I always forget how long it has been between my postings, but then I remember how quickly time has gone by since I have been here on the island. It's quite astounding really. In two days I will be finished my last class of first semester of vet school, and finals start on Saturday! Seems like just yesterday I was walking into our lecture hall trying to remember at least two peoples names, and having no clue what the semester was going to be like. Now I walk in knowing everyone's names. I figure this will be my last blog post until after finals are done and potentially the last one until once the holidays are over! I am looking forward to going home and seeing everyone and my dog and cats of course. I am also going to RELAX and watch horribly crappy television for as much time as I can!
At any rate the real purpose of today's blog is a bit more serious than my frivolous fun planned for break. One of the neatest things since I have gotten to school has been the ability to go to lunch lectures. Some people figure that you are already in class from 8:30 til 4:30 (say nothing about the extra time you then study at home or after class), why would you want to go spend your free hour at lunch in another lecture? The answer, for me anyways, is that sometimes the topics are just that interesting! I'd say at least once a week I go to a lunch lecture- often more than that and I have walked away with cool information on topics we might not get exposed to until later in school. It also gives me the opportunity to explore things in veterinary medicine that I might not have considered- like rehabilitation physiology, or maybe a specialty in something else? We've had talks on ethics, cows, current events, nutrition, dentistry-- all kinds of interesting things. Sometimes the speakers are not as dynamic or exciting as others, and there are definitely people who only go if free food is provided and (even worse in my opinion) take the free food then don't even stay for the lecture, but in general I go to the talk if I am interested.
Today we had a speaker on something that I think is severely lacking in most vet school curricula, and something that I am strongly considering as a part of veterinary medicine I want to enter. We were fortunate enough to have Dr. Karen Overall come present on introductory veterinary behavior. She made some of the best points I have heard throughout the talk and sadly we only had her for an hour- I could have followed her discussions for a year and not been bored I think. Some of the key points that she made included that "The best way to get a dog to perform behaviors you like is to tell them their brilliant. When they are doing behaviors you like tell them!" She pointed out that she often sees clients whom she tells this to and they respond by saying yes they can do that, yes they will do that... but they don't. It's easy to ignore the good behavior, and pick out the things you don't like- but if you reinforce the positive behavior then you are constructing an environment in which the dogs know what is expected of them! Seems like common sense, but I admit to falling into the category of correcting misbehavior rather than proactively praising the good.
Another big issue that she presented was the behavior of animals in a clinical setting. Regardless of what you are doing as a veterinary team member- and regardless of your interest in behavior- there is no denying that seeing animals come in the clinic is often a state of stress and frenzy, much more so than a relaxed come state. Having worked in a clinic for the 6 years I did I admit I routinely saw frenzied animals, and restrained panicked animals. When you stop to consider the ramifications of taking a panicked animal, poking it with needle(s) while they are being held by strangers, it makes you realize that you are doing nothing proactive to avoid inducing a further state of stress- and this has been measured by bloodwork. She talked about the scale and how it induces fear in animals and talked about steps to make the scales, waiting rooms and exams much less stressful.
I was totally fascinated. I've always been interested in behavior in animals, dogs in particular, and I've heard and followed many theories but I'm not sure I've seen a talk with such concise, common sense points made. It reinforced the idea that maybe what I really want to do is get into veterinary behavior as a specialty! There is tons of time to decide these things, and it would be somewhat of an uphill battle given the lack of residencies in the field, but it certainly is something I want to consider!
As an aside, we had a lecture in another class the other day about dog behavior. I have a problem with lectures that are given with the preface that they read about the topic to learn about it. Sure, reading and researching DOES involve studying books to surmise information but on a topic of dog behavior it bears to reason that there are controversies surrounding the issue and several view points on the topic. To take a few books and summarize the topic in an hour lecture is probably not doing it justice. Thankfully the majority of the information that was presented was current and relevant. Secondly, if you are going to bring statistics into the presentation about bite cases by breed then you should probably be prepared to stand the heat. As a classmate astutely pointed out "Just because people are seen in the ER for dog bites from large breed animals more frequently doesn't mean they are more likely to bite, it just means they are more likely to inflict the damage that requires medical attention." I second her point, and also wish that breeds were NOT brought into the discussion. In my opinion any dog, of any breed, can bite at any time given the right (or wrong) circumstances. By bringing breeds into the discussion you end up with results like breed specific legislation. I know there are people who disagree with me and I know there are "statistics" stating that more bites occur from certain breeds, but in the grand scheme I try hard to remove to breed from that statistic. Do I think breed plays no role? Absolutely not- but the difference is that I think the breed plays a role in the characteristics for the breed- things you can look to as trigger points for certain behaviors- like herding. To consider a bite as a one sided breed based issue is to remove looking at all circumstances surrounding the bite- including the people involved and their actions.
And on a last semi-related note of this now long and rambling post-- on Friday Cesar Millan will be on Anderson Cooper's show-- at least here in Canada and I assume it's probably the same at home? I don't like this man, his tactics, or his "dog training." I wish I was going to be home to watch the show because sometimes the man manages to talk himself into a corner and I chuckle when he can't answer a tough question about his tactics. To illustrate my point I've included the link to a You-Tube video below. It's short, and not anti-Cesar Millan, well at least not inherently. In the video about half way through you will hear him ENCOURAGING the owner to kick her dog. Lightly of course. Even she questions it and thinks of it as abuse until he tells her that the dog is hurting her so ya know hey. How something like this is acceptable is beyond me, and yet he is a man with a TV show and tons of uneducated followers potentially setting themselves up for failure and dangerous situations when they try to use his dominance theory tactics. Below that I included a link for a longer (12 minute) interview with Dr. Overall... about halfway through that she speaks pretty eloquently about the dominance theory and training with force.
In the mean time it's off to study for finals for me! Snow is falling outside, I have Christmas music in the background and I'm looking forward to a trip home in 16 days!
LINKS:
Cesar Millan- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAD2T_bAdY
Interview with Dr Overall- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKNNbQjTjco
Animal Behavior Resources Institute- http://abrionline.org/
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Marathon ends!
Midterms are over! That was quite possibly the most intense 2 and 1/2 week time span I have ever had in an academic career. Finally, as of 10:30 this morning there are no more midterms to be taken and just grades to be given.
Midterms started with Structure and Function, which was not a midterm you could really study for- all you could do is go in with the knowledge of how to make a flow chart based off all the case history they give you. I was not very comfortable going into that midterm, but in the end the case flowed smoothly and I got a grade I'm happy enough with that I am not fussing at all over that class. That was the only midterm the first week, and it's a good thing- because I needed that weekend and time in between to study for the rest of them.
From that point forward the following week, we had a midterm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday again. Not to mention for the most part we had a regular full schedule of classes so somedays I was in school til 4:30 and then had a little time to prepare for the next test. Needless to say I learned a lot about how I need to prepare differently for the finals.
The next midterm in line was for Anatomy and that consisted of a laboratory potion which was practical identification of things like muscles, tendons, actions/origins/insertions of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. It was not the easiest test I've ever taken that's for sure. I left hoping to pass it, which I did but not with a grade I am happy with and for the final I will need to work extremely hard to get a final grade I do like. We have to pass both the lab and the lecture components of the course even if our combined total for the class is passing. The lecture portion of that exam I felt confident when I left that it went well, and even though my grade wasn't as high as I had hoped it was actually pretty good, and I know where I can improve on it for the final.
That Wednesday's midterm was Animal Productions. The material for that class is not new material for me really, but what I wasn't expecting while I was studying for it was the level of detail we needed to remember to answer some of their questions- I expected broad understanding type questions and was a bit surprised to find details like numbers required. The grade on that exam was actually one I was a bit happily surprised with; while it is not my favorite number it is also one I am quite confident I can use to bolster my final grade.
Friday was immunology- which was a test I felt uncomfortable with. It's not a secret that he doesn't do much to alter his exams from year to year (at least not a secret to us students), and so for years now the questions have circulated so we can get an idea of what is going to be on the test, but that doesn't ever mean you feel like you can trust he won't change a test, so I did study quite hard for his exam. The material is dry, it is difficult to follow his notes, and there is a TON of information to try and recall. His test is also all short answer/essay and he is someone who grades by looking for keywords, not necessarily reading every answer to determine their validity. The test he used was recycled material BUT all the same the grade I got was more because I worked hard to try and remember it and less because I memorized the answers off old tests. In fact, my grade is fine by me, but probably not nearly as good as it would have been had I just memorized old answers and used them.
Monday brought Physiology. I expected this test to be the most difficult one I would face-- rumors from years above us were that his tests were difficult and not many people did well. I studied hard- even got up early to study the morning of the test which I don't normally do because I have always felt that if I didn't know the material by day of, I wouldn't learn it. Grades were posted today-- he announced in class on Thursday that overall grades were great- many people had 40 or more points out of 50, several had between 30 and 40... and just 3 people fell below that. I won't say what my score was...given those statistics I wasn't overly thrilled with my grade, but I also could have done worse and I didn't fall into the below 30 out of 50 category.
Tuesday was Animal Behavior. The test is not one I anticipated being difficult because I have taken more than one behavior class in the past. The difficult aspect to that test was trying to weed out what was important enough for them to test us on. Out of 100 or so pages of material there were 8 questions and so even though they were short answer questions you still had to have some degree of knowledge from what they presented to pass. I felt ok with the test when it was done, but I do not have the grade for that yet.
Finally today was Histology. Last midterm! I had a little more time to prepare for this test than the others given that we had our previous midterm on Tuesday. I also felt fairly good about the material presented in the lecture/labs. I have always liked histology type things. I had to take the written portion of this exam first and I am not sure I have ever had multiple choice questions quite that difficult before. I think i did ok on the written portion of the exam but it was by and large a struggle. Then came the lab practical- he took slide images, put them on powerpoint and then asked for identification. Sounds fair enough right? Well, for starters some of the images we only got to see at one power (on the microscope)-- which is sometimes ok but other times I need to see them at all the powers to make my full determination. Some of the images were tough to distinguish key features on. Some of the images I am not sure I had ever seen things like it in my life. I am not very confident about how this portion of the test went- and I have heard from years past he purposely makes his exam very difficult- well he succeeded. I imagine grades will be back sometimes next week.
Overall, I am stressed about a few classes but I know how to make my adjustments, I know better what to expect, and I know I am not going to allow myself to struggle-- if I find I am behind I will just seek out help. I would like to say that I am confident I will yank some of my grades up by several points but if the best I can do is pass by the skin of my teeth, I will take it and move on.
