Why do you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?

“Bleeding Heart” was the moniker used to describe my love and dedication for

animals

starting at a young age. From escaping my family at the zoo only to be found standing under the muzzle of a Clydesdale to educating visitors about my rescue dog’s quirks to ensure her comfort, my compassion for

animals

was innate. My instinctive nature to care for others was

further

fostered by my brother's brain tumour diagnosis. His operations and need for care resulted in my constant exposure to the medical

field

throughout my youth inspiring an appreciation of its life-altering capacity. As one of seven children, I eagerly worked to understand my brother’s condition to best support my siblings, igniting a passion for

medicine

and surgery. Admiring the intricacy of

medicine

from the perspective of those who were being saved by it, a foundation had been built for a future in the

field

. Uniting my passion for

animals

and

medicine

, I joined a program to become a veterinary assistant which allowed me a window into the world of the realities of being a vet. I shadowed Dr.Sheriff who shared his fondness for surgery and taught me the value of maintaining composure in times of stress in order to be an effective problem solver. I internalized

this

value when I identified that I had intubated a patient incorrectly, calmly I communicated with my team and re-intubated.

Although

a successful solution, the patient

consequently

acquired pneumonia

due to

my error. Instilling perseverance, the doctor insisted that I perform the patient’s follow-up care, including talking with the owners. The experience was eye-opening, teaching me how to take responsibility and trust myself again, building a confidence that didn’t hinge on perfectionism. It served as an example of the weight of even our smallest actions in the

field

that

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led to my understanding of the confidence and resilience required by vets that exist in balance with precision and accountability when caring for

animals

. My experiences in emergency

medicine

have

further

instilled invaluable lessons and aspects of being a successful vet

such

as the necessity of thoughtful communication and compassion. These characteristics became galvanized within me as I monitored

Baby

’s vitals as her euthanasia sedative took effect. Understanding the bittersweet sadness of loss

coupled with

the relief of suffering, I asked the owner about her

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memories with

Baby

. Together we sat, talking about

Baby

's life and the joy she brought to her family. Feeling the peace it brought to the owner, I stayed throughout the euthanasia process. As I extended my condolences,

Baby

's owner embraced me expressing her gratitude for being with her and letting her share

Baby

's story. Experiences

such

as these have taught me the value of building connections with clients and their companions and have served as a means of discovering my own voice when communicating with owners. As I look back at my experiences and passions for

animals

,

medicine

, and surgery, I forge ahead towards a career uniting them all as a veterinary surgeon. The skills and knowledge that I have honed working in the

field

have

further

fostered

this

aspiration and shaped me into an excellent candidate for veterinary school.