"Bleeding Heart" was the moniker used to describe my love and dedication for
starting at a young age. My compassion for
was innate, 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 brother's brain
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diagnosis
fostered my intuitive nature to care for others. His operations and need for care resulted in my constant exposure to the medical
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 support my siblings best, igniting a passion for
and surgery. Admiring the intricacy of
from the perspective of those being saved by it, a foundation was built for a future in the
.
Uniting my passion for
and
, I joined a program to become a veterinary assistant, which allowed me a window into 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 to be an effective problem solver. I internalized
value when I identified that I had intubated a patient incorrectly, calmly communicated with my team, and re-intubated.
a successful solution, the patient
acquired pneumonia
my error. Instilling perseverance, the doctor insisted 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 most minor actions in the
. It led to my understanding of the confidence and resilience required by vets balanced with precision and accountability when caring for
.
My experiences in emergency
have
instilled invaluable lessons and aspects of being a successful vet,
as the necessity of thoughtful communication and compassion. These characteristics galvanized me as I monitored
's vitals as her euthanasia sedative took effect. Understanding the bittersweet sadness of loss and relief of suffering, I asked the owner about her
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memories with
. Together, we sat, talking about
's life and the joy she brought to her family. I felt the peace it got to the owner and stayed throughout the euthanasia process. As I extended my condolences,
's owner embraced me, expressing her gratitude for being with her and letting her share
's story. Experiences
as these have taught me the value of building connections with clients and their companions and have served as a means of discovering my voice when communicating with owners.
As I look back at my experiences and passions for
,
, and surgery, I forge ahead toward a career uniting them all as a veterinary surgeon. The skills and knowledge I have honed working in the
have
fostered
aspiration and shaped me into an excellent candidate for veterinary school.