Outside of midterms I have had some great experiences lately. Last Sunday I offered to volunteer at the Humane Society microchip clinic. Myself and one other student spent three hours chipping dogs that came to the local pet store. It was nice to be active with animals again, and it was nice to get to know someone from another year at school- and a break from studying! Sunday night my very nice landlords invited me over for dinner at their place. They cooked a beautiful turkey meal and all the fixings with it- I really enjoyed it and they are very nice people! They filled me in on their newest horse that they purchased at the yearling sale and it was nice to get to learn a bit more about them, the area and things on the island. I'm grateful to have nice landlords! Tuesday at school I was chosen in a lottery to participate in an equine endoscopy wet lab. It was a great learning experience! I don't have much experience in general with large animals, but we learned what a general endoscopic exam entails and what we were looking for. It was a lot of fun too! Tuesday morning I also had my shift down in the small animal clinic playing with the blood donor kitties-- it was nice to cuddle with some super nice and cute cats! Lastly, this weekend I get to participate in a feral cat spay/neuter program. This is set up so a 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st year student are in a group. We are responsible collectively for sedating the cat, doing a physical, blood draw, vaccines, anesthesia monitoring, and surgery. Even though this isn't new territory for me I still am looking forward to seeing how it is done here. The 3/4 years do the spays but the 1/2nd years usually get to do a neuter! I am looking forward to it- and meeting new people-- but as usual before any new experience I am nervous. I am sure it will be fine!
I hope that this weekends weather holds as I would like to do some island touring tomorrow as well, both on foot and in car. It's been chilly here, but decent weather as far as rain goes. Hard to believe November starts this upcoming week!
On a final note, I have decided that like the season things in my life are changing. Some of it has been gradual, some of it has been quick, and some of it has been not by choice. In particular some friendships I've discovered are not what I thought, and others are stronger than I ever imagined. It's funny how life sometimes shows you things when you step away and take a look from a new place/light. In the near future I'm going to make changes that I want, that will lead me to being the happy person I want to be. I am not going to be the one always making sacrifices, and I'm not going to be the convenience friend any more!
Happy Halloween friends... hope it's a ghoulishly good time :)
Midterms started with Structure and Function, which was not a midterm you could really study for- all you could do is go in with the knowledge of how to make a flow chart based off all the case history they give you. I was not very comfortable going into that midterm, but in the end the case flowed smoothly and I got a grade I'm happy enough with that I am not fussing at all over that class. That was the only midterm the first week, and it's a good thing- because I needed that weekend and time in between to study for the rest of them.
From that point forward the following week, we had a midterm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday again. Not to mention for the most part we had a regular full schedule of classes so somedays I was in school til 4:30 and then had a little time to prepare for the next test. Needless to say I learned a lot about how I need to prepare differently for the finals.
The next midterm in line was for Anatomy and that consisted of a laboratory potion which was practical identification of things like muscles, tendons, actions/origins/insertions of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. It was not the easiest test I've ever taken that's for sure. I left hoping to pass it, which I did but not with a grade I am happy with and for the final I will need to work extremely hard to get a final grade I do like. We have to pass both the lab and the lecture components of the course even if our combined total for the class is passing. The lecture portion of that exam I felt confident when I left that it went well, and even though my grade wasn't as high as I had hoped it was actually pretty good, and I know where I can improve on it for the final.
That Wednesday's midterm was Animal Productions. The material for that class is not new material for me really, but what I wasn't expecting while I was studying for it was the level of detail we needed to remember to answer some of their questions- I expected broad understanding type questions and was a bit surprised to find details like numbers required. The grade on that exam was actually one I was a bit happily surprised with; while it is not my favorite number it is also one I am quite confident I can use to bolster my final grade.
Friday was immunology- which was a test I felt uncomfortable with. It's not a secret that he doesn't do much to alter his exams from year to year (at least not a secret to us students), and so for years now the questions have circulated so we can get an idea of what is going to be on the test, but that doesn't ever mean you feel like you can trust he won't change a test, so I did study quite hard for his exam. The material is dry, it is difficult to follow his notes, and there is a TON of information to try and recall. His test is also all short answer/essay and he is someone who grades by looking for keywords, not necessarily reading every answer to determine their validity. The test he used was recycled material BUT all the same the grade I got was more because I worked hard to try and remember it and less because I memorized the answers off old tests. In fact, my grade is fine by me, but probably not nearly as good as it would have been had I just memorized old answers and used them.
Monday brought Physiology. I expected this test to be the most difficult one I would face-- rumors from years above us were that his tests were difficult and not many people did well. I studied hard- even got up early to study the morning of the test which I don't normally do because I have always felt that if I didn't know the material by day of, I wouldn't learn it. Grades were posted today-- he announced in class on Thursday that overall grades were great- many people had 40 or more points out of 50, several had between 30 and 40... and just 3 people fell below that. I won't say what my score was...given those statistics I wasn't overly thrilled with my grade, but I also could have done worse and I didn't fall into the below 30 out of 50 category.
Tuesday was Animal Behavior. The test is not one I anticipated being difficult because I have taken more than one behavior class in the past. The difficult aspect to that test was trying to weed out what was important enough for them to test us on. Out of 100 or so pages of material there were 8 questions and so even though they were short answer questions you still had to have some degree of knowledge from what they presented to pass. I felt ok with the test when it was done, but I do not have the grade for that yet.
Finally today was Histology. Last midterm! I had a little more time to prepare for this test than the others given that we had our previous midterm on Tuesday. I also felt fairly good about the material presented in the lecture/labs. I have always liked histology type things. I had to take the written portion of this exam first and I am not sure I have ever had multiple choice questions quite that difficult before. I think i did ok on the written portion of the exam but it was by and large a struggle. Then came the lab practical- he took slide images, put them on powerpoint and then asked for identification. Sounds fair enough right? Well, for starters some of the images we only got to see at one power (on the microscope)-- which is sometimes ok but other times I need to see them at all the powers to make my full determination. Some of the images were tough to distinguish key features on. Some of the images I am not sure I had ever seen things like it in my life. I am not very confident about how this portion of the test went- and I have heard from years past he purposely makes his exam very difficult- well he succeeded. I imagine grades will be back sometimes next week.
Overall, I am stressed about a few classes but I know how to make my adjustments, I know better what to expect, and I know I am not going to allow myself to struggle-- if I find I am behind I will just seek out help. I would like to say that I am confident I will yank some of my grades up by several points but if the best I can do is pass by the skin of my teeth, I will take it and move on.
Outside of midterms I have had some great experiences lately. Last Sunday I offered to volunteer at the Humane Society microchip clinic. Myself and one other student spent three hours chipping dogs that came to the local pet store. It was nice to be active with animals again, and it was nice to get to know someone from another year at school- and a break from studying! Sunday night my very nice landlords invited me over for dinner at their place. They cooked a beautiful turkey meal and all the fixings with it- I really enjoyed it and they are very nice people! They filled me in on their newest horse that they purchased at the yearling sale and it was nice to get to learn a bit more about them, the area and things on the island. I'm grateful to have nice landlords! Tuesday at school I was chosen in a lottery to participate in an equine endoscopy wet lab. It was a great learning experience! I don't have much experience in general with large animals, but we learned what a general endoscopic exam entails and what we were looking for. It was a lot of fun too! Tuesday morning I also had my shift down in the small animal clinic playing with the blood donor kitties-- it was nice to cuddle with some super nice and cute cats! Lastly, this weekend I get to participate in a feral cat spay/neuter program. This is set up so a 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st year student are in a group. We are responsible collectively for sedating the cat, doing a physical, blood draw, vaccines, anesthesia monitoring, and surgery. Even though this isn't new territory for me I still am looking forward to seeing how it is done here. The 3/4 years do the spays but the 1/2nd years usually get to do a neuter! I am looking forward to it- and meeting new people-- but as usual before any new experience I am nervous. I am sure it will be fine!
I hope that this weekends weather holds as I would like to do some island touring tomorrow as well, both on foot and in car. It's been chilly here, but decent weather as far as rain goes. Hard to believe November starts this upcoming week!
On a final note, I have decided that like the season things in my life are changing. Some of it has been gradual, some of it has been quick, and some of it has been not by choice. In particular some friendships I've discovered are not what I thought, and others are stronger than I ever imagined. It's funny how life sometimes shows you things when you step away and take a look from a new place/light. In the near future I'm going to make changes that I want, that will lead me to being the happy person I want to be. I am not going to be the one always making sacrifices, and I'm not going to be the convenience friend any more!
Happy Halloween friends... hope it's a ghoulishly good time :)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Where does the time go?!
It has been just about 20 days since my last post! Where the heck does the time go?! Oh wait, I know, it goes to that little thing I like to call vet school. And I still wouldn't change a thing!
I am staring down the barrel of week 6 (next week!) and I can't believe it! It feels like I just got here, just moved in. Some days it feels like I just got my acceptance and was trying to figure out what I was going to do.
Things with school have gotten more intense, which I expected. Last week my group was the presenting group for the course called structure and function, which is a case based learning class. We picked a tough topic to explore and present on based on things we needed to learn more about or understand from that weeks case- one that we had to delve deeper into and understand more than the rest of the class. Despite having a full course load we met every single night after classes last week doing research and then compilation and practice presentations... we talked to the professors, we talked to friends and classmates. It was by and large the most work I've put into vet school thus far. I hate presenting to a class. At this point in time I've done enough presentations to know I survive them, but I also can't usually calm my nerves beforehand and I almost never sleep well the night before. What happened to being a young kid who loved getting on a stage and performing?! Ya, I wish I had the comfort level that some people have, but I don't. Ah well... regardless our presentation went well enough. We talked a little long, picked a topic a little too broad but answered a lot of questions we were asked, and we all made it through. I really like my group for this class (thank goodness because we will be staying that way for the whole year). It's a rare occurrence in a group setting where you don't have too many strong personalities and know-it alls. My group is a good mix- we all contribute thoughts and we all work to make sure the rest of the people in the group understand the problems we are working with. I'm fortunate!
I can't believe that we are coming up on Thanksgiving already! Wait, don't call me a liar yet! Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October- this year it is October 8th! I get that day off from school but I won't be too excited because Oct. 10th we have midterms starting. We still have all our regular classes but midterms run every other day (I think) while the other classes are still going on- one class midterm that is every other day... this is fair warning for everyone who likes to contact me or is used to hearing routinely from me, I will be running on little sleep some times during that two week time period, and I will likely not have a lot of free time to chat or do other miscellaneous things... it is hard to keep up with regular school work let alone intensively studying for a midterm. Most classes have 2 grades- midterms and finals. It means I have very few chances for screw ups. Please don't worry I PROMISE if I take study breaks or have free minutes I'll return phone calls!
