JJ: It is so important to put in the work. As I said above, I worked many jobs I did not like. Still, they allowed me to connect with people who became my references, taught me how to work hard, enabled me to do things I didn't always want to do and helped guide me to my final career choice of being a small animal veterinarian in private practice. In my job, there are always things I don't want to do. For example, I might need to call the angry client and smooth it over, perform a surgery I haven't done before and feel nervous about or stay late to do medical notes. Sometimes, you have to do things you don't want to do.
I think that to become a veterinarian, you have to be hard-working and empathetic but also kind to yourself. We often don't have much money or many resources, but we are expected to cure animals of horrible diseases. Clients may have unrealistic expectations of what we can do with what they have, so learning how to cope with this is important. It is also important to be able to be a leader, because the veterinarian is the one that sets the tone for the day and facilitates the flow of the day. If I am in a bad mood, the whole team will be.
EG: Gather as much experience as you can and make sure you really love it and it's what you want to do before applying to school. Being a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is very rewarding but also very difficult, stressful and emotionally taxing/draining. In my mind, the most important skill to be effective in this position is communicating and connecting with the person who owns or is responsible for your patient. Besides that, problem-solving and quick wit are valuable skills as well.
