In the past year, I have learned some powerful tips from amazing entrepreneurs and veterinary professionals. Today, I wanted to share three things you can do to get closer to your veterinary goals. No matter if you are feeling motivated or not, these are helpful tips to achieve anything you set your mind to.
#1 Remember your why and how far you have gone. What is the reason you decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine? Can you look back to five years ago when you might be a high school or pre-vet student? Who inspired or motivated you to apply for vet school? In my pre-veterinary journey, I felt motivated reading the blog Living My Dream- Becoming a Vet written by a UC Davis vet student. I fell in love with her journey and even got to meet Dr. Kristina Netherwood in person. She was one of the doctors who helped to edit my personal statement and get ready for my vet school interviews. I learned so much from her articles, but the most powerful lesson was to never stop believing in yourself and what makes you unique.
#2 Make realistic goals and set a deadline. Many times I wanted to achieve a lot of things, but I never prioritized or focused on the steps to achieve my goals. I learned to make a plan with the steps to take action and establish deadlines of 3 or 6 months. I stopped putting a lot of pressure on myself and try my best. The key is to write everything down and go step by step. I recently missed the deadline to apply for a veterinary fellowship, so now I am getting ready to submit my application next year. I have created a to-do list to complete all the requirements a couple of months in advance.
#3 Connect with other people in the area of veterinary medicine you are interested in or thinking about changing. In these times of high technology, it is easier to connect with other veterinary professionals through social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) or by email. I found good externship opportunities, scholarship programs, and collaboration through Facebook and Instagram. It’s easier to connect with new people in the veterinary world now, send that direct message or email without being afraid. In the end, you never know where you can find a great opportunity to advance in your vet journey.
Read more by Maria Estefania.
