From the moment I could explore the world around me, I was captivated by animals in all shapes and sizes. While other children played with toys, I would crouch in the grass watching frogs leap, carefully follow the movements of lizards, or gently hold mice, fascinated by many animals lives, wild or not. Each encounter sparked curiosity, wonder, and a deep sense of responsibility. That love turned into purpose when our family bulldog, Annie, became sick and eventually passed away when I was 5 years old. Feeling helpless as I watched her weaken solidified my lifelong goal: to dedicate my life to caring for animals and advocating for their well-being.
This year, my life was further shaped by profound loss. My mother passed away on June 29th from progressive Alzheimer’s, and my father has not been involved or supportive since her illness began. In the wake of her passing, I moved in with my sister, who has been a pillar of support and guidance. These experiences have strengthened my resilience and deepened my faith, creating a strong bond with Christ and instilling in me the perseverance needed to face life’s challenges.
These personal experiences have greatly influenced my career aspirations. I have long dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, and the combination of my love for animals and the resilience I have developed through life’s hardships drives this ambition. Volunteering nearly 70 hours at my local shelter, Animal Friends of the Valley, has given me firsthand insight into the difference compassionate care can make. Watching animals receive attention, medical care, and a second chance at life reinforced my desire to dedicate my future to their health and welfare. My experiences have taught me that being a veterinarian is not just about treating animals. It is about advocacy, compassion, and service to the communities that love them.
In the future, I hope to create a career that merges veterinary care with advocacy, education, and community outreach. I want to work with pets and wildlife to ensure that animals have access to care and to educate others on the importance of animal welfare. I also hope to one day inspire others to respect and care for animals, promoting compassion and awareness in my community.
Receiving a scholarship would allow me to pursue higher education without the constraints of financial stress, giving me the opportunity to focus fully on my studies, volunteer work, and personal growth. Support through this grant would help me develop the skills necessary to make a meaningful impact in veterinary medicine and ensure that my lifelong passion for animals translates into a career dedicated to their well-being.
Through the challenges I have faced and the lessons I have learned, I have become resilient, compassionate, and determined. I am committed to turning my lifelong love for animals into a profession that not only improves their lives but also strengthens the communities that care for them.
It was always a surprise what animal I was ahold of. Some days it was lizards and frogs, other days it was a pack of stray dogs following me, watching eagerly as I placed a bowl down full of food and water. My earliest memories are with animals, at 2 months old I was already mounted on a horse my uncle had at his ranch. I loved going there. What others viewed as an untamed, rustic, old ranch I viewed as an amusement park, that was my Disney World.
When I wasn't outside playing with dogs or picking up rocks and examining the rollie pollies under them, I would immerse myself in the world of The Incredible Dr.Pol to see what new animal he was treating or The Wild Kratts and the new mission Chris & Martin had to save endangered species from being exotic food or fashion. Although my young mind couldn’t quite understand what Dr. Pol was doing since it was in English, I knew I wanted to be like him. I knew I wanted to work with animals and make them feel better. It wasn’t until personal research in high school that I clearly understood what a Veterinarian was and the different animal careers I could pursue. Although I knew what I wanted, I never heard of this field in school. I felt odd, I was the only one wanting to work with animals in our grade.
I tried to fit in by changing interests. Yet every day coming home, seeing the multitude of abandoned stray animals in my low-income neighborhood, many of which were abandoned for lack of money and no Vet nearby, made me feel helpless. Deep down inside, I knew I had to do something about it. This desire was confirmed when I was selected nationwide to work at Banfield Pet Hospital through the NextVet internship program. I would wake up with a smile eager to go to work. My manager would get on to me for staying past my scheduled hours, but I did not want to go home. Every day was something different, and every day I learned something new. Restraining patients, getting blood work, and providing care was a beautiful experience. Being able to see the progress of patients who came in with severe cases, such as Demodex, and seeing how they got better and better until they were smiling and wagging their tails again was something that touched me. I keep all the patients I helped treat in my heart because their paws left a mark on my soul. Of course, there were bad days, having to translate to Spanish-speaking clients who couldn’t afford the life-saving treatment was hard but it made me stronger and even more dedicated to spreading awareness about preventative care.
This opportunity made me realize that there are two sides to the leash. You’re not only treating the patient but the client as well. It is so important to educate people and this gave me the courage to make a change in my school for the lack of animal career exposure by starting my own club, United Paws Animal Club. We have partnered up with the SPCA shelter of Dallas to provide community service opportunities, help shelter animals, bring speakers in animal careers to school, etc. But it doesn’t end here, I have many more ideas to continue helping animals. Every animal has their story and I will make sure their stories are heard. Animals are here with us, not for us. I am Estrella and I will continue being the voice animals don’t have.