Aside from studying and school work I have paid my dues to two clubs- Shelter medicine and Pathology. I have not heard anything as of yet from Canine Med club, and just barely heard from Internal Medicine Club (but just for a presentation, which was actually postponed anyways.) I really am excited about Shelter Med club, and I have already signed up to help out in October with a Microchipping clinic (since I've chipped dogs and cats before, and I can restrain animals!) so that is something I look forward to!
Lastly the school is having an open house this weekend for kids and their families. Each class is responsible for certain aspects of the open house. My class is responsible for balloon animals and face painting, and also an anatomy lab tour where the kids "walk through the stomach of a ruminant", and see different set up bones and cool things. I signed up to help for the last hour of the anatomy tour-- hopefully I can make it through (it does involve kids afterall... BUT at least the kids won't be expecting me to make art on their faces!) After the open house at dinner time a bunch of us are planning to go out for dinner to a restaurant on the island... then that night there is a benefit dance for the boyfriend of a girl in our class who is struggling with cancer. Should be a busy Saturday!
Time to go study Immunology... if I can bring myself to do it!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Two weeks in!
Today was the end of the second week of vet school! I am so excited to be going to class every day and learning practical things! It got old in undergrad learning about things like calculus-- I mean really, why do I need to know that? Even though the work load has increased this week with group work, class work, clubs and life in general I still love being in school. I know that not every week is going to be easy (in fact, I rather feel that school will just continue to get harder) but I really enjoy it!
So whats a typical day like in the life of this 1st year vet student? Well, every day has subtle differences but here's an overview:
6:30AM- Alarm goes off for the first time
6:39AM- Alarm goes off for the second time, out of bed! (Well, that's the plan anyways)
6:40-7:45AM- Morning routine stuff, usually involving breakfast, a shower and the news
7:45-8AM- Commute to school. I am still trying to figure out the way they drive up here... mostly because the speed limit says 70 kilometers/hr and they are doing like 90... and if I am not doing 90 I get honked at... but sometimes they are soooo slow. Just never know!
8-8:30AM- Prep for first class of the day. Sometimes this is just as simple as putting my butt in a seat... some days it involves remembering text books or chatting with group members.
8:30-9:20AM- Some days this is Intro to Vet Med- which is an introduction to the school, veterinary medicine, and the classmates/teachers. It doesn't require a lot of work though currently we have group projects we are working on. On Monday's this is Structure and Function which is a course designed to integrate all our other classes in a case based learning scenario. We work in groups in this class as well to put together diagnoses and cases based on facts presented to us. We have only done a trial case so far- Monday starts the real cases... and it is going to be intensive. On Friday AM's the first class is Immunology. More on that in a bit.
9:20AM-12:20PM- This chunk of time has a variety of classes that could be taking place, or as is the case on Friday we have a 2 hour break and then a class, then lunch. Generally this time is filled with Animal Behavior and Welfare- which is pretty straight-forward, somedays it consists of Histology which is my personal favorite course (also known as Microscopic Anatomy), some days it is Physiology- which I can tell is going to be one of the toughest courses of the semester. Animal Production might be taking place which is a class focusing on production systems in various animals- including aquaculture! This is the meat of the day, and we spend a good chunk of it writing or typing notes as fast as possible!
12:20-1:30PM- LUNCH! I know some people use this window to study but I am not programmed that way... I like my lunch time to relax, regroup, and hang out without having to study something. Sometimes down the road this spot will be filled with club meetings! I have signed up for path club, canine medicine club, shelter medicine club and internal medicine club.
1:30PM-2:30, 3:30 or 4:30PM- Depending on the day after lunch is usually a lab period, or a little more lecture. On Monday's we do Macroscopic Anatomy lab which is our dissection, and we do this til 4:30. It is a great hands on learning experience. On Tuesdays we have Histology lab- which is a lot of microscope and/or digital slide work to learn the various structures. This is my favorite-- well, it is tied with anatomy. On Wednesdays we have Immunology lecture which is exactly as it sounds... this course is hyper-detailed but dry (at least to me) as I've had overview of the material before, and the professor is not my favorite lecturer. We have Structure and function on Wednesdays also. On Thursdays we do more Anatomy and on Fridays we have structure and function presentations.
4:30PM-5:30PM- I always give myself this hour to decompress and not study if possible. Sometimes the hour is earlier if I get out of class earlier, but regardless I like to have time not to be studying or I will burn out and stop studying all together. I find that this is a good time to chat with friends and family etc.
5:30PM-7:00PM- Studying- rereading lecture notes, doing further research, reading for classes the next day, making notecards or highlighting text books.
7:00PM-7:30PM- Dinner... hey everyone has to eat!
7:30PM-10:30PM- Study some more. Sometimes depending on the day's course load I break for a TV show or something else.
10:30-11PM: Pre-bed time routine... watch crappy tv,, chat online, relax, read.
So there you have it! I should mention that we also have an every other week Wednesday AM lab- but when that lab is not in session you get to sleep in since class doesn't start til 1:30! Of course I usually fill that time studying. That's vet school- study til you drop :) Saturdays I think will have a chunk of time spent in the anatomy lab... it is difficult to do careful dissections and get everything done cleanly and well in the time frame allotted so we make up with extra time outside of class.
Side notes: 1.) I want to thank Nikki and her mom for their very thoughtful and overly packed full care package :) It was a nice icing to a good week, and it means a lot that they are thinking of me!
2.) One of my favorite crappy TV shows is Big Brother-- getting seriously close to the end!! Any other fans out there?
3.) Next week one track of the two current Atlantic hurricanes (Leslie and Michael) has them colliding and creating quite a windy storm up here! If it happens I will be traveling to go see some ocean waves I hope, and I will post pictures!
4.) I promise if you message me or call me and I am eyeballs deep in studying, I will get back to you-- it might not be that hour or the next few hours... I will hopefully be able to do it that day-- but I make no promises other than I will get back to you! Life gets a little crazy sometimes :)
Sunday, August 26, 2012
And so it begins...
What an adventure this has been! So much has happened this month that I don't really know where to begin this post... I guess I will start with the car and move on from there!
I knew after I was accepted to PEI for vet school that I would be in need of a car. The problem wasn't so much needing the car, it was that I SOLD my last car when I thought I would be going to St. Kitts. The old car wouldn't have withstood the trip up here too many times anyways, but I might have been able to stretch at least one trip out of it before it needed retirement. So, my father and I went car shopping. I was in the market for a small-midsized SUV as I thought I would probably need something that could haul a UHaul with all my crap up to school for an apartment. We searched and searched and finally, after much deliberation and teasing from my father (who hates the color or the car, and the style of it) I ended up with a Dodge Nitro (2007). It had more gadgets and gizmos than I knew how to use- but a big perk was the space and the sunroof (of course that's just me being petty). Problem 1 off the checklist for vet school!
Problem 2 on my checklist was the biggest problem of all-- I had no where to live on PEI!! I had been searching through some classifieds and though I wasn't terribly particular about my requirements, I did have some. I needed a place that was within a certain budget (not that I wouldn't LOVE a place that was 1000/month nothing included... but I would also like to eat and pay bills for the month). I preferred a one bedroom or studio apartment as I would rather not be distracted by room mates who may or may not share the same study habits as me and lastly I preferred a pet friendly apartment as I would like the option to have a dog or cat if possible down the road. It is incredibly difficult to just look online and secure a place, so I decided after my last day of work at the clinic I would drive up to PEI and spend the weekend apartment hunting. I asked one of my best friends if she wanted to join me on the adventure and she said sure (sucker!) plus she brought along her little dog Kenai. In the interest of saving money and adventure we decided we could camp out while we were on the hunt. The plan was to leave directly from work at 5 PM, drive to Burlington to pick Nikki up and then drive through the night to get to PEI. Yes, we are certifiably insane.
After work I drove up, got Nikki and we hit the road about 7:45 PM. I drove and we spent the time on the road chatting and catching up on life in general, meanwhile little Kenai snored happily away in the back seat of the car. We made it as far as Orono ME before we were both too tired to drive any further and we pulled off to sleep for a couple of hours. We finally made it to PEI by about 10 AM US time... or 11 AM PEI time (Yes, I am an hour ahead of you back home.) We set up the tent (which was quite a scene... but I think we did well!) and on our way we went to look at an apartment (even though neither of us had slept more than the 2 hours since the day before and we were exhausted!).
The first apartment was small, and on the third floor of a building in a section deep in the city of Charlottetown (well, as deep as the city gets anyways, it's relatively small.) We entered the apartment and it was a bit dingy and run down and we quickly exited after opening the freezer and feeling like a dead body was hidden in it. NEXT! I looked at a few more ads, chatted with a few more people and ultimately came up empty on Friday. I was bummed... I had sort of hoped that we could end the trip quickly so I had big stress off my shoulders and we could get home to get more things accomplished. I sent a couple e-mails and called a few more people before falling asleep, hoping Saturday resulted in better luck.
Saturday AM I woke up to a returned e-mail from two people, and then a phone call to make sure I got the e-mail. One was a bedroom in a house, the second scheduled visit was a 2 bedroom apartment close to school and lastly was from an ad I almost didn't inquire about. It was a fully furnished one bedroom apartment, everything included. I felt it was certainly above my price limit but inquired to find out more... turns out it was in my budget so I scheduled to see that as well. The first place with the bedroom in a house was ok, definitely potentially an option if nothing else, but I didn't want to feel like I was just a guest in someones house, so we kept looking. The second apartment was big, but filthy as the tenant had just moved out that day. The rent was ok but only included heat and would have been at the top of my budget after all other utilities were factored in... though I agreed to go fill out an application on it if I didn't like the all-inclusive apartment.
We drove 10 minutes away from the campus to the one bedroom apartment. The door was opened by a woman who was probably in her 60s, and a happy dog who was introduced as Bruno. We entered the house and made introductions and she brought us over to the attached mother-in-law style apartment. The area around the house was country, and quiet- almost felt like home! I was shocked when she opened the door as to how clean and beautiful the tiny apartment was. I instantly told her I loved it and would take it if available. She said she had one more person looking, but would get back to me in a couple hours. I was bummed-- I figured if she didn't want me to sign right away then I would probably not get it, but we went back to the campground to wait. 2 hours passed and she called me back to inform me the apartment was mine if I wanted! I was so excited! I drove quickly back over to sign the papers and the get the keys! It was fully furnished as the ad said including washer, dryer, appliances, heat, electric, water, satellite, internet!! I was ecstatic. We drove through the night to get back to the US... and then the packing and preparation commenced! Thankfully my mom was a HUGE help and got me organized with school supplies, and other preparations!
