Why do you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine? Explain a defining moment that helped steer you toward a career in veterinary medicine.

I have been in love with caring for

animals

since a very young age. My passion comes from the great feeling of interacting and belonging to nature, by helping these souls have a better life quality.

This

relationship with

animals

and the environment has been passed down from my grandparents, my grandma was a Biology teacher, in love with showing and teaching children nature’s beautiful surprises. My grandpa was an agronomist engineer, and

although

I have only met him through my mom’s stories, he was a strong and passionate man, caring for the earth he was working with and

also

looking after the

animals

that were around the farm. As years passed by, my relationship with

animals

and nature started bonding more and more. From long hikes in the mountains to volunteering in veterinary clinics, my basic knowledge was starting to form. Being very fond of the Romanian mountain scenery, I have decided that every time I encountered wildlife on my hikes to note and photograph it, in order to research and find more facts about that species’ needs and territory, during school semesters I started looking for veterinary clinics in my town so that I could gain medical experience and

also

feel what

this

career would be like. Meanwhile, during my high school, years I really started focusing on what might be of interest to my ideal career, and after some good thinking, I decided to become a wildlife-oriented veterinarian.

This

decision is mainly based on the continuous need for people able to get involved with endangered wild species and that are capable of understanding the needs of these entire ecosystems which are slowly perishing because of human greed and lack of interest regarding the effects of their rapid and violent ways of expansion. My main focus is learning and researching everything I can in order to be able to help in my best capacity these

animals

, that have to survive an uneven fight against deforestation, landslides, and spontaneous wildfires. Wildlife is in need of dedicated and willing people, that can easily take care of their medical emergencies, but

also

be the voice of their needs and rights. My devotion and passion for

this

cause are not going to be shaken by the hard and long path until I become able to save lives, and I am sure about

this

because when I am surrounded by

animals

I feel accomplished and at peace.