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5 Tricks To Help You Avoid Burnout In College

By Adrienne G. ’25, B.S. in Biomedical Sciences

College, as many know, throws students into a whirlwind of both exciting opportunities and challenges. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I’ve discovered a few ways to avoid burnout, and I’d love to share my experiences with you.

View from inside a hammock looking out at trees and camping tents.

No 1. Prioritize Self-Care

Even in the thick of those seemingly endless assignments and exams, I made it a rule to press pause and indulge in things that bring me joy. Whether it was going to the gym, immersing myself in nature, or getting lost in a new book, these breaks have been my sanity checks. Self-care became my weapon against burnout.

No 2. Master The Art Of Time Management

Balancing biomedical sciences and a minor in business is no joke. I have had to devote countless hours to not only studying but also to going to tutoring sessions. My agenda became my best friend in ensuring I had room for both academics and my personal passions. I would schedule time for studying, working, and social gatherings to ensure I did not have to sacrifice things that bring me joy.

No 3. Focus On Quality In Socializing, Not Quantity

Instead of overbooking myself with activities, I zeroed in on meaningful connections and quality time with friends. I choose to hang out with people who make me feel energized rather than those who would drain my energy.

Close up of a table covered in healthy cooking ingredients, including chicken, tortillas, cucumbers, carrots, and chopped greens.

No 4. Make Health-Conscious Choices

With my love for sweets and eating out, I have to be mindful of what I put in my body. Eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated, and limiting my caffeine intake became the cornerstones of my healthy lifestyle. It was all about fueling my body with foods that made me feel good.

No 5. Set Realistic Expectations And Goals

Dreaming big about post-graduation plans is exciting, but I’ve learned the power of breaking those dreams into bite-sized goals. It’s not about just the final goal; it’s about the steady progress that keeps you on the path without feeling like you’re drowning in expectations.

College life is a rollercoaster, but my journey has been about thriving and not just surviving. Balance, self-care, time management, quality relationships, healthy lifestyle choices, and realistic goals have been crucial to my success. If you’re out there navigating the college, give these strategies a try. Chances are, they’ll make your college journey much easier.

Continuing Hobbies in Veterinary School

By Gabriela H. ’27, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student

Many students believe that once they begin veterinary school, they will not have time for anything other than studying, especially time for extracurriculars. However, as a first-year veterinary student, I am proud to say that I continued my hobby of dancing.

Three young women in purple glittery Latin dance costumes under purple and yellow lights.

During my first semester of veterinary school, I learned that your studies can easily warp your priorities surrounding your physical health when you’re not paying attention. Yet, it is incredibly important to make sure that all aspects of your health are taken care of, including mental health, emotional health, and physical health.

Latin dance is something that I started as an undergraduate at Texas A&M by joining a student organization called the Salsa Fusion Latin Dance Company. I quickly fell in love with dance and, luckily, was able to stay on my dance team throughout this semester. Not only is it a great way to relieve the stress that studying can cause, but it also allows me to be mindful of my own wellness.

Although I was scared at the beginning of the semester that I wouldn’t have time for dance, I knew that it was something I needed to prioritize in my life. As I continued the semester, I realized that I made the right choice; my dance team was the physical and creative outlet I needed. I became mindful of other parts of my life and more disciplined in my studies. In turn, I was able to enjoy my first semester of veterinary school so much more!

About 30 college students posing for a group photo at a dance competition in green (back and front row) and red (middle row) costumes.

When you’re in veterinary school, it’s important to prioritize what is important to you. Vet school will take up some of your time, but you have enough to invest in yourself! When you take time for yourself, everything becomes easier to manage — including school. My advice for future veterinary students is to try to aim for a balanced lifestyle of both education and wellness. These habits will only benefit you once you begin and continue your veterinary career!

Surviving Game Day As A Veterinary Student

By Carson D. ’25, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student

When you work as hard as a veterinary student does, you deserve to have a hobby or interest that gives you some time away from your studies. For me, that’s college football!

