Happy as a Bird with a French Fry

Entry, Life as a Vet Student

Tia Chambers, Ross University

After living on a tiny island for nearly eight months, my time to visit home finally arrived. I spent the night before my departure checking and double checking my luggage to be sure that I had not forgotten to pack anything. The list I used to pack was one I had been working on since I first arrived on the island. Everything is expensive here in St. Kitts, whether it be buying things or shipping packages to or from the States, so this list was imperative to me.

The morning of my departure, I had a friend drive me to the airport, which is literally right across the street from my apartment. If the road I lived on was paved, I could have walked my intended checked bag, carry on and personal item all the way there while only breaking a light sweat. I arrived a whole two hours before my plane departed and checked my bag without a hitch, except having to wait in line for about forty minutes to get to the counter. Only another hour to wait after getting through security and I was home free, but I wouldn't consider it done until I had landed in Charlotte. After all, so many things could keep me from home: malfunctioning departing aircraft, overbooked flight, random unforeseen issues...they happen...

We lifted off from St. Kitts en route to Charlotte, NC as the sun began to sink into the ocean...

Yet, none of them did, and inside, I was giggling like a school girl as we made our descent to my awaiting connecting flight. The city lights of Charlotte, North Carolina sparkled down below us like the stars had fallen out of the sky. I started taking it in, as much as I could, with the lights. I stepped off the plane and felt a slight chill in the air while making my way to the terminal. I smiled instead of regretting that I had failed to wear the appropriate winter attire.

It was 10:30pm and my eyes were droopy. My clothes were wrinkled and my hair was disheveled, but I didn't care. I was in America. Only fifty-four minutes and a few sleepy head bobs later, I was reaching for my carry on in the stow compartment and making my way down to baggage claim. It may seem trivial, but I couldn't express to you how emotional it was to see Brian, my fiancé, standing at the bottom of the escalator with an Ale-8-One and a coat and scarf for me on either side of his outstretched arms.

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Becoming a veterinarian

Entry, Experiences Category
Hannah Evans, University of Tennessee 

According to my fifth grade yearbook, I had aspirations to become a singer “like Britney Spears.” I used to sing her songs to my hairbrush every night, and I was certain my future would revolve around pop music. In middle school, my dream changed, and I was sure I wanted to grow earthworms for a living. As the years passed, my surefire career choices ranged from a librarian to a playwright to an astronomer. Dr. AshleyEven as I walked across the stage at my high school graduation, I was at a loss as to what career path I wanted to take. At the time, my mind wavered between a career working in Alzheimer’s research and one writing science fiction novels. I registered for a wide variety of courses in my freshman year of college and ended it by declaring myself a Biology major for no reason other than to give myself some semblance of the focus that all my new friends seemed to have.

The need for a summer job and a love of animals brought me to a job at Banfield, the Pet Hospital. I quickly fell in love with the staff as well as the variety of patients that pranced and waddled their way into our examination rooms. From Mrs. Williams’ gentle greyhound, Katie, to Mr. Burkhart’s irritable domestic short hair, Shadow, I came to appreciate the individual personalities of each pet I worked with.

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Rhymes that Rock for a Class Called Tox

Entry, Foot in Mouth Disease

Natalie Quader, Tuskegee

Toxicology is a class that needs a poem
I wrote one about the plants that could hurt pets at home
I could not cover it all 
But the one’s I did, I hope for this test I can recall!

Making one crazy and giving a valium need
Include Water Hemlock, Yellow Jessamine and Milkweed
Less severe CNS effects, but yet not anymore wise
Are the plants locoweed and all the parts of the Buckeyes

White Snakeroot and Black Nightshade will put a dog in a coma
While Diffenbachia will burn one’s stoma
Jimsonweed, Black Nightshade, and Poison hemlock’s toxins end in –ine
Treatment of Larkspur and Jimson Weed use Neostigimine

Poison Hemlock you may dry
But do this for water hemlock and you will die!
Locoweed produces birth defects
Secondary photosensitization equals bad liver effects

Castor and Rosary Pea are not like Sunflower Seeds
Alkaloids can effect cows and horses in their grassy feeds
During Easter, cats may need a new kidney from the bunny
Holidays are bad for cats, the poinsettia can be harsh on their tummy

Wild Pea, Coffee Senna, and Sickle Pods are not good for the muscle
Supportive treatment will be needed, and you’ll have to hustle
Mustard can make poop quite bloody
Cassia occidentalis will make urine quite muddy

Bitterweed will make a sheep spew
But test a pasture for senecio, give it to a ewe!
Algae, Amanita, and Cocklebur are harsh on the liver
Convulsions from Cyanide poisoning will make one shiver

There are still many plants I forgot 
I forgot to mention Sweet Clover Poisoning keeps you from a clot
Cyanide Poisoning makes a dog’s gums bright red
But if I don’t finish this, I’ll never get to bed

Be careful what you put in a pot or in your hay
Hopefully my advice will save a life, or at least give me an A!

Will You be My Friend?

Honorable Mention, Creative Corner
Jessica Dreyfuss, North Carolina

Ink Sketch

 

Boiga cyanea feeding

Honorable Mention, Creative Corner
Jessica Dreyfuss, North Carolina

Ink sketch