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Off-Campus Living and New Roommates

Erin H.I am finally a senior (WHOOP) and this is my first time living off campus.

For the first three years here at Texas A&M, I lived in the same residence hall with the same roommate. Fortunately, it was modular style, so it was bigger than some of the other dorms, but the kitchen was not very clean, the sharing spaces were messy, and there was not much privacy in the room itself. However, I lucked out because my roommate and I got along really well and we are still great friends.

While the living conditions were not great, the community and the friends I met made up for it.

I could not recommend enough, especially for freshmen, to live in the dorms their first year. Not only is being on campus much more convenient because of its proximity to dining places and classes, but it shapes you into the Aggie that everyone should strive for; you get involved in so many events on campus, learn about all the traditions, and are surrounded by peers to whom you can relate and connect.

But as three years came to an end, my roommate and I decided it was time to move on. We wanted to find a nice apartment with two other close friends and experience the off-campus living for ourselves.

Boy, has this been a learning curve.

Living with one other roommate was one thing but living with three other girls was an entirely different ball game. All four of us had different ideas of what we considered clean, figure out what temperature to set the thermostat, and establish common house rules…that change weekly.

Not only that, but we were all new to off-campus living so we had to adjust to waking up earlier to get to class on time and set aside time to make food like real adults.

What a time to be alive! I have to say…it is nice to have our own kitchen and our own rooms to crawl back to when we need some alone time, but most importantly, I love girls’ night whenever we get the chance to have one.

Recently, we had a new addition to the “family”…and his name is Khaki. My roommate adopted this Catahoula/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix at 3 months old, and he is one spoiled puppy. He has every toy you could ever imagine and better jackets and clothes than I will ever have, but that’s OK, because he deserves it.

Currently, he is being potty trained and learning new commands every day. He does make mistakes here and there, but he is the one of the most well-behaved puppies I have ever met. I always say he’s an old soul trapped in a little body. We can’t wait to see him grow into a big dog!

Big Decisions

Karly B.I have recently been tasked with submitting my fourth-year rotation preferences for our next, and last, year. I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. I was so overwhelmed when the administration first introduced this process to us.

The way our fourth year of veterinary school works is we enter into the Small and Large Animal Teaching Hospitals from May 2019 to May 2020. During this timeframe, we spend two weeks’ time on each of a series of rotations to gain experience in a clinical setting, making our own decisions, and taking care of patients.

It is our last step to becoming a doctor, other than passing the NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Examination), of course.

The first decision we must make for our fourth year of veterinary school is choosing a track. These tracks include small animal, large animal, mixed, or alternative track. I settled on doing mixed animal, which is a combination of small and large animal track.

Although most of my experiences outside of school are small animal related, I have found a passion and interest in ruminants and chickens that I would like to continue to pursue through my education here at Texas A&M.

Then, we are given a choice of our rotations; some are elective and others are required. Of some of the required rotations, we have a month of anesthesia, two weeks of surgery, and two weeks at the Houston SPCA. In my chosen rotation selections, I chose community equine practice and the exotics rotation.

We also select a month to do externships at other hospitals and clinics. This was my most stressful decision. It’s so difficult to decide a timeframe to commit to going to another clinic when it’s so far away.

All in all, I believe I chose the right rotations, externships, and track to make the most of my remaining time here at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.

A Little Perspective

Emily T.It’s hard for me to believe this, but I am now just a few weeks away from completing the first semester of second year of veterinary school!

My friends and family love to ask me, “How is second year going?” And my answer to that has been, “It’s going much better than first year!”

Their reactions are always a mixture of surprise and wonder. Is it an easier semester? Are there fewer exams? What’s different?

Well, the truth is that veterinary school is still extremely difficult, and the exams are still just as stressful and overwhelming as ever.

That hasn’t changed, but my perspective has.

See, there were several times throughout first year during which I felt like my life had been put on hold. I watched as my friends from college moved to new places, accepted full-time adult jobs, and traveled to countries around the world, all while I was sitting at a local coffeeshop studying for my upcoming exams.

I had fallen into what seemed like an endless routine of wake up, go to school, study, sleep, rinse, and repeat. I found myself wishing that I could just skip to graduation and become a veterinarian, so that I, too, could start living my life. But then I realized that by wishing that, I was wishing time away.

Oftentimes, we let ourselves be blinded by our goals and the finish line and we don’t realize that life is happening at the same time; I realized that I am never going to get these years back.

It struck me that my life is happening right now—I need to be present in the moment and I need to live it.

So, this past semester, I made a conscious effort to lead a more balanced life. Of course, I still spend the majority of my time either in class or studying, but I made time for myself.

I started exercising regularly again and I didn’t let myself feel guilty for taking breaks and spending time with my friends. I deliberately set aside time for loved ones back home.

Every time I take a little bit of time away from studying and from school, I come back rejuvenated and excited to learn again, and it has made vet school so much more enjoyable than when I was just consumed by its stressful rigor.

It’s amazing what a little change in perspective can do.

Study Buddy

Ashlee A.We are approaching the end of our 12th week of school, and it is crazy to think I’ve almost completed my first semester of veterinary school!

