I wanted to talk a little bit about myself to give you guys a sense of how I have gotten to the point in my life where I am applying to veterinary school. Everyone's path is different and mine is just one perspective of how to get there.

 

I was born and raised in a small farming town in Michigan. My father owns his own vegetable farm and my mother is a financial director for public schools. I spent a lot of my childhood helping my dad on the farm and going to farmer's markets. Through these experienced I learned how to work hard and go after what I wanted in life. I didn't get a lot of hands-on animal experience as a kid because my parent's divorce made it difficult to have the necessary time to devote to such activities as 4-H. However, I have always been a very compassionate person towards animals and I adored the few cats and dogs I was allowed to have.

 

Throughout middle school and high school I strove to be the very best. I received A's in all of my classes and was always eager to learn more. I took all of the sciences courses I could, but at such a small school my choices of higher education options, such as AP or college courses, was almost non-existent. I participated in sports, had my group of friends, and even won our town's festival queen's pageant. Overall I was a pretty average kid, but my drive to succeed is what pushed me past my fellow classmates. In 2010, I graduated as Valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA and headed off to Grand Valley State University.

 

My interest in veterinary medicine really emerged during my junior year of high school when I realized that my childhood dream of being a marine biologist simply wasn't practical due to my fear of the ocean. At that point I observed at a local veterinary clinic and volunteered at an animal shelter several times. These experiences really helped jump start my decision and when I arrived at GVSU it was an easy choice to select a biology major with a pre-veterinary emphasis.

 

Freshman year was definitely an adjustment period for me. The sheer amount of homework and studying that I had to do for my courses in order to continue achieving my high academic standards was at some points almost crushing. But with some late night phone calls to my parents, a little bit of crying, and a lot of determination I made it through my freshman year with my GPA intact. I also made some amazing friends, started volunteering at the Crash's Landing Cat Rescue Center, joined the pre-veterinary club, and even had some fun!

 

After that adjustment period, classes started becoming more interesting and manageable. By learning how to become a more efficient student I was able to become more active on campus. I joined the National Co-ed Honors Fraternity Phi Sigma Pi and started swing dancing. I was also part of a biochemistry research project and presented at several undergraduate conferences in Michigan. Outside of campus, I was volunteering at various animal rescue centers and observing at multiple veterinary clinics each week. Opportunities kept coming my way and each choice I made has impacted how I have gotten here today.

 

My lucky break happened the summer after my sophomore year when I was extended a veterinary assistant position at the Animal Emergency Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. This was an absolutely amazing opportunity because it meant that I was going to be going through extensive veterinary related training and working hands-on right beside veterinary techs and doctors. One year later, my list of duties at the Animal Emergency Hospital is extensive. I work in the front with the clients as an exam assistant, I assist with anesthesia in surgery, perform basic and advanced treatments on patients, and have a better understanding of the profession. After my experiences at AEH, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I want to be a small animal veterinarian.

 

So this is pretty much how I have gotten to the point where I have submitted my VMCAS application. No matter how you get here, what really matters is that you know that veterinary medicine is without a doubt what you want to devote your life to. It has been a very long time coming and now only five months stand between me and knowing where I will going to veterinary school.

 

*****Veterinary School Update: I have official decided to attend the veterinary school program at Michigan State University