An Unforgettable Introduction to Veterinary Medicine

The chorus of dogs barking in the kennel, punctuated by an occasional plaintive meow from a boarding cat, added to the usual din at the clinic. Vet techs scrambled to find an exam table for the 3-year-old German Shepherd in the middle of an epileptic fit. His owners sat in the waiting room, anxiously rubbing their hands and glancing behind the desk hoping to see Max. In the middle of the action, I found myself holding another dog lying flat on his back, watching the treatments with wide eyes. It took less than five minutes for the techs and Dr. Anderson to control Max's fit, and although I was only 13, I was more certain than ever that veterinary medicine was for me. While I was at the clinic, dozens of dogs came in for exams. Max fell into a seizure after his exam, and I was thrust into the chaos. After 10 minutes of lying on his side, surrounded by ice packs, Max was ready to be moved into a kennel. The dog I was holding got his catheter while I watched one of the techs run a blood test on Max. We went on with the day, the doctors examining cats, grooming dogs and checking horses for competition soundness. The atmosphere in the clinic was no longer tense and the techs laughed and joked. For my first time ever shadowing a vet, it was an experience likely

I am the "horse girl," the cat lover, and the one who fearlessly picks up snakes. I made my parents read the Encyclopedia of Horses to me every night before bed, loving the photos even before I could read. Science has been an integral part of my life, driving my interests and activities, thanks to a biology teacher grandfather and a father with a master’s in Ecology. Between dissecting a squid in sophomore biology and culturing swabs from various school surfaces for science fair (by the way, keyboards carry the most bacteria), I came to appreciate the myriad opportunities to explore my world through life