As part of our orientation last week, one of the big highlights was a presentation given by one of our professors. The major topic that he chose to talk about was how to survive veterinary school. First off, veterinary school is not a race or competition. There is no specified number of students who will be failed or who will pass. If we all put our minds to it, everyone can pass. On the other hand, we can all flunk out, too. During our 4 years in school, we will be exposed to an entire ocean’s worth of content. No one can memorize it all or absorb every last bit of it. Even after veterinary school ends, we will still have to rely on classmates for help in our daily careers. As a result, it is imperative that we stick together, network, and support each other throughout the curriculum.
To the horror of many, the semester’s exam schedule was shown on the projector. After the first couple of weeks, there were about two exams per week until December vacation. Staying on top of material and learning how to study for multiple subjects at once is key to success. As our professor said, many of us were able to get by in undergrad by only studying for the exam that was right in front of us, but now is the time to kick those old habits.
The final point that was made was that we need to enjoy ourselves. Even though veterinary school will be a huge part of any student’s life, it can’t be the only part of your life. In other words, it is not a sprint but a slow and steady endeavor. We are all human beings, and we must balance everything out by doing things that make us happy. Our brains will need time to rest and recharge, or else we will burn out far before graduation.
This talk was not only amusing in the way it was presented, but also very helpful and raised many good points. Everyone who is accepted to veterinary school is capable of doing the work and being successful as a veterinarian. We are not imposters, and we did not trick anyone into thinking that we are worthy of vet school. Each veterinary student was chosen for a reason, and now we all just have to live up to our potentials!