On Thursday the 23rd at 4:30AM my dad and I loaded our vehicles up and drove to PEI. It's a long trip-from home it takes at least 12 hours, and its boring- all highway! We finally made it to the apartment, brought things in and crashed! Orientation was scheduled to begin right away on Friday AM and we had to be ready to rock and roll.
Orientation on Friday AM began at 8AM with a breakfast for students and family/friends. I met some new people there but was very nervous and still not sure if people would want to be my friend or not... how silly and insecure to feel that way as everyone was starting fresh basically. After breakfast the parents/friends went on a tour of the AVC campus while the students met orientation leaders, and professors for a Q&A session. After that parents and friends met with them while the students toured the entire campus (not the vet school- we'd already seen that!) Then lunch rolled around and parents were able to leave or do other adventures while the icebreaking activities commenced. We made wedding dresses out of toilet paper, played a get to know you game (actually 2), and then did some group building activities along the way. It was nice to meet some new faces and I began feeling less worried about making new friends-- everyone was very nice!
At 6:30 PM was the Blue Coat Ceremony. The Blue Coat Ceremony is a formal dinner and event where we recieve our blue lab coats-- basically signifying we are students and allowing us access to the vet teaching hospital. My dad was very tired, and gracious enough to be a good sport about going even though formal things are not his favorite. I didn't tell him that to get my blue coat he would present it, nor did I mention I had to write a blurb about him and why he is a mentor to me. He was shocked when the ceremony started and realized what was going to happen... but when he heard what I wrote about him and as he put the blue coat on me I think he was truly surprised at what I said... it felt good to let him know how much his support means to me (and had my mom been there I would have written things about her as well-- for she is another huge support system for me!) I should be getting a formal photo of us tomorrow of the next day from the ceremony and I plan to post it to facebook when I get it!
Yesterday the orientation activity was from 3-7 PM and it was a kickball (or soccer-baseball as it is called by some here) and park BBQ. I opted not to go to this activity as I had a LOT of other small things to do... like unpack the apartment and spend all my time trying to figure out how to put together a DVD stand. I went to the bank to get a new student account but apparently you need an appointment for that-- so I made one of those also. It was a highly productive day and I'm glad I got so much accomplished, but I did sort of feel odd about missing out on the activities.
Today was the beach day! We planned to meet up at the school around noon (some people) and drive to the beach together. It is a dog friendly beach, and also BEAUTIFUL! I carpooled to the beach with two other girls from the class, and one of their dogs... and it was a good way to get to know new people. I also met a few new people there and chatted with them. I enjoyed the sun, a beer, and a beautiful beach breeze (ok, so the wind was a bit brutal at times). It was a good way to relax before the real fun starts this week.. SCHOOL!
The rest of the week there are a few activities planned, some of which I will partake in and some not. Tomorrow is a class photo, Tuesday I am supposed to do a library session, go to the bank, and it is movie night, Wednesday night has been cleared now (we are at some point going to have a potluck with our "buddies", Thursday night we are going to the horse race track and Friday is a "Tour of Charlottetown Nightlife" which really means Pub Crawl! Sunday is going to be a trip to the local dog park... which all are invited even if you are dog less... and Monday is a holiday!
I got my schedule online-- tomorrow is an intro course, followed by physiology then macro anatomy lecture and lab. Going to be a busy girl but I will try to update as time allows! For now my phone number is the same (this might change if verizon screws me over-- which I feel they will), and I also have an address-- if you would like it please send me an e-mail or message me on facebook and I'll give it to you! I also have Skype so for those of you technologically inclined- hit me up on there :)
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Nonie
*I apologize in advance for this being a long post*
I have started this post more than once since Wednesday. How do you encapsulate a 12 year long life in blog format, not leave things out, and get the essence of their life correct? I can only hope what follows accomplishes some of that.
At somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks old, a puppy was brought to the shelter here in Rutland County. She was brought in with a 17 yr old dog by someone who had too many pets and didn't want the burden of the oldest or the youngest. This was late June 2000. At the time I had been volunteering at the shelter for awhile, and had seen many dogs come in and leave with new owners, and I knew puppies went quickly. Three weeks prior to this meeting of fate, we had put our old dog to sleep due to his inability to walk likely due to spinal problems. It was the first time I'd ever remembered experiencing the loss of a pet, and I begged shortly there after to get another dog- the house was empty without one, and I didn't feel safe staying home alone. My father resisted much more than my mother- it was hard on him losing a dog and though he won't admit it, I think the pain was too much for him to think of having to endure again. Our persistence wore on him though, and he eventually relented and let us go see if there were any dogs at the shelter.
It isn't a day I forget easily. My mother was watching three little boys- who were quite busy- for a friend of ours, and we all piled into the van to go see what might be at the shelter. Still relatively naive about dogs, dog breeds, and personalities we were just going for looks and and how they interacted with us. When we strolled down the cage row there was not an empty cage. In the second cage sat a small, big eared puppy- silently watching as we meandered down the row. We stopped and looked at her, but kept going to see what else was present. The kennel had erupted into barks and frenzy as we walked by dog after dog. When we turned back to go to the puppy's cage, she sat quietly. I asked my mom if we could take her out. The staff at the shelter led us out to the outdoor pen and we sat down on the ground. The boys were running and playing and making fast motions- none of which phased this little puppy. We melted, and filled out the adoption application. Really, the rest as far as her adoption goes is history- we brought this black and brown speckled puppy home- named Nonie (pronounced Non-E), short for Anonymous as she had no name when she was left by the original owner.
For the first few days she was quiet, and afraid of men. My father would enter the room and she would cower, seeking comfort in myself, or my siblings. After about a week she came out of her shell and she was playing with toys and and causing puppy trouble. She loved her crate, and was accepting of it almost from day one. She had accidents in the house, but was quick to learn house breaking. Through spending time at the shelter and gaining more knowledge of dogs and behavior, I wanted to raise this puppy right. I spent a lot of time working on simple basic things with her, but I wanted to take her to puppy classes, and my mom agreed to drive us since I was too young to drive (or pay for the class).
Nonie enrolled in the basic manners obedience class. I was a shy kid, I hated being put in front of people and I never wanted attention on me. As classes started I would make my mom take Nonie out to the center of the room to work with her because I didn't want people focused on me (nevermind that I knew the instructor from the shelter, and was comfortable with her!) Nonie quickly changed our plans though, refusing to focus on my mother frequently, and instead would look at me sitting in the chair on the side of the room. It was pretty clear she had picked her partner in crime, and I was it. As Nonie and I went to the front of the room and worked class after class it became a bit easier for me. She made me worry less about what others thought of me, and more about what we were doing together. She set the foundation for our relationship in these early classes, and really started her teaching of us humans at this point.
Once Nonie had made it through a couple of basic obedience classes, and life at home was getting more simple with her and her manners things fell into place. I won't lie and say she didn't have problem times-- she stole shoes, remote controls, broke open pens on beds (ink is a fun stain to get out), and did general puppy activities. Her early years went by, marked by swimming and fun- but also by being by my side. As she matured, she seldom was not glued to me side. If I went to the bedroom, she came... if I got up in the morning so did she. I could ask her almost any command or teach her a new trick and simply because I asked her, she would do it. She was not disobedient with other family members, but she was not as quick to respond to them either. She came to field hockey games, and was generally out being social wherever I was.
Though I didn't know it at first, I eventually learned that Nonie's social skills were enviable. There is almost no one she met in the 12 years she was with us that she didn't touch in some way. She got along with dogs, cats, people, not shy and not pushy- just a presence. Over the years I could take her anywhere- her behavior was never questioned. In her later years she accompanied me to Kelly's house to spend time with his dogs, to my apartment to spend time with the dogs I was living with at the time... she was an adaptable dog- content to be where I was.
Nonie was there for a lot of big milestones in my life. She was two when I went to my junior prom, she was three when my parents got divorced. At age four she was living with my mom while I went to Maine for freshman year of college, and by five she was thrilled I was back at VTC pursuing my goal of being a vet tech. She was there when my grandfather got ill and was put in a nursing home, she was there when I was happy, sad, angry, sick. There isn't a time in the last 12 years where she wasn't there. I may have ventured to school and been away from her, but every time I walked back into the house she was smiling, tail wagging and forgiving of my absence. There are not many people who I can say the same about.
Cliche though it might be to say that a dog has taught you lots, in her case it is true. In May 2009 Nonie and I went out hiking with a friend and her dog. The hike down was great with the two dogs playing and enjoying the early, nice spring weather. When we reached the bottom of the trail by the water the two dogs continued their romp and play. Nonie slid on some loose dirt, and let out a whimper. I could see her leg was swollen, and she was hesitant to weight bear on it. Lacking a good cell signal, and not much battery life- I called my mom to see what she could suggest we do. She tried to get a hold of game wardens to open the gate to the road so we could be picked up- but no one answered. So she drove out to the trail, hiked down and met us with a blanket- in the hopes of carrying Nonie back up the mountain. Nonie simply refused to stay on the blanket. She wanted to walk even though she was clearly in pain. Slowly, we made the hike back up the trail. If she laid down, I waited for her to get her strength again. If I stepped up to the front of the pack she would step her pace up- not wanting to be too far away. After three hours we manged to make it to the cars, and thankfully the vet I worked for agreed to come meet us at the clinic.
Nonie had torn the tendons in the back of her front leg. It boiled down to a splint, a trip to the orthopedic surgeon and more time in a splint. Nonie was a good patient- she laid still for splint changes, didn't fuss with her bandage or her sores when she got them. She showed me that with her drive and perseverance she was going to get better. Eventually as the leg did not heal after being splinted, we opted for surgery to put a plate in. Leaving her at the specialists was about all I could stand- it was like leaving a child! When we picked her up she was sore, and I was on the edge of crying at seeing her so doped. We went home to begin the recovery process. Again, Nonie was a good patient- at least until the day before her splint was due off. She begain messing with the bandage which was a first. I should have seen that as a warning sign- I should have caught onto her signals. We took the bandage off thinking she was tired of it, took an x-ray of the leg and went home. That night she chewed off two of her toes. I do not know why- neither do the surgeons, or other vets. I was heartbroken- here was a dog who weighed in at 80 lbs, and already had some arthritic changes- and we were facing amputation or euthanasia. I fought with the decision internally but knew that in my heart if we didn't try the amputation, I couldn't live with myself. The week before I was scheduled to go back to school to start work on my Vet School dreams, we amputated the leg. I went to school, anxious to hear how she was doing and her progress... fighting the images from after surgery where she struggled at first to adjust balance and habits. Nonie proved that she was a strong dog, a fighter- pulling through her surgery with flying colors, and making excellent progress in healing. By the time I moved home to change college she was a pro at maneuvering three legged.
