For anyone who has never undertook the daunting schedule of vet
school test week, picture studying every night for a week, and
still wondering if you know enough of the information to do as well
as you hope. These weeks involve late nights, caffeine runs,
stacks of books and notes, and study groups. Yet, despite all
of the stress and sleepless nights, there is not a student in the
vet school who would trade this for the world. We have worked
for this honor our whole lives, and now we are here, studying and
working towards the goal of our lifetime. Today after a
solid week and a half (give or take) of studying for our first two
tests of the semester, the 2nd year vet school class has
an afternoon to breathe, before we start to prepare for the next
one in a week. This year, I approached round one of tests
with a much different attitude. There is a very different
feel among my class, since we have year one under our belt.
We have discovered our best methods of study, and we have our
classmates to support us and study with us. Last year I
remember wondering how I would possibly manage to study for every
class and keep up with all of the material without letting any
classes fall by the wayside, and I can see that same fear and worry
in the faces of first year students preparing for their first round
of tests. I remember the second year class last year, as they
encouraged my class in our studies and boosted our
confidence. As I walked through the hallways this week, I
tried to pass on that encouragement to first years enduring their
first tests of vet school. As I encouraged first year
students to remember that they will survive, I was struck with the
memory of my first tests of vet school, the nerves, the fear, and
the stress. I am amazed by the difference in my demeanor for
the first round of tests of second year. Second year
tests still bring with them nerves and stress, but there is also
the knowledge and comfort that I have made it through vet school
test weeks before, and that I will make it through this one as
well! The most amazing truth about vet school test week is
that all of the students, from all the classes are in it
together. We support each other, and help each other through,
whether that is through gifts of cookies and caffeine, supportive
study groups, or just prayers and encouragement. We all have each
other's back. Vet school is a family, and during test week we
see the family come together, and we all know that we will make
it. We are the veterinarians of the future, and from where I
stand, the future looks bright!