Ok...I really think I want to do it. *Massive Rant*

Just make sure to spend time creating a solid backup plan for if you decide you need change, or if things don't work out. It's a lot easier to climb a mountain when you know you have a safety line to keep you from falling. You never want to use it, but it's comforting to know it's there.

hey man just joined this forum today, but as I was reading your rant I realized I wasn't the only one that felt like this lol. My situation is a little different though. I could have went to school, my parents are willing to fund my education 100%, but at the time (present as well) I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I am a musician as well and have been following this path for a long time now and have been playing for well, 5 years now, and don't plan on stopping. While on this "path" I realized a lot. I came to a point where I thought, in order to "survive" I need to get a good job, go to school, the whole nine...but the more i would think about it the more I would feel like I was going against my will and conforming to society which is something I am against. Well once I decided on not going, I slowly fell into herps again(i used to have lots of herps when I was younger), and fell into an old passion of mine that I forgot about. Now I am on my way of breeding these guys as well, and don't plan no looking back. Now I may not be someone who "society" looks at as "successful", but two thing are for sure though, I'm EXTREMELY happy I did not go to college, and I'm happy! Don't go like these people are telling you if your heart is not there, you will just make yourself miserable. Do not think about what will happen if you don't go cuz heres the thing, if you believe and visualize yourself with your goal in mind and really believe in yourself it WILL and I mean WILL happen. I think what your doing is awesome and sounds to me like you need to breeding snakes lol, not studying about who knows what. I hope you stick to your gut on this one cuz it sounds to me like you have a lot of passion for this, and it can bring about a big change in your life. Good luck my friend!!

I guess if school is no longer an option, at least make the effort to educate yourself.... Read books about running a business and marketing techniques and what not and read about genetics (not just what morphs make what).

For what it's worth, I really like your racks, you may even think about building some of those and selling them for some extra income as well.

Oh and definitely thank your parents

Personally, i wouldnt quit school, maybe dont take as many classes, but dont quit... even if you plan to do it later... if you atleast get an aa or your generals done, it will be so much easier for you to go back and do the "fun" stuff...

im in college right now, i would love to drop out and breed snakes, but an AA in graphic design opens so many more doors for me than breeding snakes and doing freelance work without a degree... get my point? if you go and get an AA, you'll be what, 20? breed snakes on the side. seriously think about whether you want to quit school...

as for the snakes, time wise... 15 breedable females is not all that much more time than what you have now... - sin yes - but if you werent on here as much that gives you that bit more time... ;) what exactly were you planning on getting a degree in?

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Originally Posted by ChicaPiton519

Personally, i wouldnt quit school, maybe dont take as many classes, but dont quit... even if you plan to do it later... if you atleast get an aa or your generals done, it will be so much easier for you to go back and do the "fun" stuff...

im in college right now, i would love to drop out and breed snakes, but an AA in graphic design opens so many more doors for me than breeding snakes and doing freelance work without a degree... get my point? if you go and get an AA, you'll be what, 20? breed snakes on the side. seriously think about whether you want to quit school...

as for the snakes, time wise... 15 breedable females is not all that much more time than what you have now... - sin yes - but if you werent on here as much that gives you that bit more time... ;) what exactly were you planning on getting a degree in?

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I wasn't planning on getting a degree in anything. My parents just wanted me to have 1 year of college, I am in general arts and sciences. For fun, this comming semester, I will be taking a business course, but I am not pursuing a business degree.

Listen Peter- no one can tell you what you ought to do; that's what 'growing up' means. Making your choices and following them through. College is not for everyone. Nuff said. College can also be attended at any time in life; I got my BS when I was 47 years old.

You need to sit down and quiet yourself (your mind) and do some introspection. Figure out your own path.

That's the only way.

I can relate a lot to what the OP and a few others have said about college. I'm one of the spoiled ones, and have been fortunate enough to have parents that planned ahead for my education. I am so thankful for the opportunities they have provided me. But at the same time, it was also detrimental.

Right out of high school I never questioned why I was going to college, or what I should study. I just went because I assumed that was the next logical step after high school, and that's what my parents did after they graduated. Big mistake. So after the first semester or two when the grades came in poor (I was an A-B student in high school) my parents couldn't understand what was going on.

I wasn't prepared, and I didn't have any motivation behind what I was doing. I just went through the motions because that's what I was "supposed" to be doing. Well of course things couldn't continue like that so after a few more semesters I bailed out.

Not until now, almost 3 years later, have I finally figured out what I want to do in life, and returned to finish a degree. I should have waited until this semester to START college! I finally have motivation to go and do the work, and it feels great.

So just keep this in mind. Not too long ago I was thinking about the same thing you are going to do (not with BPs, but you get the idea). A lot can change in a few years, and you might just need some time to figure it out. I feel like a totally different person than I was a few years ago. If you don't end up going to school that's fine, but just always keep it open as an option.

