First Year of Veterinary School–Take Two
At the end of a crazy first semester at veterinary school I promised myself I’d be more on top of things. I’d fill out my planner, look over all my notes the night after the lecture, and never have to panic before a major exam. Then the first day of second semester happened, and that all went out the window. It’s only been two weeks, but the sheer amount of information that we are learning is staggering. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day. But, even though I’ve had to come to terms with the fact I will never be on top of things, I do feel I have the skills to tackle this semester. And the fact that what I’m learning still manages to excite me is reassuring—even if it first takes a couple cups of coffee some days.
My favorite part of veterinary school is when we have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with animals or simulations. The Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (SCAAEP) had a wet lab the weekend after we started school. It was certainly a reminder of why I’m putting so much effort into studying and getting through the coursework. The wet lab was a fantastic resource, with veterinary students coming from across the country to attend it.
There were quite a few labs to pick from. I participated
in an ultrasound lab, a farrier skills lab (some horses need shoes too!), a field necropsy lab, and a mare reproduction lab. There was a mix of using live animals and simulators in order to develop the skills associated with each lab. I was particularly excited after the ultrasound lab. Ultrasound images always have looked like a mass of black and gray fuzz to me. After having some time to play around with the machine and using some anatomy I’ve learned in class, I was actually able to start making some sense of what I was seeing on the screen. I honestly thought I’d never see the day. And, that feeling of having something click is why no matter how challenging veterinary school may be on a day-to-day basis, it is exactly where I want to be.