Ever since I was an undergrad, I’ve made it a point to go to as many football games as I can. This is now my third year in veterinary school and my third season of cheering on the Aggies at Kyle Field, and I want to share everything I’ve learned about how to survive game day as a veterinary student.

Thousands of fans dressed in maroon and white cheering on the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field.

Tip No. 1: Pull Tickets Early

“Ticket pull,” or the process through which Texas A&M students get their tickets to the game, seems daunting and confusing at first, but it’s really not that bad. Ticket pull takes place Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the week leading up to a home game.

Students line up at the ticket windows facing Joe Routt Blvd, sometimes camping out days in advance to ensure they get the best seats. I don’t necessarily recommend doing that, given that veterinary students have busy schedules, but I do recommend pulling as early as you can!

As veterinary students, we are allowed to start pulling tickets at 8 a.m. on Monday. You can send one person to pull the tickets for your whole group as long as that person has their student ID and everybody’s sports passes.

If you have more than 10 people in your group, you have to line up in the “group pull” ticket window. More detailed information can be found at the 12th Man Foundation.

Tip No. 2: Plan Ahead

We have a lot on our plates as veterinary students, so it’s important to plan your weekend work and study schedules around the game if you plan to go. Budget time before Saturday to make sure you get everything done prior to the game or leave an easily manageable amount to finish up after the game and on Sunday.

Tip No. 3: Stock Up

There are several things you can bring into the game that might come in handy.

Most importantly, especially for day games, is a sealed water bottle. One sealed water bottle of any size is allowed per person. Water is very important because the temperature in the stands can get upwards of 5 degrees hotter than what the weather station reports because of the body heat generated by the 102k Aggie faithful, and the sun and humidity can easily tack on 10 degrees to the heat index. It’s important to stay hydrated in that heat!

Sunscreen is also a great item to bring if the game starts during the day. And if there’s even a chance of rain, make sure you pack a foldable poncho —­ Tracy sells branded ponchos in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) Marketplace (the school’s gift shop).

To help carry all of this, you’re allowed to bring a clear bag of up to 12” x 6” x 12” or a non-clear small bag no larger than the size of your hand into the stadium.

You should also make sure to wear comfortable shoes — Aggie students pride themselves on never sitting down during the game.

A group of eight Texas A&M students in game day attire standing in the Kyle Field stadium bleachers.

Tip No. 4: Get A 12th Man Towel

12th Man towels have been a staple of the largest student section in the nation since 1985, and for good reason. Not only are they great for cheering on the Aggies and intimidating opposing teams, but they’re also multipurpose!

On a hot day, they can shield your neck from the sun or wipe away sweat from your brow. If it’s raining, they can be used to dry your seat. They can even be used as a koozie!

12th man towels can be bought from pretty much any Aggie spirit store around town. I’ve bought several from the campus bookstore in the Memorial Student Center (MSC) on my way into games after forgetting mine at home. They can sometimes be purchased inside the stadium from merchandise kiosks.

Tip No. 5: Park In Lot 36

Because it’s the biggest veterinary student parking lot and just steps away from the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, chances are you already know where Lot 36 is and how to get there. To get in on game day, bring a printout or screenshot of your valid student parking permit barcode (found after logging into your account at transport.tamu.edu) and you can park for free.

There’s plenty of green space for tailgating (if you get there early enough to claim it), and you can take the free Agronomy game day bus from the Lot 36 bus stop straight to the MSC, a block away from Kyle Field. If you choose not to take the bus, it’s about a 10–15-minute walk to the stadium.

About two hours before kickoff, you can even watch the Parsons Mounted Cavalry march down Agronomy Road! I recommend taking the bus to the MSC at least an hour before kickoff to allow time for enjoying the pre-game pageantry that takes place in Aggie Park and outside the stadium.