As first-year veterinary students, we have felt many emotions already and finals are still approaching. I’ve always heard these would be the most difficult but best times of my life, and I couldn’t agree more—I’ve learned so much about myself and can’t wait to see what the rest of this experience brings.

One of the things I have have learned is the value of studying in groups. I have always studied independently, but I quickly realized that what we’re learning isn’t the kind of information that is easily grasped alone.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and we all have a unique way to study, so I’m continually learning what this looks like for me. It is key to find a group that meets your needs, so that you also benefit.

The way I studied at the beginning of the semester looks completely different than it does now because I had to learn what works best for me and for the good of the group. After all, we really are all in this together.

For veterinary students starting next year, my advice is to take it a day at a time, and sometimes an hour at a time. Everyone feels the same emotions, even if it doesn’t seem like it, so you’re never alone.

Sometimes, your first friends may not fit your study needs, and that is completely fine. If you’re a people pleaser (like me), don’t deplete yourself in order to help others; you should be your No. 1 priority.

Most importantly, don’t forget why you’re here and how amazing this opportunity is.

I’m so thankful for all of the opportunities I’ve gotten so far. My journey is far from over, but as I write this blog, I’ve enjoyed stepping back to admire how far we have come, and I look forward to the great things we will accomplish in this profession.

You’re Not Alone

Kelsi E.Wow. This Friday will round out week 10 of my first semester of veterinary school.

Had you asked me how I was feeling two weeks ago, I’d have to confess I was debating whether this was truly my career path. I was struggling with the heavy course load, personal issues, and missing home more than any 22 year old ever would. With our exam schedule picking up and time seeming to just melt away, I wondered if I’d ever make it those last eight weeks. “Imposter Syndrome” was certainly rearing its ugly head and I felt totally alone.

Then I received a text from a classmate, who has quickly turned from stranger to best friend, confessing that they were sharing my doubts, and suddenly I was not alone! This changed everything. Having someone to share our struggles allowed us to easily dismiss the silly notions we each had about ourselves and tackle the problems logically.

We reached out to professors, classmates, the professional counselors Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) has on staff just for veterinary students, and even the dean (!)—and we were met with nothing but love and support. All of my professors have set aside time in their days to help me work through my struggles and fears, and the counselors have taught me strategies to handle my stress and remind me that I am most definitely not alone.

Since receiving that text message, my entire outlook has changed. Sure, veterinary school is hard. Studying, hard classes, and the craziness that comes with life will never go away, but I now know that I will always have an entire support system who all want me to be the best veterinarian I can possibly be, and with their help, I know I will be!

My advice to anyone aspiring to be a veterinarian is that no matter what is going on in your life and no matter how bad it might seem—reach out. Someone likely is feeling the exact same way that you are and at the CVM, you’re never alone!

Baby Dog-tors

Brandi M.One of the most highly anticipated days for a veterinary student is the day you do your first spay or neuter in third year. That day is almost here for me!

We have put in so much time and effort to get to this point, and I’ll have to admit, there are some times that I feel out of my depth facing clinics next year. Despite all of the information I’ve crammed into my head over the past two years, I realize that just knowing all the medicine doesn’t fully prepare you to practice medicine. Surgery, especially, is one of the most daunting hurdles to reach and is a rite of passage for students.

The really cool thing about third-year surgeries is that not only are we forwarding our experience in school, but we’re also giving back to the community. All of the animals are from local animal shelters; the school provides the surgeries free of charge for shelters and future owners to encourage adoption, because spays and neuters are one of the most costly parts of adopting an animal. Spaying and neutering also will prevent aggressive behavior and will remove the risk of infection (most commonly talked about is pyometra).

Every animal is assigned to a surgical group and looked after for a week, getting loved on and spoiled during their stays. We spend this time bonding with our soon-to-be patients and applying our learned knowledge to a real-life animal. The surgeries are overseen by board certified surgeons.
And then once the surgery is done and the patients have been observed for post-op recovery, they are all put up for adoption. What I think is funny is that it’s not uncommon for some of the students to inquire about their patient’s adoption status and may even adopt the animals themselves.

Ultimately, I love this feature of this profession and this school, in particular—that we actively work to the benefit of the animals in our community while also educating students to continue this service in their future careers. It’s just a part of being one step closer to becoming a full-fledged baby dog-tor!

Getting my Aggie Ring

LisaThe highlight of what has been a good third year, so far, has been getting my Aggie ring. Yup, that is right! I BTHO 90 hours, and I still cannot seem to understand how close I am to finishing college.

The Aggie Ring Ceremony was everything I heard it was, a moment full of pride. My brother was the person designated to put on my ring, and it was the best moment of 2018 yet.

My brother was chosen because he has been my No. 1 supporter of me and the travel required because of living eight hours away from home to get a great education. (He also was a Longhorn fan, so I had to show him a true Aggie tradition).

Not only that, but I also got to show my family Kyle Field and take pictures with my ring in the grand 12th Man Stadium.

It was very exciting to see how many people showed up from all over to help me celebrate my big day. I was excited for my ring, but I was in awe with the huge support system I have here at A&M and back home.

