At the age of three I went up to my mother and told her, “I want to be an animal doctor when I grow up.” Even after fifteen years, I have never wavered in my dream of becoming a veterinarian. I grew up on a small farm and have been surrounded by animals my entire life. There is a picture of myself (shown below) after my first communion in a spotless, white dres
s standing next to a calf. My memories of my youth are dominated by trips to the farm, fishing with my brothers, and spending time outside or in the barn watching the animals.
In order to become a veterinarian, one needs to have an undergraduate degree as well as a doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine. Once completing the education requirements, one must take a test in order to obtain a license. Veterinarians should be patience, kind, attentive to detail, and have excellent communication skills. Veterinarians do not only work with animals: they also work with the owners of their patients. They need to not only be able to identify signs that indicate how an animal is feeling, but also be able to communicate the animal’s situation to the owner.
The Ohio State University has an outstanding, and extremely competitive, program in Veterinary Medicine. OSU also has a variety of resources to prepare me for applying to Veterinary School and make my application stand out amongst others. I am currently a member of the Pre-Vet Club, which has allowed me to become a volunteer at the ICU to gain experience with both veterinarians and animals. This club also provides job, internship, and study abroad opportunities to gain experience and an understanding of veterinary medicine. Since OSU is a research institution, there is also a wide array of research opportunities that welcome undergraduates to gain experience in the research field. I am currently in the process of employment under Dr. Bowman, a veterinarian at OSU, to assist in his research between pigs and influenza A. This will help me gain experience in research, veterinary medicine, and animal-handling and will help begin to build a strong resume. I also attended a career fair at the Ohio Union and spoke with a representative from the College of Veterinary Medicine about the admissions process and what they are looking for in an application.
If I did not become a veterinarian, I would be interested in becoming a personal trainer and/or nutritionist. I value staying physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy through working out, eating healthy, and listening to my body. I would love to be able to give people guidance on how to become the best version of themselves and help them to feel their greatest. OSU has amazing recreational facilities and classes about human nutrition and physical fitness. Minoring in either exercise science or human nutrition would prepare me for this alternate career path if a career in veterinary medicine does not work out.
During my time at OSU, I will continue to search for opportunities and resources that will aid me in building a strong resume and strengthening valued qualities.