Tip No. 6: Line Up Early

Finally, I recommend lining up at your assigned stadium entrance (shown on your ticket) around 30 minutes before kickoff. The crowds can be daunting, and sometimes the entrance lines can get pretty backed up, especially early in the season.

Plan to be in your seat about 15 minutes before kickoff so you can catch the flyover and stadium entrance, which has been revamped this season! Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Miss Rev, the Queen of Aggieland, as she leads her team out onto the field!

With all these tips, you should have no problem having a fun and smooth game day experience cheering the Aggies to victory.

Gig ‘em!

Developing A Passion For All Animals

By Matthew ’26, B.S. in Animal Science

One of the great things about being an Ambassador in the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) with undergraduate, graduate, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students is that, like the school itself, the Ambassador Program attracts students from a variety of backgrounds and with many different interests.

Some Ambassadors come from a rural background and others come from a city, including myself; some share my major of animal science and have spent their whole lives participating in livestock shows, while others had no large animal experience before coming to Texas A&M.

I am one of those people who had no prior large animal experience before coming to Texas A&M. I grew up in Dallas and have lived in the city my whole life. My love for animals developed at a young age from all of the pets my sister and I had over the years — we had two hamsters, two lizards, two guinea pigs, and four dogs. Over the years, our house began to look like a zoo!

Some of my favorite memories from childhood also occurred at our local pet store, Petland. The interactions with the animals there sparked my love for animals. Even though I went to Animal Science 107, which is the first animal science course you will take at Texas A&M, with little knowledge of large animals, I made up for it. I studied and worked hard to earn an A in the class.

My undergraduate experience also has been filled with great relationships with fellow pre-vet students and with faculty, which I’ve developed by demonstrating a hard work ethic in each class. I have met some great people in animal science by participating in internships, such as at the Houston Livestock Show and by joining organizations such as the Pre-Vet Society, and by becoming a VMBS Ambassador.

Becoming an Ambassador has provided me with great advice from current veterinary students, leadership opportunities, and the chance to meet VMBS faculty. It has also allowed me to work with wonderful people and gifted me with a support system. Everyone on the team is kind, caring, and wants you to succeed in life. My undergraduate experience would not be what it is without making that decision to apply to become an Ambassador.

Summer At The Hattiesburg Zoo

By Nikki

During veterinary school, the summer is a great time to take a much-needed break from all the studying and information-processing that happens throughout the academic year. However, many students also use their summers to gain more experience, find potential employment upon graduation, or to explore new fields of veterinary medicine.

For example, I have worked in small animal medicine for six years and I had plenty of offers to work with other small animal practices this summer. However, I decided to go outside of my comfort zone this summer after I received the amazing opportunity to work at the Hattiesburg Zoo in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

A young woman in a blue shirt holding a two-toed sloth.

I grew up in Petal, Mississippi, which is a small town outside of Hattiesburg. As a kid, my family and I would go to this zoo weekly, so getting to work there all summer was a “full-circle moment” for me.

The Hattiesburg Zoo is home to more than 100 different animals including a hyena family, giraffes, zebras, a variety of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. While I was there, I got to work with the veterinary team on a variety of cases while also growing more confident in my exotic animal-handling, physical exam, technical, and communication skills.

My favorite thing about this externship was learning how to change the way I give physical exams based on the animal I was examining.

One of the most interesting cases I got to participate in was when a female ostrich named Twig broke her humerus. This accident happened the day before I started working with the zoo, so I was there to assist in her care from start to finish.

First, we helped transport Twig from Hattiesburg to the zoological medicine service at Louisiana State University to have her humerus surgically repaired. After her surgery, she was placed in a quarantined area to make sure she was able to heal appropriately.

I assisted with bandage changes, taking radiographs to ensure proper healing, anesthesia, blood sample collection, and proper handling of an ostrich during my time at the zoo.

