When I was randomly scanning through all the studying files on my computer, I happened to find the powerpoint presentation that one of our professors gave us in our second year of veterinary school. It was at a lunch meeting and he shared with us his experience of going through veterinary school, Ph.D., residency and […]
Strange Cats
We always hear the saying that cats can do whatever they like. They do. However, this is due to a couple of reasons and also our relative lack of understanding of cat’s behavior. The domestication of cats began around 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. However, in comparison to dogs, the domestication process of cats has […]
Good to Be Home
For the past year, I have been residing in Virginia and living out my dream of becoming a veterinarian. Being six hours away from home has helped me grow in more ways than I originally expected. I have become more independent and enjoy taking care myself and knowing the responsibilities I have to do for […]
Surgical Curveballs
Alright, I’ll admit it—surgery is more difficult than I expected. I’ve always had a healthy respect for surgery, knowing that a good surgeon integrates book learning, experience, and muscle memory seamlessly. As a newcomer to the field, I must rely on book learning more heavily. I look up surgeries in textbooks prior to performing them […]
The Worst Thing to Forget in Vet School
The worst thing to forget in vet school is not a fact. It is not a treatment plan for a laminitic horse or a vomiting dog. It is not even something you will find in a textbook. The worst thing to forget during vet school is how to exist outside of the veterinary school. We […]
If I Could Go Back
One of my biggest faults as a person is I’m someone who is constantly thinking about the past. With veterinary school being the most difficult thing I’ve ever done I’m naturally always reliving certain moments. What could I have done better? What could I have done differently? What would things be like if I had […]
Follow the Systemic Approach
Since day 1 of veterinary school, we have been taught to address any clinical problem with a systematic approach. For every case, we ask the history, come up with a problem list, figure out a differential list of potential causes, and then pursue diagnostics and finally perform treatment once a diagnosis is made. The more […]
Thank you, Vet Student Stories!
To all of you who have followed my Vet Student Stories blogs over the last four years, thank you. Sharing my journey with all of you has been an amazing experience. I hope that my words and my experiences have been able to touch your lives. One of the most wonderful benefits of contributing to […]
Things I Wish I had Known Before Fourth-Year
Don’t be afraid to be wrong in front of a lot of people (even the ones you think are smarter than you! They will be wrong sometimes too!). This is always a learning opportunity. You will be much better off trying and failing with a safety net of doctors to keep you from doing anything […]
Feeling Like A Doctor
I don’t think it ever really hit me that I would have achieved this lifelong goal of mine to be a veterinarian. Sure, I worked hard, and I checked off all the boxes to get there, but really feeling like a doctor was a different story. I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome starting out: everyone […]
