In my pre-veterinary life, I had hobbies.
(I’m talking about prior to the thought of veterinary school ever entering my mind, not during my “pre-vet” education.)
At the time, I occupied myself after school with a job at the local supermarket and helped ride and train Quarter Horses for my trainer. I had friends within a few miles of my parents’ house who I could meet up with for a cheap dinner or a movie or simply hang out at someone’s house. We would go for runs, go to the mall, or just drive around town. It was a much simpler time then, even less than ten years in the past.
I forgot what it was like to have hobbies. During school, it became so ingrained in me to study during my “off” time that I truly forgot how to relax. Now, on an externship during which I have a little bit more free time, I remembered that with my evenings off and the sun shining until almost 8 pm, I actually have TIME to go to the local park and hit a few tennis balls.
Work on my serve.
Train for a race.
Finish that video game I have been putting off for a few months. (I have to be honest – I almost never stopped playing video games, even through college and vet school. It was always such a satisfying escape from reality. Even in the midst of exams you could find me tucked away in my bed fiddling with my GameBoy.)
I know I have talked about keeping myself occupied with hobbies during veterinary school before, but it seems even more pertinent to bring it up again now that I no longer have to study for exams. It still seems surreal to me to be out of the classroom, and I am adjusting every day!