By getting to work at the Hattiesburg Zoo, I was able to expand my comfort zone and work with species I never thought I would have. I plan to use this experience to help me gain further opportunities and pursue a career in the zoo field in the future.

A Veterinary Tour Of Texas: My Summer Externships

By Hannah J.

As we approach the halfway mark in the fall semester of my second year of veterinary school, I can’t believe time has flown by so quickly! It seems like just yesterday that I was celebrating the end of my first year of vet school and preparing to travel around Texas for my summer externships.

In veterinary school, we receive three months of summer vacation in between the first two years of our four-year program. Some students spend their summers taking a well-deserved break and choose to relax or travel while others spend their time completing externships at clinics, though most do a mix of both. I chose to do three two-week externships and spend the rest of my time traveling or hanging out with friends and family.

My first externship was located in San Antonio, where I got to stay with my sister, who currently goes to medical school there. On my first day, the clinic welcomed me with open arms and made it a priority that I learned as much as I could every day I was there. Right away, I was able to start practicing taking patient histories from the clients, which is one of the major things we spent time on during the first year of veterinary school.

An ultrasound of a patient’s urinary bladder.

In vet school, we practice taking histories by having simulated encounters with local actors hired by the school play the role of a pet or livestock owner, which allows us to learn a variety of communication skills. In San Antonio, I put these skills into practice by greeting real clients in the exam room, building rapport, and taking the history for their pet. I was with the veterinarian on each case from start to finish, and I also got to observe a variety of dental procedures and surgeries.

My next externship took me about 40 minutes away from San Antonio to the city of New Braunfels. I had never visited New Braunfels before and was very excited to be staying there for my externship.

One of the most exciting parts of this externship was getting to work with a variety of exotic patients as part of the daily caseload. During my undergraduate years, I went on a study abroad program to South Africa and was an intern at the Dallas Zoo, so I have some experience with large animal exotics and was looking forward to having new experiences with small animal exotics such as snakes, cockatiels, and guinea pigs. One of my favorite memories from this externship was going on a house-call to a kangaroo ranch where we treated a kangaroo that had been bitten by a rattlesnake.

An X-ray of an otter from one of my externships.

My last externship took place in West Texas in a town called Big Spring. I was looking forward to this externship because it would be at a diagnostic hospital that receives unique referral cases in the area. This hospital also routinely uses ultrasound and CT scans to help diagnose patients.

A smiling woman performs an ultrasound on a dog.
Performing an ultrasound on a dog during one of my externships.

As an extern there, I got to use many of the clinical skills I had learned during my first year of veterinary school. I practiced blood draws to use for canine heartworm tests, physical exams on cats and dogs, and even abdominal ultrasounds. For each case that came in, I worked closely with the veterinarian. The most memorable part of was performing my first spays on dog and cat patients. I also got to see how a CT scan is set up and performed.

Reflecting back on my summer experiences has made me realize how much I have learned and how often I was able to put the knowledge and clinical skills that I gained during my first year to use in a real-life setting! It was a very busy summer of continuing my veterinary education, but it was worth it because of all the opportunities I had. Thankfully, there was still plenty of time to relax with my family and friends and get ready for the next year.

Bustin’ Myths About Pet Ownership In Vet School

By Morgan M.

It’s a common saying in veterinary school that if you don’t start off vet school with a pet, you will graduate with one. Most of us chose this career with a love for animals in mind, so it seems fitting that many of us want to welcome pets into our own homes, if we haven’t already.

After completing my first year of veterinary school, I found myself trying to decide if I could balance owning a dog with my school commitments. After talking to many of my classmates about the pros and cons, I made the leap and adopted a dog. As his first “adoption birthday” approaches, I find myself looking back on the past year and all the benefit pet ownership has added to my life as a veterinary student. For those of you worried about bringing your pet to veterinary school or any current veterinary students considering adding one to your family, I have compiled my personal list of pet ownership in vet school myths.