I've said it before: you want as many options in life as possible. Doesn't matter if you never use them, or if they're off the wall. Just the fact of knowing you have another choice, and that you're never stuck, can make a big difference in your life.

So enough of my portion of the rant. Good luck OP, and always keep an open mind to any of life's options!

First off I agree with Starmom that you are going to have to figure this out for yourself; people can give you advice, but you are ultimately going to be responsible for the outcome. So, choose very carefully. I will give you my story since it's pretty similar to yours, and probably to a lot of herp lovers on here.

A year ago I was in the same boat as you are. Close to straight A student, first year of college in an engineering major, and guess what, same thing... all I thought about was HERPS all day and all night. I found school to be boring and disconnected from what I perceived as "the real world". So I figured I would switch majors and aim to become a herp vet, because what else could make me happy other than that?

A year later, and I have switched back into chemical engineering.

Here's MY reality. To be blunt, the job market sucks right now. Unemployment is going up and up and up. I personally need to be secure in my life, because that is me. If I am living on a shoestring with no security in getting a job, I won't be happy: this is what I ultimately realized. I decided I wanted to go back to chemical engineering - which, while it's definitely not all cupcakes and gumdrops to learn about, is involved in almost every important industry in the US, and continues to grow as a field even when the economy heads towards the gutter. It's a HARD major, and most people drop out of it. But I recognized that if I want to, I HAVE the ability to complete this major, and make a huge investment in my future.

Most majors are not ultra fascinating all the time. That's what they never told me in high school: The purpose of college is not "to have a learning experience", but to prepare you for a career in the real world. And guess what- your actual career after college probably won't consist of sitting in a classroom taking notes. College is a step you take in life - it's not the be-all and end-all.

Do I still think about herps all the time? Absolutely. Is raising snakes still a major part of my life that defines who I am? Of course. But once I am an engineer, I'll have the money to not only afford all those pretty morphs and nice equipment I've been drooling over, but I'll have money to support a family as well.

On the other side of this, some people can and do live on a shoestring doing what they love, and they accept the fact that they'll probably have to cut a lot of corners. For some people this lifestyle works for them. My herp vet back home, for example, pours all of his time, money, and resources into his job, and he loves it. I have tremendous respect for him as well (he's also a fantastic vet).

All I'm saying is, don't expect to have it both ways. If you take this route you must embrace the ugly parts of it. Keep your dreams high, but be realistic at the same time.

Peter,

I'm not going into the whether or not you should go to school aspect. However I do have one idea for you to see if this is something that you are entirely serious about. Although you'd learn a ton if you were to take some marketing classes, perhaps business management, etc. But anyways!

If you think you want to be the next Mark Mandic, Don Patterson, Corey Woods, or Henry Piorun, I think your best move would be to try and get an internship for a week or two with someone like them. Someone who knows the ins and outs of the business, as well as its ups and downs. See if the workload is something that you think you could handle. And if possible, try to get some financial figures. Materials cost for caging, cost for feeders or supplies, and utilities costs. I'm sure if you're plugging your parent's basement full of snakes, they'll want recoup for utilities.

Ask them for advice, I guarantee that they all have one commonality, I'm guessing they all have business plans on how that business is operated, and goals that they want to achieve.

Although these gentlemen are going to be your major competition, my guess is at least one of them will be more than willing to help you learn how to run a large and diverse collection.

I guarantee that your first couple years will be tough, because really you should be putting more money into the business than you are taking out, so having that 40 hour a week job will be important for other bills. You're going to sleep VERY little, entrepreneurships are THE most difficult lifestyles to live. You pour your heart and soul into the business, all free time should go towards the business.

I do believe that you can do it, for your age you're an intelligent guy, and you seem to have an idea of what you want and how to achieve it. Write down your goals, make up a business plan, and keep on top of it. The worst thing you can do is let your business go stale. Update your goals and market the hell out of yourself.

I think right now, networking is going to be your best friend, find one of those big breeders that will mentor you.

Good luck brother, eh! :gj:

Oh, by the way, I do well in school, I'm an intelligent enough kid but...I HATE school. However, I'm forcing myself to complete my bachelors degree.

After graduation, I went to college for one year...couldn't figure out my life and where I wanted to go, so I took a year off.

Well, I fell into a situation like yourself where I wanted to pursue my dream. However, I made the decision that I would like to have that fall back plan. I'm surely but slowly finishing my Bachelors in Business Administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. I've learned a heck of a lot about the ins and outs of business... so although the work is tough and time consuming, I just look at the fact that it will benefit my future business venture.

School is ALWAYS an option for you, no matter age and stage of life. I do all my education online, there isn't a college around here for an hour drive.