As my third semester winds down, I am starting to feel
like I'm beginning to think like a veterinarian. Concepts in
my classes are coming together and I am beginning to see the big
picture instead of numerous, isolated facts. The classroom is
undeniably an important part of my education, but I have learned a
lot outside the classroom this semester. Earlier this month,
I was able to spend a weekend learning about leadership with vet
students, faculty, industry representatives, and leaders within the
Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA). It was an
awesome time where we got to put aside the books and work on
something more important, ourselves. Sure you can be a genius
and book smart, but if you can't connect with other people and
communicate- how can you be a leader and succeed in your future
career? Thankfully, A & M's faculty has taken an active
role in ensuring all veterinary students have the chance to build
leadership and people skills before graduation. They took
this a step further through hosting the Veterinary Leadership
Experience team from Washington State and allowing any interested
students to attend for free, thanks to some awesome sponsors.
Throughout the weekend, we were able to break into small groups
and connect with both faculty leaders and students. Through
sharing our stories, we all learned an important lesson in
communication and realized we all have personal struggles. We
also learned the importance of teamwork and focused on how to apply
these concepts in our workplaces. In the end, the two most
important concepts I took home with me were "servant leadership"
and "comparison is the thief of joy". "Servant leadership"
reminds me to put others first and to find ways to lift others up
so they can succeed. "Comparison is the thief of joy" reminds
me to simply do my best and be satisfied in knowing I gave it my
all. I am excited to see emphasis and time spent on
developing students as leaders in our curriculum. I am
already planning on attending the Veterinary Leadership Experience
next year and encourage all students, future and present, to check
it out. This event is just another example of what makes
Texas A & M a truly great place to start a career.