  • MYTH: Owning a pet while in veterinary school will make me more stressed.

My Experience: Caring for a pet has helped decrease my stress and improved personal balance and time management. Owning a dog has forced me to set aside time every day after class to give him attention and exercise. While this obviously benefits him, it also has forced me to give myself a relaxing “brain break” after a long day of classes (a brain break I did not used to take on my own). 

  • MYTH: It is hard for college students to afford and access veterinary care.

My Experience: High-quality veterinary care is easily accessible to veterinary students. The Texas A&M Small and Large Animal Teaching Hospitals are a short, five-minute walk from our veterinary school and offer primary care services (vaccines, wellness exams, dental cleanings), board-certified specialty care (surgery, radiographs, emergency services), and emerging clinical research trials. In addition, Texas A&M students receive a generous student discount on veterinary services and can schedule their pets for drop-off appointments to fit veterinary care into our busy class schedules.

In addition, students receive discounts on food and other pet products. As Texas A&M students, we are lucky to be supported by a wide variety of veterinary producers. Students can apply for heavily discounted pet food, laboratory tests, supplements, and preventatives. Sponsors at student events, knowing our love for animals, often bring pet-themed giveaways such as leashes, toys, treats, and pet supply coupons.

  • MYTH: I won’t have any time for my pet with the busy class schedule.

My Experience: Scheduled breaks during the day allow students to go home in between classes. All veterinary students have a lunch hour from noon to 1 p.m. Students are welcome to leave campus and have lunch at home with their pets before returning for afternoon classes and labs.

In addition, “vet school pets” get to participate in our veterinary education. The veterinary program at Texas A&M has a strong focus on hands-on-learning, so every semester, there are opportunities for “bring-your-pet-to-lab” days. Friendly, well-behaved pets are invited to join their owners in class and help the students learn about physical exams, dental exams, rehabilitation techniques, and ultrasound, just to name a few!

  • MYTH: If class runs late or I need to leave town for an externship, I won’t have anyone to help take care of my pet.

My Experience: Veterinary school provides an easily accessible support network for pet owners. Before adopting my dog, I was worried about finding care for him if I had to leave town. However, I quickly learned that my class is full of other animal lovers like myself who are willing to help out with pet care if I need assistance. As my third-year classmates and I look forward to our fourth-year clinics, we have already started preparing a group schedule to make sure everyone’s pets will be looked after if their owners pursue educational opportunities outside of College Station.

Every vet student’s vet school experience is different. While for some, pet ownership may add another obligation to an already busy schedule, I personally have no regrets about adopting a dog during veterinary school. Texas A&M provides an accommodating schedule, easily accessible high-quality veterinary care, and a great community of other animal lovers who have helped me continue to succeed as a veterinary student with my dog by my side.

A young woman kneels beside a brown dog with a sign celebrating her countdown to graduation from vet school.
Morgan with her dog, Jovi.

The Best Running Trails in Bryan-College Station

When we were sitting in veterinary orientation, we were told many times that the healthy habits we form now — in the intense and busy environment of veterinary school — are the ones we will maintain in our intense and busy lives as veterinarians. Veterinary medicine is a challenging and demanding career, so it is important to find routines that allow us to keep our minds and bodies healthy.

I have always believed that exercise is a great form of stress relief; the physical exertion gives my brain a break from thinking and forces some of the pent-up energy out of my body. As I prepared for my first semester of veterinary school this past fall, I wanted to make sure that I made time in my schedule for physical activity, especially running. 

I was nervous about finding scenic, outdoor running loops close to school, but after a semester of thorough exploration, I have located multiple scenic, easily accessible trails, neighborhoods, and parks. For all my current and prospective veterinary school classmates looking to spend some time outside, I have compiled a list of five 3-4 mile loops within 20 minutes of the veterinary school that are easily adjustable for all activity levels. 

