Knowing What's Best for You, at a young age

[Jared77]

Interesting I grew up the don of a H.S. Biology teacher. I like the life sciences, and chemistry. Rest of the physical sciences? No thank you.

I really didn't have a plan when I was in school. I never took the ACT exam or the SAT. My father holds a masters degree too. I didn't want to go to college to just "go to college" and figure it out at some point. I didn't think it was worth the money & stress to take the exams if I wasn't going to go. My plan was to do dive rescue for the US Coast Guard since it was 1996 & we'd been at peace for a while. I had thought about being a combat medic for the Army but without combat I knew all my time would just be training. With the USCG I knew I could serve & actually put my skills to use. Even as a kid My favorite GI Joe was Lifeline. He was a Paramedic. So that was the plan go work for Uncle Sam & help others. When I wasn't allowed to join the service due to flat feet I thought maybe I'd be a teacher. Or maybe go to seminary like my father suggested.

So I thought maybe I'd be a police officer or go to seminary. Very different thoughts I know but that's where my mind was. So I took some general education classes at the community college trying to decide what direction I should go. Thinking ahead in order to go to the police academy I had to take a first aid course called medical first responder. It's a prerequisite course so I figured let's get that out of the way. Plus I'm an Eagle Scout it would be a course I'd breeze through. After walking out of that class from the first day of my medical first responder course I knew I wanted to be a Paramedic. That's what His plan was for me. 13 years later I'm still going strong. I feel very fortunate and at times very humble to be called to do EMS.

My 5 year old daughter talks about being a vet. She LIVES to watch Dr Pol she understands that not every animal can be saved, & not all baby animals make it. It's a very realistic look at a large animal vet practice. I have no doubt she'll get there either.

SeedObsesor have you thought about either a double major or minor in genetics? Go along with your major in agriculture/horticulturist/botany major? Could really be an asset to your education. Michigan State has a fantastic agriculture dept. if your looking at colleges.

Have you thought about writing to the people at Baker Creek, or Wild Boar farms both are big on preserving strains & breeding. Sand Hill preservation is another that comes to mind if your into seed collection. Any of the three would be good places to see what they have to say and what's he best route for you to go when pursuing an education.

Far as training goes read "Don't shoot the dog" by Karen Pryor. She was a dolphin trainer & revolutionized the whole field of conditioning & training. It's a good place to start.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Seed Obsessor, I would highly recommend taking some lessons from a good trainer. The investment will be well worth it. Learning your way around a horse takes real time and commitment and they are easily messed up. One thing to remember though-use a light hand. Having a piece of metal in your mouth can be very painful and most 'horse problems' are made by the rider who doesn't have a 'feel' for his horse's mouth and uses the reins poorly. I always pulled the bits off and put bosals or even halters on my lesson horses so the kids didn't spoil their mouths while they were learning.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Marshall, that's the thing though, he isn't really into cats. We'll still be getting a barn cat though.

He's interested in unreasonably big trucks and dogs (and horses) and he waayy past spoils them both.

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Thanks to my dad being largely into the military stuff and all of it, I knew that I couldn't join the military since I was about 7 because of my flat feet. Even though I can run quite fast. (The rest of the family always marvel at how fast I can mow the entire yard with the push mower. ) And I wouldn't doubt if they had technology to make up for flat feet by now. Still do not think I'd do that though. In my view, the U.S. military is quite big enough and all that we're using it for at the moment is interfering with foreign countries' affairs. I do have respect for the brave souls that "serve" our country, I just feel as if our government is a little corrupt in some areas! (Controversial, I know, and I will respect anybody's opinion on this topic.)

My grandpa on my dad's side is a retired policeman (K-9 unit) and also a Vietnam vet. (Who knows Marshall? You might have possibly seen him before.) He's had many face-offs with drug traffickers down in Florida. I've already talked to my parents about getting an internship at the SSE and they said they'll look into it for next summer. Right in the middle of growing season but we can only stay here until late August anyway, which kind of cuts out a sizable chunk of the season. Baker Creek is too far of a drive. I don't know much about Wild Boar farms, but I have seen some of their tomato varieties on another company/farm's website. (Guessing they're big on tomatoes?) I was in boy scouts for probably about two weeks when I was, I'd say 10, then left due too being too busy. It was at least enough time to go to Seneca Caverns to do some "gem mining."

When we had cable, those vet-surgery shows completely grossed me out. I am know fine with any kind of blood or gore. Probably from seeing so many animals gutted or doing them myself. I've also helped plenty of ducklings hatch out of their shells. VERY good if a 5 year old is so interested in stuff like that. The world needs it's veterinarians too.

I know for sure that I want to be a farmer, and a diversified one. That means crops, livestock (and their products), nuts, firewood, homemade soap and candles, hiking trails for the customers' pleasure, a greenhouse with plenty of houseplants and ornamentals that people like to grow, and fun (some paid for) events to draw in customers, etc. My mind is set on that being my primary job. I know for sure that I will be doings some pre-college courses, my adviser needs to set that up still. I do not know for sure that I want to go to an actual college (maybe an online one? that's if they're out there!). I would miss out on more than a few growing seasons and I have many food allergies.

I'll look into that book, sounds good!

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Peteyfoozer, thanks! I'll see if I can find a horse trainer. A farely close neighbor may actually be able to help me out on that one. I've been to his farm before, his horses seem to like me. Or they're just really tame. :/

I would do one as a 4H project, but currently don't have the space to keep it or sufficient pasture.