This story was originally published on my vet school blog, “Wet Cleanup on Aisle 5.”
Holy moley.
Being in vet school is a lot like being on a roller coaster. Parts of it are scary, parts of it are a rush, there are ups, and there are downs. So far there are a lot more ups than downs, which would be physically impossible on a roller coaster, so I guess my analogy doesn’t hold, but you get the idea. That, and the going down is the fun part on the roller coaster. Wow, bad analogy all around.
Anyway, I’ll start with the downs, so that I can end with the ups.
Vet School Downs
1. The built-in inner tube I am now sporting around my midsection. Not pretty.
2. Being a terrible time manager, so that it feels like I am studying constantly (even though it’s interspersed with serious procrastination). When I actually plan an activity that’s not studying, I feel guilty.
3. Having to learn about a few things I’m not all that interested in, just because they might be on the licensing exam or they’re part of establishing a broad knowledge base. (Oh, histology, how I loathe thee…)
4. Near-constant stress (over classes or money; take your pick).
5. One rather rude classmate.1
Vet School Ups
1. Still a straight-A student. I’m not holding out hope that’ll last any longer than this semester (or this week), but I’ll take it.
2. 90% of the time, what I’m learning is really, really, really interesting.
3. Being able to see the clinical relevance of stuff we’re learning. SO COOL! It sure beats differential equations…
4. Having the best possible partners in my anatomy dissection group. We laugh so much that people are always looking over at our table, wondering what could possibly be so funny.
5. Great classmates. It’s fun to be around people who are smart, motivated, and nice.
6. Getting to do exciting things, like sticking my arm inside the stomach of a live cow! Or finding a cat’s bladder for the first time during a physical exam and being so proud that I found it!
7. Finishing not one, not two, but THREE classes for my Master’s on top of my vet school work. Procrastinating on the Master’s stuff was not a good strategy, obviously, but boy does it feel good to have that out of the way.
8. Being excited about all the possibilities that come with being a veterinarian.
9. Feeling smart! S-m-r-t.
10. Oh, and the free lunches. Thank you, drug companies trying to buy our loyalty at this young, impressionable stage in our careers!
- In re-reading this 10+ years later, I have no recollection of which classmate irked me so. Which means they were probably a perfectly nice human being and I was just grumpy.