People always stopped to watch her when we went out places after her amputation. Children sometimes noticed the leg missing but often adults commented first on it. Nonie didn't care what people thought or saw when they looked at her- her purpose was to just be her. She still loved seeing people, going places with me, being around other dogs. She proved to me that it matters not what people think of you, and not what ailments you have, but that you continue living your life without regard for differences. Nonie still swam, and played and enjoyed her life- and had she been a human she would gladly have told us to not pity her, but enjoy every day.
The last year had not been kind to Nonie's body. She began leaking urine, so we started medication to treat that. She developed hypothyroidism, so another medication was added. She began coughing and through x-rays she was diagnosed with COPD-- more medication. She struggled with her arthritis more and more, so two more medications were added, followed eventually by a third. Last September she collapsed and would not get up. I brought her to work hoping that there was something we could do, but fearing the worst. We x-rayed her back and found she had some spinal fusion and changes, something we could only support but not fix. We changed her pain medication to a steroid to stop the inflammation. At 11, if she had to stay on a low dose of steroids we could live with that. Unfortunately she developed urinary tract infection, and bloodwork showed a large increase in her liver enzymes. I brought her to the internal medicine specialist who said it was likely the steroids doing it- and he recommended we stop and go back to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. I altered her medication again and things improved- her values dropped back to almost normal. However in March she developed a skin condition that is rare- though related to liver and adrenal gland mal-function. Though we never could sort out exactly why this occured, and it never really healed it also didn't bother her.
In May, just at Seth's graduation time Nonie stopped eating. We left her in the good hands of my friend and vet tech, who reported while we were gone she ate better. I didn't think much of it, but when we got home she was refusing to eat again. More bloodwork showed her liver enzymes rising again. We treated her for the obvious signs, and she improved. Repeat bloodwork the following two months showed increasing trends again, so we changed her diet and altered her medications to be less liver toxic. Because I have been accepted to school and was going to take her, when her last panel showed still an increase in values my boss suggested repeating her ultrasound. Monday August 6, I drove her up for her exam with my mom. She maneuvered well in the clinic, and then again at the pet store, and practically pulled us to get ice cream after dinner at Al's. Her ultrasound report was good- no obvious signs of cancer! I couldn't have been happier!
When we got home Monday night she could not get out of the van. While not surprising because of the amount of exercise she had gotten, I was worried when she began knuckling on her front leg and not supporting her weight. We carried her into my bedroom for the night, and hoped that Tuesday morning would bring improvement. When I got up Tuesday she couldn't stand by herself, but after we supported her she gained her balance, and outside she seemed to get around ok. She came back into the house on her own accord, and my mother and I left for work. When I got home Tuesday night she was where she had been when I left for work. I was not surprised she wouldn't get up for my mother- more stubborn with age she frequently would only do things I asked her to. I couldn't get her out to the go the bathroom without helping her- but again once outside she seemed better. Tuesday night after my mom and I went to bed I heard Nonie struggling to get up and come be in my room. She fell, dumped water on herself and when I saw her she was mortified and defeated. I pulled the futon mattress onto the floor and slept in the same room as she did, hoping that Wednesday would make her better.
Wednesday AM my mom and I carried her outside. She was completely unable to support her weight for more than a few steps. She fell in the breezeway into my arms, and I knew we had to say good bye. Nonie and I had been through a lot in our time together, and I knew this dog inside and out. She would never stop trying as long as I stood there telling her to give it another chance, and for that reason I had to be the one to tell her to stop trying. We brought her into work and carried her out back to say our good byes. It was in that instant I knew my heart was breaking- losing a vital piece that had been with me for as long as I could recall.
Nonie has been gone from the house for 5 days as of tonight. There is a large hole where she used to be. For her, there isn't anything I wouldn't have done, and I know she had the same feeling for me. In two short weeks I will be busy starting the next chapter of my life working towards becoming a Vet. I had planned to start this chapter with Nonie- but I will settle for doing it FOR her instead. RIP you old goose, I know you are watching me, and we will meet again.
At somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks old, a puppy was brought to the shelter here in Rutland County. She was brought in with a 17 yr old dog by someone who had too many pets and didn't want the burden of the oldest or the youngest. This was late June 2000. At the time I had been volunteering at the shelter for awhile, and had seen many dogs come in and leave with new owners, and I knew puppies went quickly. Three weeks prior to this meeting of fate, we had put our old dog to sleep due to his inability to walk likely due to spinal problems. It was the first time I'd ever remembered experiencing the loss of a pet, and I begged shortly there after to get another dog- the house was empty without one, and I didn't feel safe staying home alone. My father resisted much more than my mother- it was hard on him losing a dog and though he won't admit it, I think the pain was too much for him to think of having to endure again. Our persistence wore on him though, and he eventually relented and let us go see if there were any dogs at the shelter.
It isn't a day I forget easily. My mother was watching three little boys- who were quite busy- for a friend of ours, and we all piled into the van to go see what might be at the shelter. Still relatively naive about dogs, dog breeds, and personalities we were just going for looks and and how they interacted with us. When we strolled down the cage row there was not an empty cage. In the second cage sat a small, big eared puppy- silently watching as we meandered down the row. We stopped and looked at her, but kept going to see what else was present. The kennel had erupted into barks and frenzy as we walked by dog after dog. When we turned back to go to the puppy's cage, she sat quietly. I asked my mom if we could take her out. The staff at the shelter led us out to the outdoor pen and we sat down on the ground. The boys were running and playing and making fast motions- none of which phased this little puppy. We melted, and filled out the adoption application. Really, the rest as far as her adoption goes is history- we brought this black and brown speckled puppy home- named Nonie (pronounced Non-E), short for Anonymous as she had no name when she was left by the original owner.
For the first few days she was quiet, and afraid of men. My father would enter the room and she would cower, seeking comfort in myself, or my siblings. After about a week she came out of her shell and she was playing with toys and and causing puppy trouble. She loved her crate, and was accepting of it almost from day one. She had accidents in the house, but was quick to learn house breaking. Through spending time at the shelter and gaining more knowledge of dogs and behavior, I wanted to raise this puppy right. I spent a lot of time working on simple basic things with her, but I wanted to take her to puppy classes, and my mom agreed to drive us since I was too young to drive (or pay for the class).
Nonie enrolled in the basic manners obedience class. I was a shy kid, I hated being put in front of people and I never wanted attention on me. As classes started I would make my mom take Nonie out to the center of the room to work with her because I didn't want people focused on me (nevermind that I knew the instructor from the shelter, and was comfortable with her!) Nonie quickly changed our plans though, refusing to focus on my mother frequently, and instead would look at me sitting in the chair on the side of the room. It was pretty clear she had picked her partner in crime, and I was it. As Nonie and I went to the front of the room and worked class after class it became a bit easier for me. She made me worry less about what others thought of me, and more about what we were doing together. She set the foundation for our relationship in these early classes, and really started her teaching of us humans at this point.
Once Nonie had made it through a couple of basic obedience classes, and life at home was getting more simple with her and her manners things fell into place. I won't lie and say she didn't have problem times-- she stole shoes, remote controls, broke open pens on beds (ink is a fun stain to get out), and did general puppy activities. Her early years went by, marked by swimming and fun- but also by being by my side. As she matured, she seldom was not glued to me side. If I went to the bedroom, she came... if I got up in the morning so did she. I could ask her almost any command or teach her a new trick and simply because I asked her, she would do it. She was not disobedient with other family members, but she was not as quick to respond to them either. She came to field hockey games, and was generally out being social wherever I was.
Though I didn't know it at first, I eventually learned that Nonie's social skills were enviable. There is almost no one she met in the 12 years she was with us that she didn't touch in some way. She got along with dogs, cats, people, not shy and not pushy- just a presence. Over the years I could take her anywhere- her behavior was never questioned. In her later years she accompanied me to Kelly's house to spend time with his dogs, to my apartment to spend time with the dogs I was living with at the time... she was an adaptable dog- content to be where I was.
Nonie was there for a lot of big milestones in my life. She was two when I went to my junior prom, she was three when my parents got divorced. At age four she was living with my mom while I went to Maine for freshman year of college, and by five she was thrilled I was back at VTC pursuing my goal of being a vet tech. She was there when my grandfather got ill and was put in a nursing home, she was there when I was happy, sad, angry, sick. There isn't a time in the last 12 years where she wasn't there. I may have ventured to school and been away from her, but every time I walked back into the house she was smiling, tail wagging and forgiving of my absence. There are not many people who I can say the same about.
Cliche though it might be to say that a dog has taught you lots, in her case it is true. In May 2009 Nonie and I went out hiking with a friend and her dog. The hike down was great with the two dogs playing and enjoying the early, nice spring weather. When we reached the bottom of the trail by the water the two dogs continued their romp and play. Nonie slid on some loose dirt, and let out a whimper. I could see her leg was swollen, and she was hesitant to weight bear on it. Lacking a good cell signal, and not much battery life- I called my mom to see what she could suggest we do. She tried to get a hold of game wardens to open the gate to the road so we could be picked up- but no one answered. So she drove out to the trail, hiked down and met us with a blanket- in the hopes of carrying Nonie back up the mountain. Nonie simply refused to stay on the blanket. She wanted to walk even though she was clearly in pain. Slowly, we made the hike back up the trail. If she laid down, I waited for her to get her strength again. If I stepped up to the front of the pack she would step her pace up- not wanting to be too far away. After three hours we manged to make it to the cars, and thankfully the vet I worked for agreed to come meet us at the clinic.
Nonie had torn the tendons in the back of her front leg. It boiled down to a splint, a trip to the orthopedic surgeon and more time in a splint. Nonie was a good patient- she laid still for splint changes, didn't fuss with her bandage or her sores when she got them. She showed me that with her drive and perseverance she was going to get better. Eventually as the leg did not heal after being splinted, we opted for surgery to put a plate in. Leaving her at the specialists was about all I could stand- it was like leaving a child! When we picked her up she was sore, and I was on the edge of crying at seeing her so doped. We went home to begin the recovery process. Again, Nonie was a good patient- at least until the day before her splint was due off. She begain messing with the bandage which was a first. I should have seen that as a warning sign- I should have caught onto her signals. We took the bandage off thinking she was tired of it, took an x-ray of the leg and went home. That night she chewed off two of her toes. I do not know why- neither do the surgeons, or other vets. I was heartbroken- here was a dog who weighed in at 80 lbs, and already had some arthritic changes- and we were facing amputation or euthanasia. I fought with the decision internally but knew that in my heart if we didn't try the amputation, I couldn't live with myself. The week before I was scheduled to go back to school to start work on my Vet School dreams, we amputated the leg. I went to school, anxious to hear how she was doing and her progress... fighting the images from after surgery where she struggled at first to adjust balance and habits. Nonie proved that she was a strong dog, a fighter- pulling through her surgery with flying colors, and making excellent progress in healing. By the time I moved home to change college she was a pro at maneuvering three legged.
