Guys Who Give happened to me today. I quit my career as a threatened and endangered species biologist for an environmental consulting firm on January 1, 2017. That is right. I walked away from a great paying and successful career without a real plan for a future. I sometimes wonder if this was a mistake but what happened today today confirmed that I did the right thing. Today I was given a $13,000 donation from Guys Who Give to help fund our programs at My Nature Lab.
I suffer every day from imposter syndrome in my chosen path. "I am not an educator. I am not a scientist. I am not qualified for my job." Those are the things that play on repeat in my head every day but today they were slammed to basement of my pile of shit by an incredible donation. This donation means so much more to me than just giving My Nature Lab much needed funding. It told me that people appreciate and value what I am doing at My Nature Lab. This donation is truly a life changer for me.
I cried today. I cried a lot today. I am an emotional person but I really try to bury those feelings deep especially when asked about outdoor cats or palm oil (both will make me cry if I am allowed to talk freely). I cried today. I cried a lot today because I was overfilled and overwhelmed by the support that this donation gave me. It justified my choice to quit my job, work at Home Depot for a year, and then open the doors of My Nature Lab.
We opened My Nature Lab on April 22, 2018 as the educational facility of the Center for Snake Conservation. My vision was to have a place to teach people about snakes and other reptiles. My vision was to reach 80,000 people annually with live snakes and other reptiles. I firmly believe that you cannot appreciate, respect, or learn to love something without hands on experiences and we are showing that love is possible at My Nature Lab every day.
I have also struggled every day since April 22, 2018. Imposter syndrome is very real. I have cried. I have stressed over money. Every month, I pay the rent late. In fact, I have paid most of our bills late because we just don't have the money and it took more time than anticipated to make enough money to pay them. This is devastating for a young business. This will kill you. I have thought about quitting. I have thought about ending everything.
But I have kept going. The lives I touch on a daily basis with our snakes has kept me going. Last month, 1,725 people were touched by my programs. The stories about kids playing My Nature Lab at home have made my heart swell. The thank you letters we post at the Lab tell me we are making a difference. The 50 5 out 5 Facebook reviews say we are doing it right. The almost 400 families that have bought memberships to My Nature Lab keep me going.
But today. Today was the day. Today, 130 men each donated $100 to My Nature Lab. Today, Guys Who Give told me that they value what I am giving to our community in 13,000 ways. Today, we received a $13,000 donation that will give us opportunities we haven't had before. We can hire an educator. We can give our programs to schools for free. We can reach more kids and adults with live snakes and reptiles. My vision of reaching 80,000 people is within reach.
Today, I cried. I cried a lot. I cried tears of overwhelming happiness. I cried tears of success. I cried because people appreciate me. This is something I have not ever allowed before. This is new for me. I might now cry every day at the Lab and now you will know why I am crying. I am crying because I am making a difference for snakes in this world. I am crying because I love what I do no matter how tired it makes me. I am crying for you to learn to love snakes. I am crying for conservation. I am crying because I am happy.
I am an Educator. I am a Scientist. I am Qualified for my job. Thank you Guys Who Give.
