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Friendships are Everything

As I approach my fourth semester of veterinary school, I have thought a lot about what has helped me come this far.

Veterinary school is definitely a huge change from my days as an undergraduate, not only in schedule but also workload; initially, it was kind of a culture shock.

Although, I worked hard to make the transition as seamless as possible, I realize what has really made the biggest difference is the friendships I have made in my class.

Coming into veterinary school, I knew a few people from undergrad who would be in my class.

But as the first semester progressed, I started to become close to many more people.

It is pretty inevitable, considering we spend almost 40 hours a week together in class, but it almost felt like being back in high school, when you had the same classes all day, everyday with your friends.

But what really helped me form the closest friendships was the countless hours we would spend studying together. Not only does it help to share knowledge and study guides and quiz each other, but it also makes the whole process less painful.

Now, it is tradition for my groups of friends to study together the night before every test.

After fall finals, my friends and I decided to reward ourselves by taking a trip to Colorado.

We went skiing and snowboarding, rode snowmobiles, tubed, and generally spent a week just hanging out with each other.

This trip made me realize that I don’t think I have ever gotten so close to a group of people so fast. Not only do they help pass the time in class or make studying more bearable, but they are also an important support system, because we are all going through the exact same thing together.

I’m not sure I would have made it this far if it weren’t for the friends I have made here.

Instant Friendship in Veterinary School

I have recently started my four-year long journey toward achieving my dream of being
a feline specialty veterinarian.

Starting veterinary school is a lot like starting kindergarten: it’s a completely new experience, you miss your mom, you REALLY want a nap, and everyone starts to ask you “Did you make new friends?”

But I have good news for you—just like in kindergarten, making friends in veterinary school is as simple as saying “Do you want to be friends?”

Part of starting veterinary school was understanding that every one of my 161 classmates feels just like I do: nervous, excited, and eager to make new friends.

Luckily, we get sorted into so many smaller groups of students that it is so easy to get to know people! We have our student mentor groups, our anatomy lab groups, our physiology lab groups, and even histology lab groups.

The administration sorts us based on our animal experience and background, so each small group has a diverse amount of experience. This means that I have met so many new people who grew up different areas, see the world in different ways, and have differing personalities, but we’re all bonded by our passion and love of veterinary medicine.

Not only is everyone eager to be friends, but everyone has fully embraced the family mentality. Starting veterinary school has given me an extended family filled with loving, supportive people.

For instance, I am somewhat nervous about working with horses. When I expressed this nervousness, several people immediately offered to give me tips for working around horses. In return, I can help them learn about cat behavior!

We are truly all in this together, here to lift each other up and help each other succeed.

I am so honored to be a student in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and I know I am about to experience the best four years of my life surrounded by the best people in the world.