For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian. As a kid, I found the idea of snuggling adorable puppies and kittens all day to be super exciting! As I’ve grown older, however, my motives for becoming a veterinarian have changed.
I grew up listening to my dad’s work stories as an ER nurse; both successful and tragic. His stories fascinated me and ultimately sparked my curiosity for medicine. Over time, I recognized a recurring detail in each of his stories.
Regardless of the prognosis for each patient, the immense dedication toward their care remained unconditionally consistent. In addition to medical care, he and his team provided hope. In my story, I talk about becoming a source of hope for animals and their families, just as my dad was for each of his patients.
Why Veterinary Medicine?
Being a veterinarian is one of the most admirable professions I can imagine. It requires exceptional proficiency in problem-solving, communication, compassion, patience, and resiliency. Not only would becoming a veterinarian be a tremendous personal accomplishment, but it would allow me to serve as an advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.
Becoming a Veterinarian
Contrary to popular belief, having a high GPA is not the most influential factor for getting into veterinary school. While grades are important, many schools place a higher priority on interview performance and variety of experiences.
Vet schools urge applicants to submit hundreds of hours of community service, animal, and veterinary experience. While there is no set requirement, the average accepted student submits about 1500 veterinary hours and 700 animal hours. A couple hundred hours of research experience are strongly encouraged as well.
Where I’m at Now
I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in biology at Northern Arizona University. Although it has only been a year, I’ve already taken advantage of many opportunities to help reach my endeavors. I have volunteered with a diverse group of organizations that specialize in various types of animals and animal care services including a farm animal sanctuary, a zoo, multiple domestic animal shelters, and even an equine therapy facility. The experiences gained through these organizations have each been uniquely educational.
My favorite experience so far would have to be working with the Coconino Humane Association in Flagstaff, Arizona. The resources available in shelter medicine are often extremely limited. Therefore, the people who choose this profession possess an admirable desire to improve the lives of helpless animals with little to no compensation.
Being able to work with these individuals has been a valuable insight into what dedicated and compassionate veterinary care truly is. Shelter medicine has also enhanced my ability to think on my feet and adapt with what I am given. The work is intense, but so is the reward.
Valuable Lessons
At this stage in my journey, I’ve learned three key components to becoming a successful veterinarian. The first is to have an opportunistic mindset. Our experiences are what we make of them. Many of my best experiences began with me cleaning kennels or shoveling stalls.
However, I have learned to optimize my experiences by inquiring about procedures, medications, and any other topics that may arise. I also consistently demonstrate an eagerness to help out in any way that I can; whether this involves staying late, taking on more responsibility, or developing skills that would make me a more beneficial worker.
Another important aspect of veterinary medicine is patience. An animal can’t be forced to do something it doesn’t want to do. Therefore, sometimes the best way to ensure the safety of both the animals and veterinary staff is to prioritize patient comfort rather than checking off a task on the to-do list. I have learned to stay vigilant during procedures for behavioral cues that the animal has reached their limit.
The final and most crucial skill that a veterinarian needs is compassion. Veterinary medicine can be a hectic profession at times. Amid the chaos, it can become easy to forget that each patient is not simply another case, but a soul. In addition to quality medical care, every animal deserves to experience earnest love and compassion. I have found this to be especially important when working in shelter medicine, where not every patient has a loving home to return to.
The Challenges
Veterinarians are more than just doctors. They are counselors, educators, financial advisors, team leaders, and often business owners. On top of balancing these many roles, they are faced with numerous physical and emotional challenges. Their long work hours make it difficult to maintain proper nutrition and exercise habits.
This lack of time and energy puts a strain on personal relationships as well. They experience unrealistic expectations from clients when medical solutions are not possible and regularly receive unnecessary backlash. The cumulation of these challenges has put a growing number of veterinarians at risk of burnout, compassion fatigue, and in worse cases, suicide.
Although I cannot replicate these challenges to the same level of severity experienced by many veterinarians, I make a considerable effort to regularly push myself outside my comfort zone and prepare myself for the obstacles ahead. I intentionally sign up for rigorous classes, diverse volunteer/internship opportunities, and any other experiences that could further prepare me to become an exceptional veterinarian.
You can’t fake being a good veterinarian; the job is too stressful. Those who succeed do so because of their immense love for animals. The gratification of improving an animal’s life drives them to overcome the challenges of the job.
I recognize that the most difficult jobs are often the most essential. I want to become a veterinarian to help animals when possible and to comfort them and their families when it is not. While I am eager to reach my goal, I am excited for the new opportunities that await throughout my journey.