People always stopped to watch her when we went out places after her amputation. Children sometimes noticed the leg missing but often adults commented first on it. Nonie didn't care what people thought or saw when they looked at her- her purpose was to just be her. She still loved seeing people, going places with me, being around other dogs. She proved to me that it matters not what people think of you, and not what ailments you have, but that you continue living your life without regard for differences. Nonie still swam, and played and enjoyed her life- and had she been a human she would gladly have told us to not pity her, but enjoy every day.
The last year had not been kind to Nonie's body. She began leaking urine, so we started medication to treat that. She developed hypothyroidism, so another medication was added. She began coughing and through x-rays she was diagnosed with COPD-- more medication. She struggled with her arthritis more and more, so two more medications were added, followed eventually by a third. Last September she collapsed and would not get up. I brought her to work hoping that there was something we could do, but fearing the worst. We x-rayed her back and found she had some spinal fusion and changes, something we could only support but not fix. We changed her pain medication to a steroid to stop the inflammation. At 11, if she had to stay on a low dose of steroids we could live with that. Unfortunately she developed urinary tract infection, and bloodwork showed a large increase in her liver enzymes. I brought her to the internal medicine specialist who said it was likely the steroids doing it- and he recommended we stop and go back to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. I altered her medication again and things improved- her values dropped back to almost normal. However in March she developed a skin condition that is rare- though related to liver and adrenal gland mal-function. Though we never could sort out exactly why this occured, and it never really healed it also didn't bother her.
In May, just at Seth's graduation time Nonie stopped eating. We left her in the good hands of my friend and vet tech, who reported while we were gone she ate better. I didn't think much of it, but when we got home she was refusing to eat again. More bloodwork showed her liver enzymes rising again. We treated her for the obvious signs, and she improved. Repeat bloodwork the following two months showed increasing trends again, so we changed her diet and altered her medications to be less liver toxic. Because I have been accepted to school and was going to take her, when her last panel showed still an increase in values my boss suggested repeating her ultrasound. Monday August 6, I drove her up for her exam with my mom. She maneuvered well in the clinic, and then again at the pet store, and practically pulled us to get ice cream after dinner at Al's. Her ultrasound report was good- no obvious signs of cancer! I couldn't have been happier!
When we got home Monday night she could not get out of the van. While not surprising because of the amount of exercise she had gotten, I was worried when she began knuckling on her front leg and not supporting her weight. We carried her into my bedroom for the night, and hoped that Tuesday morning would bring improvement. When I got up Tuesday she couldn't stand by herself, but after we supported her she gained her balance, and outside she seemed to get around ok. She came back into the house on her own accord, and my mother and I left for work. When I got home Tuesday night she was where she had been when I left for work. I was not surprised she wouldn't get up for my mother- more stubborn with age she frequently would only do things I asked her to. I couldn't get her out to the go the bathroom without helping her- but again once outside she seemed better. Tuesday night after my mom and I went to bed I heard Nonie struggling to get up and come be in my room. She fell, dumped water on herself and when I saw her she was mortified and defeated. I pulled the futon mattress onto the floor and slept in the same room as she did, hoping that Wednesday would make her better.
Wednesday AM my mom and I carried her outside. She was completely unable to support her weight for more than a few steps. She fell in the breezeway into my arms, and I knew we had to say good bye. Nonie and I had been through a lot in our time together, and I knew this dog inside and out. She would never stop trying as long as I stood there telling her to give it another chance, and for that reason I had to be the one to tell her to stop trying. We brought her into work and carried her out back to say our good byes. It was in that instant I knew my heart was breaking- losing a vital piece that had been with me for as long as I could recall.
Nonie has been gone from the house for 5 days as of tonight. There is a large hole where she used to be. For her, there isn't anything I wouldn't have done, and I know she had the same feeling for me. In two short weeks I will be busy starting the next chapter of my life working towards becoming a Vet. I had planned to start this chapter with Nonie- but I will settle for doing it FOR her instead. RIP you old goose, I know you are watching me, and we will meet again.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Why do things traditionally??
The vast majority of people go to high school until they are 17 or 18 years old, graduate with a plan in mind to go to a college (even if that plan is to figure out what to do once you get to school), and then they set to work making everything come together. Some people transfer after a year because they decide their initial choice is not what they want, some stick with the full four years at one place, others drop college all together. Most often people at least stick out 4 or so years to get their degree. I have never followed the traditional education mold- at least not for a long time. In high school math wasn't my strong subject so I took a different path in learning math that my high school offered compared with the standard algebra, geometry, pre-calc, calc. coursework many of my friends took. When I graduated high school I thought I wanted to be a marine biologist-- I didn't so I transferred to VTC to pursue a two year associates degree. Then I entered the work force- and decided I wanted to go full time to pursue my passion for veterinary medicine... back to school I went (already a non-traditional student)... transferred from Maine mid-year to UVM... (two odd changes) and then decided to apply to Vet School. So, this twisted, convoluted route led me to where I am today. I don't consider any of the odd twists and turns I took mistakes, I consider them learning experiences. Other people or colleges may consider it indecisive, bizarre, even detrimental. It's too bad they view it that way, because it doesn't fit how I feel. Regardless, I spent last fall applying for vet school to a number of places, and through interviews, applications, and sweat/tears I was wait-listed to many (due I'm sure to my odd coursework and steps that it took to get to where I am) and I was declined to a few... and flat out accepted to Ross.
Ross as I've said time and again is a good school, they strive to see whats outside the normal box and they view non-traditional not as a detriment but as diversity... and they celebrate it! It was not my top choice school, for one it is a heck of a long way from home, it has its own downfalls (hello BUGS :(, petty crimes, import taxes, fees etc.) but I was happy to be one step more into my career path as a vet. I have been working to secure things as best as possible, but I am also a procrastinator and actually have not done a few important things yet for that reason alone. I had pretty much given up all the other wait-list schools I hadn't heard from (it is after all August 1st tomorrow.) Then something happened I wasn't prepared for. Yesterday AM while I was working my phone rang and I found a message at lunch time: This is Sharon from University of Prince Edward Island- Atlantic Veterinary College, we are pleased to offer you a seat for admission from your place on the wait list. I think my jaw hit the floor- this was my top choice vet school!
So, I have been facing a big dilemma for the past 24 hours- do I give up Ross (where I have put down a non-refundable deposit, and bought plane tickets), or do I stick with it because time frames are so tight? When I called PEI back to ask what my timeline for accepting their offer was, I was told I had to let them know absolutely by Thursday AM. That gave me 48 hours... 48 HOURS?! I don't even decide on shoes to buy in that time frame! Now I have to make a giant life changing decision? I asked my father, I asked my mother, I asked my hair dresser... I brought it up at work... I felt I couldn't just change my mind without input from friends and others. Ultimately the decision was mine, but I am a typical Libra- I balance everything out and it confuses the issue. So, I decided to sleep on it. I called Ross to see if I would be a financial penalty to opt out. There isn't. I called the book store to see if I could cancel/refund my order... I could. It seemed I had little holding me back in that way except for I sold my vehicle, and I had NO housing lined up in Canada-- how quickly could I line that up?? I was so confused I didn't know what to do.
When I woke up this morning I decided I was done. I called PEI at lunch today and accepted their offer. This is the quickest I have ever made a life changing decision. I have NO idea if it will all pan out. I could wind up regretting all of this work. I now have MOUNDS of paperwork for both schools to finish. Somehow I have to figure out how to go see apartments. I am overwhelmed, emotional and excited. I am hoping I didn't make a mistake-- but like all my other non-traditional moves I have at the very least learned something-- and they got me where I am now :)
------addendum--> gonna need a new blog title!!
Ross as I've said time and again is a good school, they strive to see whats outside the normal box and they view non-traditional not as a detriment but as diversity... and they celebrate it! It was not my top choice school, for one it is a heck of a long way from home, it has its own downfalls (hello BUGS :(, petty crimes, import taxes, fees etc.) but I was happy to be one step more into my career path as a vet. I have been working to secure things as best as possible, but I am also a procrastinator and actually have not done a few important things yet for that reason alone. I had pretty much given up all the other wait-list schools I hadn't heard from (it is after all August 1st tomorrow.) Then something happened I wasn't prepared for. Yesterday AM while I was working my phone rang and I found a message at lunch time: This is Sharon from University of Prince Edward Island- Atlantic Veterinary College, we are pleased to offer you a seat for admission from your place on the wait list. I think my jaw hit the floor- this was my top choice vet school!
So, I have been facing a big dilemma for the past 24 hours- do I give up Ross (where I have put down a non-refundable deposit, and bought plane tickets), or do I stick with it because time frames are so tight? When I called PEI back to ask what my timeline for accepting their offer was, I was told I had to let them know absolutely by Thursday AM. That gave me 48 hours... 48 HOURS?! I don't even decide on shoes to buy in that time frame! Now I have to make a giant life changing decision? I asked my father, I asked my mother, I asked my hair dresser... I brought it up at work... I felt I couldn't just change my mind without input from friends and others. Ultimately the decision was mine, but I am a typical Libra- I balance everything out and it confuses the issue. So, I decided to sleep on it. I called Ross to see if I would be a financial penalty to opt out. There isn't. I called the book store to see if I could cancel/refund my order... I could. It seemed I had little holding me back in that way except for I sold my vehicle, and I had NO housing lined up in Canada-- how quickly could I line that up?? I was so confused I didn't know what to do.
When I woke up this morning I decided I was done. I called PEI at lunch today and accepted their offer. This is the quickest I have ever made a life changing decision. I have NO idea if it will all pan out. I could wind up regretting all of this work. I now have MOUNDS of paperwork for both schools to finish. Somehow I have to figure out how to go see apartments. I am overwhelmed, emotional and excited. I am hoping I didn't make a mistake-- but like all my other non-traditional moves I have at the very least learned something-- and they got me where I am now :)
------addendum--> gonna need a new blog title!!
Monday, July 2, 2012
What exactly do I have to do??
Sooooo many people assume that once you get into vet school, the battle is done and all you have to do is show your face on the orientation days. Not true- at least not for Ross. There has been so much to try and accomplish I figured I'd make a list so you all knew exactly what was required for making it off the plane and onto the island!