Lake Bryan – 16 minutes away 

Lake Bryan and surrounding trails are utilized for a wide variety of activities including walking, running, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, boating, and camping. 

After pulling through the main gate, park in the gravel lot on the left side. Trail heads start on both sides of the road. The main walking / running trail is a gravel path that surrounds the entire perimeter of the lake. There are many small mountain bike trails off the main trail that are open to foot-traffic, but pedestrians need to carefully watch for cyclists. The full circle of the main trail is about 11 miles, but there are many options for shorter out-and-back routes.

Pros: waterfront views, well-maintained trails, lots of parking

Cons: $5 fee to enter property, only accessible during specific hours (usually 9am-8pm), farther from school

Lake Bryan map

Lake bryan view

Traditions – 5 minutes away

The golf course, club house, and Stella Hotel are centrally located and surrounded by many neighborhoods. 

There are two main options for parking. If you are coming from F&B Road, park at the public lots outside the Stella hotel (A below). You can route up the roads around the Traditions sky tower and lake walk, past the club house, and through some of the surrounding neighborhoods. If you are coming from Villa Maria Road, park at the small lot on the right just beyond the Traditions sign and entrance. 

Pros: lots of different potential loops, lots to see – fancy houses, ponds, bridges, well-maintained sidewalks

Cons: popular – lots of other walkers & runners
Traditions map view

Traditions map 2 view

running trail traditions

Wolf Pen Creek Park – 10 minutes away

Wolf Pen Creek is a 63 acre park and trail system in downtown College Station. The trail system is split into two sections, but the majority of the park, including the pond and amphitheater, is in the north half. 

There are three established parking areas, one at each end of the trail system and one in the middle off Colgate drive. Wide paved sidewalks follow the creek and ponds throughout the park.

Pros: well-maintained sidewalks, very scenic pond, great green space in an otherwise developed area

Cons: very close to major roads and strip malls, very busy if there are events at the park

Wolf Pen Creek Park running trail

Lick Creek State Park – 20 minutes away 

Lick Creek State Park is a 500-acre state park that boasts about 5 miles of horseback riding, biking, and walking trails, a nature center, and an outdoor amphitheater. 

I recommend parking at the main lot next to the nature center. Most of the trailheads begin behind the nature center and there is a large map for route planning. The wide gravel trails loop through meadows, forest sections, and over small creeks.

Pros: really feels like you are out in nature

Cons: definitely farther from vet school, very busy on the weekends when the weather is nice

Lick Creek State Park running trail

Research Park at Texas A&M

Research Park is a 40-acre park located in between the George Bush Presidential Library and the veterinary school. The park includes several interconnected ponds, plenty of green space, over a mile and a half of walking/running paths, and an 18-hole disc golf course. 

Research Park is within walking distance of the veterinary school, so it is an excellent option for workouts during study breaks or before or after school. It is also home to our Vet School Purina Run / Walk Club that gets together after school every Tuesday!

Pros: scenic ponds and bridges, super close to school!

Cons: few route options, have to cross University Road to get to Research Park from school

running trail Research Park

Coming Together for Brooke

As a second-year veterinary school student, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that veterinary school has a funny way of warping your priorities in life.

With the high volume of information and stress that students are typically under, it’s very easy to let things like sleep, self-care, and maintaining relationships fall to the wayside in favor of reviewing just one more lecture or finishing just one more assignment until you look up to find that it’s midnight.

This was the unfortunate cycle I found myself in just two weeks ago as I tried to catch up on school after missing a week because of the flu. I likely would’ve continued this way until at least Spring Break.

However, life had other plans.

Friday, Feb. 21, found me not carefully following my meticulous study schedule like I had planned for the weekend but holding the hand of my best friend in the emergency room.

She had been experiencing shortness of breath for a couple of weeks but, as we all do, decided to attempt to manage her symptoms the best she could until we had a break in exams. If she was still experiencing issues at that point, she would go to the doctor to see about getting treatment, since it was more likely something like bronchitis rather than allergies.

