Five Lessons Learned in My Last Year of Vet School

My last year in vet school is almost over, and I cannot believe I am a few days away to achieve my long-life dream. It seemed like yesterday when I started my fourth year, and the past months have flown by. It was not a smooth academic year, but I learned so much and overcame new challenges and fears. Here, I wanted to share five lessons I learned as a senior veterinary student that had helped to become who I am today.

#1 One important lesson was learning to survive or succeed in clinics. The transition from the classroom to clinical rotations in the veterinary teaching hospital was a little scary for me. I remembered I did not have all the answers to the questions asked by the clinicians or pet owners. I struggled to pass an end of rotation test, and I second guess myself. But little by little, I committed myself to succeed and stopped underestimating my inner potential. My plan to succeed was simple… take one day at a time, prioritize my goals, and work on my weaknesses. I studied every day, listened to personal development audiobooks on my way to school, and made the most of all my externship opportunities.

 #2 The second lesson learned was not to feel discouraged when criticism didn’t come gently during clinical rotations. I felt discouraged at the beginning, but I knew it challenged me and will allow me to become a better doctor in the long run! I also learned to remind myself that I cannot change other people’s perspectives or opinions. I can only control how to react to them and had to make the best of it. 

#3 The third lesson learned was not to take my fur babies for granted because I never knew when our last time was together. I can say that losing my four-legged in my fourth year was one of the hardest things that happened to me. He was my study buddy, best friend, and pet therapist. His lost changed me and taught me how to use my grief to better handle euthanasia during clinical rotations. Now, I could use my life experiences to show clients; it is not a simple decision, but we were doing the best we could for them.

#4 The fourth lesson learned is that everything can change in a few days. The coronavirus has taught the most valuable things are the ones that I did not appreciate before, like doing clinical rotations, being in a hospital setting, and working on real cases. This pandemic has changed my daily life and future. But I am still going to graduate, and I might have the coolest virtual graduation!

  #5 The fifth lesson learned but not least important was finding fulfillment in the brief moments of my senior year. The feeling of joy after treating my first dog patient successfully, the sense of relief after seeing an emergency patient going home, or the feeling of accomplishment after completing a surgical externship. These were great opportunities to learn and find encouragement to keep myself going. As I am getting closer to the finishing line, I am just grateful for all the challenges, mistakes, and lessons encountered on my vet school journey.

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Maria Estefania Colon is a fourth-year veterinary student at Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. She was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. At a short age, her family fostered in her a genuine interest for food animal welfare and she became dedicated to take care of injured stray cats in her neighborhood. In her free time, she loves reading, writing and telling her stories as a student blogger for Merk Manual Vet Stories blog. She also aspires to become a role model for low-income students and inspire them to pursue their dreams of becoming a vet.

Instagram: @fania_thevetstudent