Step 1: Documents, Documents Documents! You have to make sure that you have all the assigned documents in hand before you can even begin your checklist of things to do. These include your health certificate, your financial aid information documents, your requirement checklist, etc.
Step 2: Begin work on getting your Visa: This should be simple, right? Well, in theory it is all straightforward requirements... but the difficulty is getting all the documentation in order for it! You must present: A valid passport from the US (kind of a duh, how else are you going to make it out of the country); A valid certified birth certificate (ok, so finding that isn't too hard, and if you can't find it getting a copy is pretty simple); A passport photo (yes, a different photo from your passport if you got your passport a long time ago); Health Certificate (I'll say more about this peachy document shortly); and of course your Good Citizens Report (aka the background check from the state, county or town you live in.)
Step 3: Realize that the health certificate is HUGELY daunting: This you figure out once you start reading all your vaccine requirements, test results that are needed, and doctors appointments to get this all straightened out.
Step 4: Begin Health Certificate: You must receive your Rabies vaccine (which I have already-- lucky for me-- except my titer is low, FAIL :() , a TB test (simple, most people have had one... but the government wants your result measured in mm diameter... this will confuse the doctors office badly as it is usually a yes or no test.), your Hepatitis A and B series (or a titer showing you are protected), A general physical exam, AND don't forget to discuss things like potential for Giardia and treatment options. In short this document will be the bane of your existance and your Doctors won't be thrilled having to fill it out, plus get you lab results that they normally wouldn't need to (and don't forget they HAVE to sign them :(!!
Step 5: Banking documentation- Yes, you have to decide before you go which bank you want to use, and fill out their whole application-- which is not the easiest form I have ever filled out!
Step 6: FINANCIAL AID. Enough said really, because who doesn't already know what a headache that stuff is!
Step 7: Figure out how to pack all your crap into 2 (count them 2!) 50 lb checked bags: This is due to an embargo put out by all major airlines serving the St. Kitt's area during that time period-- some say this is due to the increased student travel, others say its due to rising fuel costs and still more say its simply because during hurricane season they want less weight on the planes. Who knows.. the bottom line is that's a lot of crap to fit into 2 bag!!
So... you see how much work goes into moving to the Island? I am sure it will all be worth it, but I am exhausted from trying to figure it all out!! And in reality there are tons of other less important details I have forgotten to include... like figure out how the heck to budget and still pay all your bills! It's fun-- you all should try it!
On a lighter, happier note I got my campus living assignment today... I will be living in Woods Hall... and with an ocean view room... sheesh, it's going to be tough getting up every day :)
(The new digs come August... Woods Hall!)
Step 1: Documents, Documents Documents! You have to make sure that you have all the assigned documents in hand before you can even begin your checklist of things to do. These include your health certificate, your financial aid information documents, your requirement checklist, etc.
Step 2: Begin work on getting your Visa: This should be simple, right? Well, in theory it is all straightforward requirements... but the difficulty is getting all the documentation in order for it! You must present: A valid passport from the US (kind of a duh, how else are you going to make it out of the country); A valid certified birth certificate (ok, so finding that isn't too hard, and if you can't find it getting a copy is pretty simple); A passport photo (yes, a different photo from your passport if you got your passport a long time ago); Health Certificate (I'll say more about this peachy document shortly); and of course your Good Citizens Report (aka the background check from the state, county or town you live in.)
Step 3: Realize that the health certificate is HUGELY daunting: This you figure out once you start reading all your vaccine requirements, test results that are needed, and doctors appointments to get this all straightened out.
Step 4: Begin Health Certificate: You must receive your Rabies vaccine (which I have already-- lucky for me-- except my titer is low, FAIL :() , a TB test (simple, most people have had one... but the government wants your result measured in mm diameter... this will confuse the doctors office badly as it is usually a yes or no test.), your Hepatitis A and B series (or a titer showing you are protected), A general physical exam, AND don't forget to discuss things like potential for Giardia and treatment options. In short this document will be the bane of your existance and your Doctors won't be thrilled having to fill it out, plus get you lab results that they normally wouldn't need to (and don't forget they HAVE to sign them :(!!
Step 5: Banking documentation- Yes, you have to decide before you go which bank you want to use, and fill out their whole application-- which is not the easiest form I have ever filled out!
Step 6: FINANCIAL AID. Enough said really, because who doesn't already know what a headache that stuff is!
Step 7: Figure out how to pack all your crap into 2 (count them 2!) 50 lb checked bags: This is due to an embargo put out by all major airlines serving the St. Kitt's area during that time period-- some say this is due to the increased student travel, others say its due to rising fuel costs and still more say its simply because during hurricane season they want less weight on the planes. Who knows.. the bottom line is that's a lot of crap to fit into 2 bag!!
So... you see how much work goes into moving to the Island? I am sure it will all be worth it, but I am exhausted from trying to figure it all out!! And in reality there are tons of other less important details I have forgotten to include... like figure out how the heck to budget and still pay all your bills! It's fun-- you all should try it!
On a lighter, happier note I got my campus living assignment today... I will be living in Woods Hall... and with an ocean view room... sheesh, it's going to be tough getting up every day :)
(The new digs come August... Woods Hall!)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
A Quick (and unrelated to school mostly) note of thanks!
I wanted to take a quick minute (or blog post as the case is) to say THANK YOU to the many many many people over the last several years (well, decade would be most accurate) who have employed me via house and pet sitting. I know from experience that allowing someone to come into your home to watch your animals is not an easy feat, and it is difficult to find trustworthy people. I thank you all for considering me trustworthy and leaving your animals in my care.
For the last decade I have been filling voids in my time with care taking for your pets, and I do my best to offer them the care they get from you all on a daily basis. No one can ever replicate what you do for your pets, but I hope that you come home and find them happy and healthy- which is always my goal and how I like to leave them. If it were not for word of mouth, and continued offers I would not have been able to supplement my time or income with this business, and both have been extremely beneficial to me.
It is with great happiness and sadness that I announce I am fully booked for the rest of the summer. My bookings in July have exploded and in order to care for your pets in the best way possible I will not take on any more clients as it would not be fair to stretch my time any thinner. Please know it is in no way personal when I decline your offers, as I have NO clients whose pets I do not enjoy seeing and spending time with. I have simply filled my schedule. I also am not house sitting in August because before I leave for school I want the time with my own pets and family, as they deserve my attention too! I am fortunate to have been able to count on my mother for taking care of my pets while I take care of yours and now it is my time to be dedicated fully to them.
So thank you all so much for all your support (both in this business, and in my upcoming adventure), it means the world to me that I have been able to provide this service for as long as I have! If you are in need of referrals you can contact me, though I admit my circle of house sitter friends has dwindled over time as well... but I can try to point you in the right direction. Please, keep checking the blog for updates on my trip and travels in St. Kitt's! 
Friday, June 15, 2012
Opinions are like...
When I first was picking out vet schools I thought I wanted to go to, the list was difficult to narrow down. It seemed like everyone I talked to had an opinion about which school was best, and where I should apply. Naturally a majority of people I talked to were vets, and many many of them felt I should apply to their school! It had worked for them, so it was probably going to work for me too! Invariably these schools all took on "a lot of out of state students, more than the rest of the schools", and also were "cheaper and have better financial aid" then the next. In reality this is not true for the most part. Yes, some of the schools did have a higher acceptance rate than others of out of state students-- but it was never that high, or that different. And yes, some of the schools offered tuition that was cheaper than others, but never by much (I mean really, when you're talking 50,000 plus a semester whats an extra three of four thousand bucks?!)
When all was said and done I applied to eight schools total, including Ross of course. Ross was always different from the rest of them. Right away a few things were clear about this school that made it stand out from the others. Obviously location has a lot to do with it being so different, but it is not the only tropical island vet school-- it IS the only accredited one however (more on this shortly.) As soon as I started mentioning interest in Ross to vets and people I knew, tones changed. There was (and is) definitely some negative perceptions of the newly accredited program, but I want to use this time to point out some of the inaccuracies.
Inaccuracy number 1: "Ross is a place where people who couldn't get into other vet schools go, thus lowering the caliber of the program." False. At least in some regards. Yes, Ross is a program that takes on a lot of applicants not otherwise looked at by the American vet schools. It does however still have requirements about grades, GRE scores, and previous academic achievements. It is also not a program for the faint of heart- traditional schools in the states go 4 years- with summers off. Ross goes 7 semesters, with no summers off making the program fast paced and with little breathing time. If you can't handle the pace, you won't make the cut. The reason Ross adjusts its qualifications for applicants and accepts other types of students is that they feel there is more to being a vet than just being intelligent/book smart. If it weren't for their feeling on this, I might not be able to pursue my dream!
Inaccuracy number 2: "Well class sizes are HUGE! No way can a person possibly get prepared hands on for clinicals and real life" False. Though the class size might be larger than some of the standard schools in the states initially, it quickly diminishes. Some people can't handle the homesickness, others the stress of school, and still others just plain fail out. It is said within the first few weeks of the program the class will lose about 15-20 students. It's a high mortality rate for the program and some people may disagree with my assessment on this, but I feel as if it is more practical in ways than traditional American Vet schools with lower acceptance rates. It is also FALSE that Ross takes on more students than they can place in the clinical year of study. Their admission fluctuates in correspondence to the number of open US slots at a given time.
Inaccuracy number 3: "Isn't the program ungodly expensive!?" Well yes, sort of. In the grand scheme of things ANY out of state veterinary college in my opinion is ungodly expensive. For instance, tuition at Cornell for out of state is around 65,000 PER YEAR. You may pick your jaw up off the floor now. Tuition to Ross per semester is around 15,000. Mind you these include living expenses such as rent/books/groceries etc. Ross as 7 semesters totaling 105,000$, plus your clinical year which costs about 19,000... so lets say your cost is $125,000. This does not include your airfare which can be pricey- but in reality you don't have much time to fly home, and I don't intend to but MAYBE 2x a year... more likely once. If you do the math for Cornell it comes out to: $260,000! Thats a huge difference. **Addendum- the amount listed for Ross is the amount if you do NOT borrow full amounts of financial aid. Estimated full loan amounts push that total to 29,000 or so per semester... a little more for your clinic, for a total of somewhere around 230,000 available as a full loan. This is STILL a good 30,000 different from Cornell.**
Inaccuracy number 4: "Don't you have to pass some huge test before you can pass the National Exam?" Nope, not any more. Since Ross became accredited recently it is now recognized by the AVMA. This means that students need only pass the NAVLE (or the boards for the states) as opposed to an international exam, and then the national exam. And while on the topic of accreditation I'd like to point out that it isn't just a fleeting thing to get accredited. It is a long process which all the other schools in the states had to go through before they were considered adequate education. To me, if the school is accredited, it is on par with the schools in the states. Period, end of sentence.
