Knowing how difficult the application process would be, I dedicated myself to college, doing my very best and getting the best grades could manage. In addition, I volunteered at a local veterinary hospital. I also took a job tutoring students in chemistry to keep my basics strong and to practice peer teaching. I was later accepted to an internship position at the local zoo, but most of all, I studied very hard. Despite my efforts, good grades, and volunteer/paid experiences, I was rejected from every veterinary medical school to which I applied.
From there, I took a year off of school and worked full-time as a veterinary assistant. I also volunteered on a dairy research project through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The following year I exclusively applied to UW Madison's Veterinary Medical program and was accepted outright. Throughout veterinary medical school, I made many friends and had many wonderful experiences. During this time, I also found myself working part-time in the diagnostic clinical pathology laboratory at the veterinary medical school. After vet school, I accepted a position as a general practitioner at Lodi Veterinary Care.
What are some typical day-to-day responsibilities you have, or decisions you make?
JJ: As a veterinarian in a small clinic, I am the leader of the day. I have had to learn how to manage others, delegate tasks, trust my technicians and assistants and teach them. On appointment days, I see anything from a healthy dog that needs vaccines to a cat in heart failure to a dog with a skin infection.
