Personal Narrative: My Career As A College Student

The stereotypical version of the normal life of a teenager proceeding to college would include high academic standards met throughout their high school career and outstanding outside testing scores resulting in automatic entry into the institution of their choice. Many of these individuals have the support of their accomplished family members in the form of financial support. There are those who have not had the luxuries of any easy upbringing but forced to decide between a life with a college degree or full-time employment. For myself I want to have it all and to achieve that I have taken on both.
Many of my peers from grade school went on to four year universities with honors and scholarships. For myself graduating high school was the highest achievement thus far. I was not the most outstanding student during those years. I was insubordinate towards my educators and refused correction. I was known as a class clown and trouble maker. Unfourtantly mentally I did not consider myself to be a difficult individual, but special. I am

different from the individuals who conform to their surroundings and settle for less than what they deserve. I shoot for the stars and even if I do miss I will not stop until I get what I feel I deserve.
Since graduating high school I have had difficulty choosing what I would like my life to be. I myself strive and hunger for knowledge in any form I may grasp it. My passion for animals has always been existent and I have always known that somehow, someway I would become a Veterinarian. As a child, I was extremely inquisitive when it came to animals. I would locate the deceased animals in the alley behind my grandparents’ house and preform my own surgeries on them (According to Dr. G’s medical examiners methods). I documented my findings in the form of children drawings and as silly as it may seem I learned so much and my passion grew even stronger.
I began working as a Veterinary receptionist at the age of nineteen. Organization was definitely not my forte and learning how to be a receptionist was difficult. I knew I needed at least one foot inside the door in order to get where I needed to be. Slowly I began to become acquainted with the methods the Veterinarians would use based on their medical documentation in the records I would input for patients. Google ended up becoming my study partner in searching their findings to create my own. At this point in my life I was unaware of the multitude of academic programs offered for aspiring Veterinary professionals. I was offered a position as a Veterinary assistant in a Spay/Neuter clinic which was lost cost and offered to the city’s low income families. I was in charge of the recovery of animals after their alterations. I was under the watchful eye of Dr. Diane Brown a small animal veterinarian. She opened my eyes to the possibilities of pursing a career in the veterinary field. Dr. Brown took me under her wing and although I was only able to gain a small amount of knowledge from her due to her relocation, she sparked every cell of interest within me.
Private practice is where I began to become even more knowledge able in the field.

Many of my coworkers had worked as technicians for years and chose the profession as a career. I was able to observe multiple techniques (IV catheterization, blood drawing). I was impatient and frustrated that I was unable to practice my techniques because I lacked experience. Dr. James Kaaz DVM became my mentor in this private practice. He was one of the only veterinarians who saw past my lack of experience and answered every “why” question I had. I was able to perform techniques with his guidance and excel in said skills in no time. Dr. Kaaz allowed be to observe him in multiple surgeries including orthopedic, mass removals, cystectomy etc. He’d explain the organs of the body and their functions to me. I’d assist him in research for patients whose symptoms were difficult to diagnose. It was safe to state that becoming a Veterinarian was my

calling.
Although I did not have the means of attending a university at the time I graduated high school I have been attending my local community college. Education has always been my number one priority and I have been able to support myself working full-time and earning college credits throughout the years. As of now I feel I am ready to complete a bachelor’s degree and continue on my path towards becoming a Veterinarian.