I am truly blessed as a student and individual with the life given to me. If my third year has been this great, I can’t wait to experience the rest of it.

The Value of ‘Brain Breaks’

Taylor SheffieldThe first year of veterinary school is fun, exhilarating, and, sometimes, exhausting. With the excitement of class and lab throughout the day and then coming home to study at night, we vet students occasionally forget how to step away from the books and slightly relax.

Now that the semester is half way over, I have learned that those tiny moments away from the books are essential to everyday life. At first, school seemed to take a big chunk of my time, or so I thought, and I could not possibly imagine fitting in any “brain breaks.”

Well, that did not last too long. I found my focus had started to decrease once I got home from school, and so I had to learn how to incorporate a small break here and there.

First, I decided to continue my summer exercise routine of 40 minutes a day of some kind of exercise I enjoyed. Personally, I enjoy running and yoga. Although some days I may not have all of that time, even 20 or 30 minutes of exercise is enough to get me up and away from the books. During those 30 minutes, I get my blood pumping, clear my mind, and take a step away from the bright luminesce screen. On days when studying is long and vigorous, after two hours I take a break and do a workout video from YouTube, and that short, and free 20, minutes of exercise is just enough to get me up out of my chair and reset my brain.

There are days when exercise is just not appealing, so other little stress relievers are useful. Coloring while listening to music, doing a load of laundry, baking a cake, taking 10 minutes for meditation, or even vacuuming up the apartment are all ways I step away from school. An even better brain break, and one I enjoy very much, as most veterinarian students do, is to play or cuddle with my cat, which releases that small amount of stress I was focusing on while studying.

Over the last nine weeks, the most important thing I have learned is to take those small breaks. I know it can be difficult at times, but those breaks help improve studying! Research has shown that our brains are not meant to look at something or stay stationary for long periods of time, so having short mental breaks, ranging from 20-30 minutes, can actually improve information retention.

So, no matter what you’re doing, remember to occasionally take a step away, enjoy the fresh air, and let the mind reset.

Kinda a Doctor

Tori ChambersSometimes, when I am caught up in the middle of a month full of tests, it’s easy for me to feel overwhelmed by the mass amounts of knowledge I have yet to conquer.

As a second-year veterinary student, there are frequent moments of great frustration when I recognize a familiar concept that is still fuzzy and not completely understood or applied yet.

But as I talk to first-year students or discuss cases with classmates, there are also many moments that medical terminology and understanding comes easily. I guess on this long road to becoming a doctor, it’s natural to be so busy studying that you don’t realize the progress as it’s being made.

It’s odd (and slightly terrifying) to think that in just two and a half years, I will be a licensed practicing veterinarian! I have so much more to learn!

I have always wanted to be a veterinarian, and as I go through more and more school, I see how much of an impact animals have in people’s lives.

My classmate told me just last week that veterinarians are providing a human service in an animal field. There’s a lot of truth to that. I love getting to help animals and, by doing so, I positively impact people’s lives.

No matter what tests I am struggling through right now, that’s the future goal I get to look forward to.

A ‘Major’ Decision

Linh N.This is my second year as a biomedical sciences (BIMS) major.

Up until the end of last summer, I thought medical school was what I wanted to pursue. Ever since high school, I’ve joined so many medical organizations and clubs to keep up with what’s going on in the field and learn more about it through other people.

My plan took a turn, however, when I went back to my motherland, Vietnam, for vacation and a shadowing opportunity. During winter break of my freshman year, since “shadowing” is not really a thing in Vietnam, my mom tried her best to get permission for me to get my shadowing hours done at one of the top hospitals there.

Even though it was a very great experience, I realized that I was not really passionate about it. I still love the idea of working in the hospital or clinic environment, where I get to help other people. However, I felt like something was missing; I didn’t feel super excited when I did my shadowing.

Last summer, I volunteered in the small adoptable dog area at the Houston SPCA. I had a chance to talk to a veterinarian and a veterinary anesthesiologist there and I never felt so excited and fascinated by listening to other people talking about their job and workplace.

My mom has always wanted me to become a doctor and I thought that was also what I wanted. But I know that deep down in my heart, I’ve always wanted to become a veterinarian.

I didn’t want to disappoint my mom so I kept it to myself and kept going forward as a pre-medical student until I got this job as a bio med ambassador. As I was shadowing other ambassadors on their tours, I got to see more than just the reception at the animal hospitals—I saw an operating surgery under a team of about 5-6 people, a veterinary dentist and his team treating a dog’s teeth while it was under anesthesia.

Seeing everyone work as a team to treat animals and talk to the animals’ owners about what’s going on with their pets, how their pets are feeling, and what they should do to help their pets feel better allowed me to picture myself in veterinarian’s position and that made me very excited.

I’ve also talked to some veterinary students and I realized that I’m actually more intrigued by our discussions about what they’re learning in veterinary school and some interesting things they’ve seen during their rotations or shadowing than listening to a discussion at a medical school presentation.

So, my second year as a biomedical sciences major will be a memorable mark on my journey—on in which I decided to pursue veterinary school and a veterinarian path.