Pay it Forward

Entry, Experiences
Charlet Hubertus, Texas A&M

Have you ever sat down and thought about all of the people that have influenced your life, and helped you get to where you are today?  Did you ever think that you could be that difference in someone else’s life?  I would like to think that I could, and that is why I always smile when I see people giving back to their community.  It is amazing to me, how willing the veterinary profession is to give back.  I witnessed this first hand in August when I attended the AVMA convention in San Diego as veterinarians, students and family members of attendees alike gave their time on a Saturday morning to clean up and improve 2 animal shelters in the area. Of all of the activities that I enjoyed at the convention, this one gave me the most pause to think, this one reminded me why I fought for this dream in the first place.  It was inspiring to see so many who felt that helping a community was worth just as much as the seminars or convention activities, especially when you realize that these volunteers were from all over the country, not just from San Diego.  That morning I felt proud to be a vet student, proud that I am joining the ranks of such prestigious people in a profession that understands the importance of paying it forward.  As we all worked together, sweeping and disinfecting runs, stacking and sorting food, painting fences and generally helping with whatever the shelters needed done, I knew that we were making a difference for that community.  We impacted the lives of those people and those animals, and it made me feel like a hero.  That is what this profession is all about: giving back.  That doesn’t mean that we are going to change the world, but we will change lives.  Every client that walks in our door in the future will be impacted, how they are impacted is up to you.  So, remember as we continue the journey to our DVM, to pay it forward.  Every life you encounter should be better because you were there.