Inaccuracy number 5: "Isn't the island really unsafe? Filled with murder, rape, robbery etc.!?" While some sources would like you to believe that at every turn there is a crime waiting to happen on the island it is actually not quite true. Yes, this is a third world country with their own set of issues stemming from the poverty. Yes, there are crimes- most commonly burglaries... however there is hardly a vet school in the states that is not in a major city of some kind. And in all of these cities all these crimes occur frequently. I believe you can't live your life in fear of what might possible happen somewhere, someday. Instead, I opt to use common sense- I won't walk at night alone in unfamiliar territory. I won't venture into areas that are known to be less safe. The school has students live on campus the first semester to familiarize themselves with the island and the natives. Security there is excellent. Once you move to an apartment, the school helps you select approved apartments in safe areas. Can you always be sure you won't be at risk for a crime? No, but I can't even say that in my tiny hometown (sad as that is.)
So you see there are many falsehoods believed about this school. Ross isn't paying me to write this (quite the contrary, I've been paying them!" I have spoken with recent students and read up on the school from outside sources. If you always believe the hype and negative imagery you will never move beyond what lies in plain sight. If I happen to be dead wrong about these things, I have the ability to call it done with school there... and I have the ability to try and transfer to a state side school also... but for now I'm just taking it all in!
Image courtesy of st-kittsnevis.com photo gallery, showing South Friars Bay
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The first of many!
I have started and ended blogs many times in the past, and mostly because my posts delved into ranty, ihateworkschoolteachersparents generic, blah posts which I got embarrassed about three days later and deleted anyways. This blog is going to be different because for once I actually have a journey to write about!
On August 26th, at 8:15AM I will be flying out of JFK to the land of tropical vacationers dreams-- St. Kitt's. Known for the beaches, wildlife and weather- most people assume its great for spending a week but I doubt many of my friends would up and move there, even if it was for school. But that's what I'm doing! I will be embarking on my long awaited goal of becoming a veterinarian, and I'll be doing it in a third world country where contact to my family and friends will not be a daily face to face interaction. I'm terrified and electrified at what lies ahead of me. The path to get there though has been more winding than the infamous curving roads of the island.
Wayyyy back when I was a youngster I wanted to be a vet. Then I wanted to be a teacher. Then a doctor. Then back to a teacher. By the time I had hit middle school I had wanted to be a dozen things, all the while I really didn't know what I wanted to wear for clothing that day. When I was in seventh and eighth grade I begged my parents to let me volunteer at the local animal shelter. We had one dog and two cats at our house. My father was firm that we weren't getting any more animals (especially since the dog was over 100 pounds and had no desire to share his living space with other dogs.) The only way I would get to see more animals was by volunteering. Oh, and one of my friends got to do it, so I wanted to also! I had no idea that this would be a starting path for me.
Through volunteering at the age of 12 (my mother had to drive me, and stay with me to make sure I stayed on task- this was before age limits were introduced) I quickly found I was passionate about working with the animals. I liked walking the dogs, and playing with the variety of cats or rats or guinea pigs. I quietly worked my way up from dog walker, to kennel assistant on Sunday mornings (as a volunteer), to dog training team member. I made good friends, saw heartbreaking stories unfold, and happy endings light up a dreary day. I volunteered all the way through high school, and still as college approached I didn't think I wanted to do something directly involving veterinary medicine. By senior year, I figured I had nothing to lose by going to Maine to pursue a degree in Marine Biology-- after all that must be all about dolphins and manatees, right?! WRONG!
After about four weeks of trudging through mud flats on the ocean I was done with my obsession of becoming a marine biologist. I stuck it out for the year and applied for Fall admittance to a vet tech program back here in VT. I was accepted, and that fall I would start afresh doing something completely different- though I still wasn't sure it was what I wanted to be doing. That fall I joined the class of want to be vet techs, and set forth studying all things related to the field. By the time I did my required summer internship I was in love! Finally, something that seemed to fit with what I wanted!! I worked hard, got good grades, and passed my certification exam at the end of the degree. I was offered a job just two weeks after I graduated from school and didn't think twice!
From 2006 when I graduated, til 2009 I put a lot of effort into my job. I learned tons of valuable skills (things they could never begin to teach in the walls of a classroom), and I took opportunities to expand my knowledge base (and my animal family... ahem) but realized that I wanted more than I could get as a vet tech. Surgery excites me, diagnosing and formulating treatment plans present challenges, and most importantly I could extend the client relationships I learned to value so much as a technician. In order to go to vet school I had to go BACK to school, this time to finish my Bachelors and requirements for admission.
I never take a conventional path for things-- I mean here I was 3 years post graduation from my associates degree, and I decided I was going back to Maine to try and finish my Animal Science degree. In one semesters time I discovered the college would not accept credits even if I argued for them to do so from making appeals. The local university in VT would accept many more, thus cutting down on the time I would need to be in college for undergrad (and cutting my debt some too!) SO, I went back to VT and was accepted at UVM for studying Animal Science. I was fortunate to have a wonderful advisor at UVM who would help me with my applications for vet school, even though I was such a non-traditional student and he had not known me for long. I started the process, but was reminded time and time again by faculty and my advisor that traditional US schools frown upon Technical College degree work, and non-traditional students. My chances for getting in somewhere in the US were looking skimpy even though my grades, experience, and GRE scores were ok. My advisor pointed out, though, that Ross might be a good fit- they take a lot of students on that might not otherwise get the chance to prove their worth-- and he said that other schools have taken notice that Ross students are not Prima Donna's in their attitudes, they are good students, and well rounded having experienced life in such a different locale. I applied, as a back-up to Ross. Fast forward to today, and after heartbreak from US schools, and still sitting on some waiting lists I am prepared and comitted to going to Ross now. Even though it was not my first choice, I am more and more excited every day, especially as more information pours in.
This blog I hope will allow people to follow my journey through vet school, and all my prep work before hand. I would write more tonight but this blog post is long enough and I am tired- looong day of work looking me in the face for tomorrow! Tomorrow or the next day, I hope to write about some of the things I've have done so far as prep work, and also about pre-conceived notions that might be out there about the school!
A view of the campus!
On August 26th, at 8:15AM I will be flying out of JFK to the land of tropical vacationers dreams-- St. Kitt's. Known for the beaches, wildlife and weather- most people assume its great for spending a week but I doubt many of my friends would up and move there, even if it was for school. But that's what I'm doing! I will be embarking on my long awaited goal of becoming a veterinarian, and I'll be doing it in a third world country where contact to my family and friends will not be a daily face to face interaction. I'm terrified and electrified at what lies ahead of me. The path to get there though has been more winding than the infamous curving roads of the island.
Wayyyy back when I was a youngster I wanted to be a vet. Then I wanted to be a teacher. Then a doctor. Then back to a teacher. By the time I had hit middle school I had wanted to be a dozen things, all the while I really didn't know what I wanted to wear for clothing that day. When I was in seventh and eighth grade I begged my parents to let me volunteer at the local animal shelter. We had one dog and two cats at our house. My father was firm that we weren't getting any more animals (especially since the dog was over 100 pounds and had no desire to share his living space with other dogs.) The only way I would get to see more animals was by volunteering. Oh, and one of my friends got to do it, so I wanted to also! I had no idea that this would be a starting path for me.
Through volunteering at the age of 12 (my mother had to drive me, and stay with me to make sure I stayed on task- this was before age limits were introduced) I quickly found I was passionate about working with the animals. I liked walking the dogs, and playing with the variety of cats or rats or guinea pigs. I quietly worked my way up from dog walker, to kennel assistant on Sunday mornings (as a volunteer), to dog training team member. I made good friends, saw heartbreaking stories unfold, and happy endings light up a dreary day. I volunteered all the way through high school, and still as college approached I didn't think I wanted to do something directly involving veterinary medicine. By senior year, I figured I had nothing to lose by going to Maine to pursue a degree in Marine Biology-- after all that must be all about dolphins and manatees, right?! WRONG!
After about four weeks of trudging through mud flats on the ocean I was done with my obsession of becoming a marine biologist. I stuck it out for the year and applied for Fall admittance to a vet tech program back here in VT. I was accepted, and that fall I would start afresh doing something completely different- though I still wasn't sure it was what I wanted to be doing. That fall I joined the class of want to be vet techs, and set forth studying all things related to the field. By the time I did my required summer internship I was in love! Finally, something that seemed to fit with what I wanted!! I worked hard, got good grades, and passed my certification exam at the end of the degree. I was offered a job just two weeks after I graduated from school and didn't think twice!
From 2006 when I graduated, til 2009 I put a lot of effort into my job. I learned tons of valuable skills (things they could never begin to teach in the walls of a classroom), and I took opportunities to expand my knowledge base (and my animal family... ahem) but realized that I wanted more than I could get as a vet tech. Surgery excites me, diagnosing and formulating treatment plans present challenges, and most importantly I could extend the client relationships I learned to value so much as a technician. In order to go to vet school I had to go BACK to school, this time to finish my Bachelors and requirements for admission.
I never take a conventional path for things-- I mean here I was 3 years post graduation from my associates degree, and I decided I was going back to Maine to try and finish my Animal Science degree. In one semesters time I discovered the college would not accept credits even if I argued for them to do so from making appeals. The local university in VT would accept many more, thus cutting down on the time I would need to be in college for undergrad (and cutting my debt some too!) SO, I went back to VT and was accepted at UVM for studying Animal Science. I was fortunate to have a wonderful advisor at UVM who would help me with my applications for vet school, even though I was such a non-traditional student and he had not known me for long. I started the process, but was reminded time and time again by faculty and my advisor that traditional US schools frown upon Technical College degree work, and non-traditional students. My chances for getting in somewhere in the US were looking skimpy even though my grades, experience, and GRE scores were ok. My advisor pointed out, though, that Ross might be a good fit- they take a lot of students on that might not otherwise get the chance to prove their worth-- and he said that other schools have taken notice that Ross students are not Prima Donna's in their attitudes, they are good students, and well rounded having experienced life in such a different locale. I applied, as a back-up to Ross. Fast forward to today, and after heartbreak from US schools, and still sitting on some waiting lists I am prepared and comitted to going to Ross now. Even though it was not my first choice, I am more and more excited every day, especially as more information pours in.
This blog I hope will allow people to follow my journey through vet school, and all my prep work before hand. I would write more tonight but this blog post is long enough and I am tired- looong day of work looking me in the face for tomorrow! Tomorrow or the next day, I hope to write about some of the things I've have done so far as prep work, and also about pre-conceived notions that might be out there about the school!
A view of the campus!
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