I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was 6, when my mom took me to the Casper Humane Society to pick out my first cat. At that time, I did not know everything being a veterinarian entailed, but I knew I wanted to care for animals in any way I could to keep them healthy. As time passed, I realized that science, especially biology, piqued my interest. I was curious as to how the body worked and what changes happened in a diseased state. This curiosity led me to a job shadow at Casper Animal Medical Center during my senior year of high school. I followed Dr. Holmes around as he saw appointments and took care of emergencies. Before I was about to leave, Dr. Holmes received a call to assess some neglected horses. What I witnessed did not deter me from wanting to be a veterinarian. While it was difficult to witness, I knew I wanted to be the person who would diagnose unhealthy and neglected animals and be able to help authorities get those animals out of bad situations. I want to go into clinical medicine/general practice because I want to be on the front lines of problems and work with clients who cannot see a specialist. To fulfill this goal, I want to give owners many options for treatment so they can decide what is best for them. I also believe pet owner education is essential and part of a veterinarian's job. I want to be able to educate owners on how to best take care of their animals, how to look out for signs of disease, and how to be financially responsible and prepared for the costs of an older animal. I also have the desire to help animals in low-income households. In an ideal world, everyone who owns an animal would have the money to provide them with the highest level of care, but that is not always the case. As a veterinarian, I want to provide affordable care, so more owners can afford to treat their animals, resulting in more animals having healthier and happier lives. I have had the experience of working for veterinarians who charge a lot for their services and those who do not. I enjoyed working for the latter group more. They were kinder and much more reasonable than the former group. I feel as though many people choose not to go to veterinarians and do annual checkups because they either don't have the money or don't see the worth of it when it costs nearly as much as going to the doctor themselves. If we want to improve animal health outcomes, getting animals into the vet for annual checkups is the first step. In my mission to provide veterinary care for lower-income families, I strive to work with animal shelters to provide free spay and neuter clinics and free vaccine clinics. I do not have a solid plan on how to accomplish this, but I know that if I reach out to animal shelters and others who have set up similar clinics, I will learn.

During my undergraduate degree, I had the opportunity to work part-time as a veterinary technician at a clinic. This experience greatly influenced my career goals and solidified my desire to become a veterinarian. At the clinic, I saw a wide range of cases involving animals suffering from neglect, incurable diseases, and fight injuries. These experiences highlighted the importance of being on the front lines to help animals in dire situations. One particular case stands out and supports my mission to provide affordable and accessible veterinary care. One day, a 7-year-old pit bull was brought in for euthanasia due to urinary incontinence. The owners explained they could not afford diagnostics and saw euthanasia as the only option. I told the veterinarian about this and asked if there were any other solutions. The doctor I was working with was determined to find a diagnosis and was not going to euthanize if there was a simple solution. The veterinarian discussed diagnostic options and their costs compared to euthanasia with the owners. Much to my surprise one of the technicians offered to cover part of the diagnostic expenses. The owners agreed to proceed with the diagnostics, which revealed a prostate infection that was successfully treated with antibiotics. The kindness and dedication of the veterinary team during this case were inspiring and reinforced my commitment to the field. Additionally, my role as a veterinary technician allowed me to build meaningful relationships with pet owners, which highlighted the importance of the human-animal bond in veterinary practice. This aspect of the job is something I throughly enjoy. I also enjoy seeing owners with their new puppies and watching their growth together over the years. Many veterinarians have shared that working with patients throughout all stages of their lives is their favorite aspect of the job, and I anticipate it will become one of mine as well. Beyond my work experience, I have also completed academic coursework related to veterinary medicine. Classes such as domestic animal anatomy and diseases of food animals have excited and interested me, and confirmed my determination to pursue this field. I am excited and prepared for the rigor of veterinary coursework and welcome the challenges in front of me. These experiences—both practical and academic—have solidified my desire to become a veterinarian. I want to be there for both owners and their pets alike both in a medical and personal capacity and I am confident in my ability to do so.