Last week, I got to meet one of the new members of the Class of
2016. She was really excited to start in the Fall, and, just
like I did, wanted to know if there was anything she could do to
prepare for class. I jokingly told her to just sleep and make
sure her house was super clean since she probably would be slightly
pressed for time next Fall. I realized later that day the
advice I gave her was the exact same that was given me…… and it
really wasn't that helpful. My house is usually cleaner
during exam weeks since cleaning is an excellent reason to postpone
studying. I've never pulled an "all nighter" either. If
I get less than seven hours of sleep I am worthless. I tend
to sleep at least eight hours a night, even during exam
weeks. After a little bit of pondering, I figured out what my
true advice to the Class of 2016 would be.
Two thoughts come to mind. First, figure out what makes
you happy. It can be anything from baking, going to the
movies, or just taking time to catch up with friends every
week. For me, it is a daily workout followed by a walk with
my dog and best friend. I could probably count on one hand
the number of times I worked out during the first year, and I often
skipped walks to study. Now, I plan my day around this event
and am a much happier person. No matter how crazy school
gets, don't give up something that makes you happy. The
secret to vet school is balance. While it is important to
invest a lot of time in your studies, it is more important to
invest time in yourself. I'm far from perfect and still
struggle with balance. It will take some experimentation to
find your own balance, but you can start now by figuring out what
you really enjoy and deciding now not to neglect it during
school.
Second, never compare yourself to your classmates. You
just spent four years comparing your GPA, extracurricular
activities, and shadowing hours to the averages posted on the vet
school website. You probably compared yourself with your
friends, too. Academia sets you up for comparison.
Professors publish averages, and we all hope we fall on the high
side of average. Honestly, who cares? Grades are
important, but if you are doing your absolute best, does it really
matter if you did as well as your friend? Compete against
yourself. We all come from different backgrounds, have
different talents and abilities, and are capable of different
things. Instead of comparing, why not appreciate everyone for
their unique abilities and skills? I spent a lot of time
comparing myself to other people, but when I finally let that
mentality go, I found myself enjoying school more. Again, I
am not perfect and still catch myself comparing, but at least now I
know to stop.
Congratulations to the Class of 2016! Get excited.
Vet school is a lot of work, but I couldn't think of anything else
I'd rather be doing!