Student Experiences: A Tale of Two Vet Students

Submitted by Rachael Lahar, University of Illinois

I met my best friend, Molly Freeman, when we were in our undergraduate careers; we both wanted to become veterinarians. When the time came, we both applied to veterinary schools. However, we were accepted to two different schools. Now Molly is in her third year at Oklahoma State University and I am a third year at the University of Illinois.

During a phone call while we were catching up, we discovered we had the same time off for spring break, something that did not happen the previous year. In previous conversations, we had discussed the similarities and differences in our veterinary school education. There were many commonalities in our education except for one key element: a Clinical Skills Learning Center (CSLC). Oklahoma State University is in the process of having one built; however, the facility won’t be done until Molly will be a fourth year. She wanted to have the ability to practice some of the skills she was being taught in her veterinary school curriculum.

Molly, after hearing about the CSLC and the laundry list of expertise I had gained from it, wanted to experience it for herself. After gaining the necessary permission, the plan fell into place. Molly was visiting me for spring break not only for us to see each other, but in order to learn the skills from me she had not yet had the chance to practice.

During the first day Molly was visiting me we spent all day in the CSLC, starting early in the morning to late in the afternoon. Molly and I have been close friends for years. However, in a professional setting we had never had the chance to work together. We had an amazing time. From my perspective, I had to know all the techniques backward and forwards, not only to teach Molly the skills but also to be able to answer the myriad of questions that popped up. The day flew by in a flurry of placing catheters, bandaging, venipuncture, the marathon of surgical preparation, and more.

For two days, Molly mastered numerous suture patterns, drain placement, and hand ties, and performed a mock spay via the three-clamp method on a balloon and pom-pom uterus setup. I was absolutely astonished by Molly’s drive and persistence in mastering all the skills.

The whole spring break wasn’t solely focused on clinical skills. Molly and I also had a day trip over to Allerton and the picturesque town of Monticello. During this time, we hiked eight miles with the last three of them unfortunately being through the mud. We also birdwatched, took countless photographs, and explored the not-yet blooming gardens at Allerton in the chilly weather. After our hiking adventure, we visited Monticello and met kind people there, and shopped at lovely boutiques/artisan shops.

Overall, spring break flew by and was a unique opportunity for us as veterinary students to collaborate, teach, learn, and most importantly have fun as friends.

Vet Students Abroad: Dominican Republic

Congratulations to Kassandra Schneider on her 2020 International Veterinary Experience Committee (IVEC) Individual Scholarship!  We love to see students thriving in the field and we are so glad to see that those funds helped you to have a successful experience.  

In winter 2019, I participated in a student-run team bringing veterinary care to underserved areas of the Dominican Republic. We cared for dogs, cats, horses, pigs, chickens, and goats in five different communities in a developing nation. This trip (my first trip abroad!) taught me so many unforgettable lessons and brought deep meaning both to my career and my life as a whole.

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Vet School Stress Relief: Canadian Edition

Canadian Vet School Fun, by Anastasia Missan 

From SAVMA’s Canadian Chapter: 

The Atlantic Veterinary College is SAVMA’s only Canadian chapter. Where vet students have to snow shoe to school to learn how to treat polar bears with broken paws, moose with foreign bodies and beavers with food allergies. Not really, but we wish. 

Regardless of where you go to vet school, you are sure to be extremely busy with endless midterms, countless finals, assignments, and too many classes to keep track of. But no matter how exhausted you are, it is important to take some time for you and have a bit of fun. 

Here at the Atlantic Veterinary College we do that in our own special way. Every January to the end of February we have a school wide broomball league tournament. Teams are based on classes, one team per class and as a result broomball is a very competitive sport amongst the three classes, with the winners receiving the highly celebrated broomball champion trophy.  

The rules are simple; score the ball into the opposing team’s net. The game is played on a hockey rink, with shoes instead of skates and brooms instead of hockey sticks. Helmets are a must. The result is a group of vet students running on ice, failing miserably and falling spectacularly.  For those two months the students at Atlantic Veterinary College have more bruises than spots on a Holstein. We might not all be the greatest athletes, but we do know how to have fun.

Veterinary student influencers to host new Vet Candy Podcast

Vet Candy IRL is an innovative podcast hosted by veterinary students, for veterinary students.

Vet Candy’s new podcast, IRL (In Real Life), is an exciting new podcast from the hearts, minds, and mouths of three veterinary students, Shannon Gregoire, Tatiana Rogers, and Lexi Rodriguez. Vet Candy IRL celebrates inspirational role-models and focuses on empowerment and equality, including disruptive leaders who have broken boundaries to get where they are today.

Veterinary students and Insta-friends, Shannon Gregoire from Western University, Tatiana Rogers from Colorado State, and Lexi Rodriguez from Texas A & M host Vet Candy IRL. In the pilot episode, the trio can be heard laughing and talking about some of the stories they’ll be featuring on the show, including how to make time for self-care between classes and how to enjoy life on a student budget.

In their announcement posts, Shannon, 24, Tatiana, 28, and Lexi, 24, displayed their charisma and chemistry that is evident on the podcast.

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Life Lessons Learned While Growing up on a Farm

Sometimes, moving away from home makes us realize what we appreciate most in life.  Take a look at what Katelyn Reist had to say about her transition from her hometown in Pennsylvania to veterinary school life in California! Thank you so much for sharing your perspective with us, Katelyn!

Life Lessons Learned While Growing up on a Farm

While attending elementary, middle, and high school, my classmates always asked, “What is it like to live on a farm?” I never really knew what to say because I have lived on a farm my entire life and never knew what it was like not to live on a farm. Living on a farm was just a part of my life and something that I learned to cherish. I have come to realize these past few years how grateful I am to grow up on a farm because it has instilled in me many valuable lessons and life experiences. These experiences will always be a part of me and have shaped me to become who I am today. 

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