Veterinary school. It’s the object that has been sitting on a pedestal in my mind for years and years. I’ve put in the hours in clinics, studying, not sleeping, and now that goal that at times seemed not reachable isn’t a dream anymore. It’s real. There were so many times where I doubted myself and felt that there was no way I could make it, but here I am. Here I am! Tomorrow, I will be packing up my life here in the United States and moving to Charlottetown, PEI in Canada.
Being a girl who grew up in a small town from Maine, and went to NYC for the first time this summer, moving to a new country for four years is a little bit daunting. However, I’m getting an opportunity that many people will not get. I’m so thankful for the support of all of my family, friends, peers and professors over the years, because now I’m finally going to school for the career I have always wanted. While others may not find that their dream career involves muck boots and shoulder length gloves, I can’t imagine anything else for myself. I’m definitely not going into veterinary medicine for glitz and glamour, especially since I ultimately want to find myself in a large animal practice.
Why am I going into veterinary medicine though? I’ve asked myself that many times amongst chemistry exams, late nights, and farm calls where I’ve been thrown around pens by animals 10 times my size. I recently asked myself this a couple of weeks ago while dealing with my hormonal mare and having to take my dog to the veterinarian for a bout of vestibular disease. Yet, I spent four years getting a degree in animal science. I spent 10 hours with a vet working with a few horses and a less than cooperative cow the day after dealing with my dog and horse. Obviously, I can’t get enough.
In my opinion, there is nothing more satisfying than relieving an animal’s pain. To see my dog going through her recent illness was heart breaking. However, through encouraging her to eat and helping her walk she got better. Her head is still a little crooked but at this point it’s more of an endearing quizzical look. And I helped her! Through calling and consulting with her veterinarians, I helped diagnose her! For the rest of my life, I plan on spending my days helping animals like I helped Belly. I plan on supporting owners through difficult times. I plan on maintaining the highest standards of care for all of my future patients. I plan on doing my best always to keep my patients healthy and owners happy. But first, I have to get myself up to school!
