The scary choice could be the right choice | Ezra Fejo | TEDxKings Park Youth

Quick Overview

Ezra Fejo, a 17-year-old from Carnarvon, Western Australia, shares how embracing scary but meaningful opportunities, like working with animals at Perth Zoo, helped him find his dream career and see the world with a broader perspective, transforming his life by encouraging him to step outside his comfort zone.

Key Points: Ezra Fejo, 17, is from Carnarvon, a small town in the top end of Western Australia with fewer than 5,000 people. He loved outdoor activities like fishing, camping, swimming, and watching National Geographic and David Attenborough growing up. At age 15, Ezra got a job opportunity at Perth Zoo, which he initially thought would involve unpleasant tasks like cleaning up after animals. Working at the zoo, he gained confidence caring for native animals like quokkas, koalas, fish, wallabies, kangaroos, and echidnas, solidifying his passion. The experience helped him see the world through a 'bigger window' and find a better version of himself by taking opportunities he might have otherwise feared. He advises others not to be scared and to take all opportunities, as doing so led him to find his perfect job at the zoo.

Context: This TEDxKings Park Youth talk features Ezra Fejo, a young man from the small remote town of Carnarvon, Western Australia. Ezra discusses his journey into finding his passion and career path through an unexpected opportunity at the Perth Zoo, contrasting his initial life experiences with the rewarding work he now undertakes caring for native Australian wildlife.

Detailed Analysis

Ezra Fejo begins by establishing his background, hailing from Carnarvon, WA, a small town of less than 5,000 people, where he grew up enjoying activities like fishing, camping, and watching wildlife documentaries. He recounts that when he was 15, an opportunity arose to work at Perth Zoo, which he initially feared would be unpleasant, involving tasks like cleaning up after animals. However, this experience turned out to be transformative. He details getting hands-on experience caring for various Australian animals, including fish (0:15-0:30), birds, crocodiles, quokkas (3:10-3:20), koalas (1:36-2:10), kangaroos (2:42-3:00), and echidnas (3:50-4:05). Ezra specifically mentions wearing a chainmail glove while preparing food, indicating the need for protective gear when handling certain animals or food items (2:19). The most significant outcome was that the job confirmed his passion for wildlife, allowing him to see himself doing this work for a career. He emphasizes that taking on this potentially scary opportunity helped him build confidence and view the world through a 'bigger window,' ultimately leading him to find his dream job.