Neither of us could have ever been prepared when the doctor informed us they had found a mass roughly the size of an orange sitting in the center of her chest and the cause for the shortness of breath she was experiencing was likely cancer.

In that single instance, my priorities completely rearranged.

No longer was I worried about the upcoming assignment that was due or catching up. My No. 1 priority became doing anything and everything I could to support my best friend.

The next 48 hours were a blur of family, meetings with doctors, discussing hospital possibilities, and developing a plan of action. As we progressed through the week, faculty members and our classmates were informed of the events of the weekend.

I am still in awe of the response. I watched as my classmates completely reorganized their lives, and the hours that were normally spent secluding ourselves in a study bubble were readily forgotten in favor of organizing events to support my best friend, which became top priority.

The way our CVM family has come together to support one of our own has been an amazing reminder that we are all here for the same dream, but we can’t accomplish that dream alone. Dreams and goals are so important, but they are nothing compared to the people beside us.

May you all remember to look up from the books once awhile and take in the life around you…because life comes at you fast.

 

Finding a New Home

This summer, I went on an adventure. Really, I went on many adventures, but one of them was completely veterinary related and I loved it a lot.

To better understand my adventure, you should know that I would like to move to the mountains when I graduate. I love the mountains and snow, and I don’t like it being summer until October.

So, this summer, I decided that I should try to figure out where I want to live when I graduate.

The best thing about being a veterinarian is that the entire U.S. is open to you when you graduate—everywhere needs a vet.

The worst thing about being a veterinarian is that if you have no idea where you want to live, it is hard to narrow it down—the entire country is open to you. I had narrowed it to the mountains, but there are so many mountains, so I needed to figure out more.

On July 5, I loaded up my car and started my three-day solo road trip to Idaho. Solo road trips might not be everyone’s favorite thing, but I love them.

I downloaded some books on tape and drove through areas of the U.S. that I had never been to before, like Utah and northern New Mexico. It was quite an adventure, and I am grateful that my 21-year-old car made it to Idaho. I think I worried my parents, but I was having a great time.

In Idaho, I rode with a few dairy veterinarians in the area that I was in. I had never been exposed to dairy medicine, so it was quite a new experience.

I got to see the difference in working for an operation versus having many large dairies as clients. I also had the opportunity to work with pregnant cows and got to see what the role of the veterinarian was in large-scale operations. It was a great experience that opened my eyes to the different roles of vets in different industries.

I was only in Idaho for a week, so after that week was done, I packed up my car again and drove to Bozeman, Montana, where I spent two weeks at a clinic.

Let me tell you, Bozeman is gorgeous. I loved it there. I would wake up in the mornings, and it would be 45 degrees. To put that in perspective, it is the middle of October in Texas, and I don’t think that is has gotten into the 40s yet.

I really enjoyed the clinic in Bozeman. They were willing to teach me and give me opportunities to work with them.

I really appreciate the veterinary field as a whole because most vets are willing to teach; that means that as students, we have the unique opportunity to reinforce what we are learning in class and learn about what it will be like when we graduate.

My adventure ended with my dad flying to Bozeman and driving to Yellowstone with me. We camped and hiked and saw one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been. The bison that were on the side of the road were also great!

We stayed for three days, and I was sad when we had to leave. I hope to move somewhere that will allow more access to gorgeous outdoor scenery like that.

My adventure ended on July 31 when we got home. I drove 4,330 miles in 26 days on this trip. I had so much fun, and I am so grateful for the time that veterinary students get off during the summer, which allows us to have time to choose what we want to do, whether it is veterinary related or not.

This was my last summer off before I graduate because next summer, I will be in fourth year, when we spend an entire calendar year working through the different services in the Small and Large Animal Hospitals.

I will look back on this adventure fondly, and, thankfully, I think it helped serve the purpose of learning more about the veterinary field and about where I want to move.