Summary of Primatology the Career You Never Knew You Wanted | Travis Steffens | TEDxStMaryCSSchool
Summary of "Primatology the Career You Never Knew You Wanted" by Travis Steffens
Travis Steffens shares his inspiring journey of becoming a primatologist, emphasizing how setting goals, persevering through failure, and seizing opportunities enabled him to live his dream career studying primates around the world. He intertwines personal stories, challenges, and lessons learned along the way, illustrating the realities and rewards of pursuing a unique scientific path.
Main Ideas and Concepts
- Living the Dream: Travis consistently answers “living the dream” when asked how he is doing, reflecting his passion and fulfillment as a primate researcher, conservationist, and explorer.
- Three Key Lessons for Success:
- Set Goals: From childhood, he set a clear goal to study primates.
- Persevere Through Failure: He faced personal tragedies and academic setbacks but kept pushing forward.
- Seize Opportunities: He actively sought chances to gain experience and advance his career.
- Early Inspiration:
- At age 8, after a playful exchange with his friend Kevin, Travis decided he wanted to study monkeys.
- Growing up in Calgary, Alberta, he dreamed of traveling to exotic rainforests and jungles where primates live.
- Personal Tragedy as Motivation:
- The loss of his father and stepfather taught him life’s brevity and the importance of pursuing one’s dreams fully.
- Education and Discovery:
- He discovered the rare Bachelor of Science degree in primatology at the University of Calgary.
- Meeting Dr. Brian Keating, a mentor and primatologist, inspired him to travel and conduct field research.
- Overcoming Financial Barriers:
- Despite financial hardship, Travis worked multiple jobs, saved money, and convinced Dr. Keating to let him join a $5,700 primate trip to Guyana.
- His mother supported him by lending money for the trip and his first camera.
- Field Experience and Academic Struggles:
- His first field trip to Guyana was transformative, solidifying his passion.
- He struggled academically in university (1.8 GPA) and was put on probation.
- To improve, he attended a field school with Dr. Mary Pavelka in Belize, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.
- Despite rejection from grad school due to grades, he persisted by working longer in the field, eventually gaining admission when a spot opened.
- Graduate Research and Mentorship:
- His master’s project involved extensive fieldwork in Belize, studying monkey populations and their habitats.
- Later, at the University of Toronto, he met Dr. Layman, who taught him advanced primate research methods and took him to Madagascar.
- Career Development and Tour Guiding:
- To support himself financially, Travis became a tour guide in multiple countries, leveraging his field experience.
- In Madagascar, he experienced lemurs firsthand and committed to returning annually for research.
- Reflection on Friendship and Goal-Setting:
- Revisiting his childhood friend Kevin, who also pursued his own dream (running a furniture shop), reinforced the importance of setting goals, persevering, and seizing opportunities.
Methodology / Instructions for Pursuing a Career in Primatology (as exemplified by Travis)
- Set Clear Goals:
- Define what you want to achieve early on.
- Translate dreams into actionable objectives.
- Persevere Through Challenges:
- Accept that failure and setbacks are part of the journey.
- Use personal hardships as motivation rather than deterrents.
- Improve skills continuously (e.g., study habits, fieldwork).
- Seize Opportunities:
- Actively seek mentors and learning experiences.
- Be proactive in finding ways to participate (e.g., negotiate trip fees, work multiple jobs).
- Take advantage of openings, even if they come unexpectedly.
- Gain Practical Experience:
- Participate in field schools and research projects.
- Work in challenging environments to build resilience and expertise.
- Build Relationships and Network:
- Connect with mentors and peers in the field.
- Maintain long-term professional and personal relationships.
- Adapt and Diversify Skills:
- Develop complementary skills like tour guiding to support yourself.
- Be flexible in career paths related to primatology.
Speakers / Sources Featured
- Travis Steffens – Main speaker and primatologist sharing his personal story.
- Kevin – Childhood friend who inspired goal-setting.
- Dr. Brian Keating – Mentor and primatologist who led field trips and encouraged Travis.
- Dr. Mary Pavelka – Mentor who taught primate research and supervised field school in Belize.
- Dr. Layman – Mentor at University of Toronto who taught advanced primate research and facilitated Madagascar research.
Category
Educational