanks Jeremy.
-Chance
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