My Road to Veterinary School: How I came to realize my future career + my personal "Why" essay

My road to veterinary medicine was a little chaotic to be honest. As a kid, I dreamt of becoming a vet like a lot of today's veterinarians. However, going into college my goals had changed. I was wavering between two vastly different careers, human medicine and law. But, once I got my feet wet in college, my goals changed again, leading me towards a career synthesizing medicine in the pharmaceutical industry.

This is where I leave you with my "Why" Essay, which goes into more detail about how, in a quick 30 minute session of orientation training, I realized that I was unsure of how certain I really was that chemistry was my passion.

If this is what you came for, my "Why" essay starts here! I hope it leaves you with an idea of how different everyone's journeys are. And, yes, this is the personal essay I submitted to VMCAS.

"During orientation leader training at Emory, I sat at a round table and listened as my peers shared how their campus involvements shaped their career goals. When it was my turn, I realized I was at a crossroads – uncertain if the path I’d been pursuing was right for me. Up until August 2024, I was set on earning a PhD in organic chemistry and working in the pharmaceutical industry. But at that table, I recognized I needed to find a career that truly aligned with my passions.

After a month of reflection, I realized my greatest fulfillment comes from creating safe spaces and caring for others – both human and animal. I thrive when I’m mentoring and supporting those around me. Veterinary medicine, I realized, would allow me to combine my love for animals with my desire to mentor and care for others.

Two months later, I began working at [redacted] Animal Hospital. From the start, I felt a sense of belonging and certainty that I had found my calling. My commitment to the field was tested and reaffirmed during a difficult shift at the clinic. The day was hectic, a doctor, another assistant, and I were working to sedate a dog named Hornet for a routine exam. Hornet didn’t respond to the first sedative, so we administered another. Suddenly, he went into cardiac arrest.

In that critical moment, my training and instincts took over. While the doctor and the other assistant performed compressions, I delivered breaths and considered every possible intervention. Despite over twenty minutes of CPR, we could not revive Hornet. When his owners arrived, they were devastated by the unexpected loss. Handing them Hornet’s harness and leash was the hardest moment I’ve experienced as a veterinary assistant. 

During my time in the field and in my extracurricular activities, I’ve learned that one of my greatest strengths is guiding people through their most vulnerable moments with empathy and compassion. I am a firm believer that empathy, communication, and teamwork are as vital to daily practice as medical expertise. Veterinary medicine is not only about clinical skill, it’s also about supporting people through grief, confusion, gratitude, and joy. My ability to connect with clients and provide empathetic care is a quality I am proud to bring to the profession. With my research background, I am certain that I will be able to provide the best evidence-based care to my patients while also fostering a supportive environment for my team. 

My experiences have shown me that I possess the resilience, dedication, and passion necessary for veterinary medicine. I am eager to advance the field – not only by caring for animals, but also by supporting their families and the teams who serve them. I am confident that, as a veterinarian, I will rise to every challenge, continually striving to provide the best possible care for every patient."

*I have changed the name of the patient and the redacted the clinic name in my essay to respect client/clinic privacy.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading the first of many blogs of my journey to and through veterinary school! If you have any questions for me about the vet school application process, Emory, how I went about getting jobs in the vet world, or any other questions that come to mind, let me know by emailing me at courtneyinvetmed@gmail.com.