Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society Veterinary Technician Scholarship

My biggest community service project I started when I was just a freshman and have been active in participating ever since. I have over 200 hours of service at Spirit Ride NC. I started volunteering at Spirit Ride in 2021 and I have learned so many things. Spirit ride is a 100% non profit therapeutic horseback riding company based out of Banner Elk, NC. Spirit Ride helps kids with a wide array of disabilities. I worked with Jake who has Angelmans syndrome and has been attending Spirit Ride for 9 years. I have also worked with several other kids with a wide array of disabilities both physical and mental. During the Spring and Fall sessions I would go with Jake to Spirit ride once a week. During the summers I attend multiple times a week. Alongside weekly visits I always help with their yearly fundraisers, and also housing and training some of the Spirit Ride Horses. I have contributes a lot of time and effort to Spirit Ride because it is a organization that I believe in and I know the contribution that it makes to the community. It sis truly fulfilling to be able to give kids with disabilities the opportunity to connect with animals and horses just as I do. I would recommend this organization to all parents who have a kid with a disability as it not only helps them mentally and cognitively but it is proven to help them physically. Mentally equine therapy can help to reduce stress as horses are a non judgmental calming presence. They just need a little help as everyone connects a little differently. Outside of Spirit Ride I have done community service work with other organizations including Feeding Avery Families, Disaster relief efforts, First Baptist Church of Newland, Avery YMCA, and I have volunteered at several Elementary school events including Banner Elk fall festival and Crossnore Elementaries Spring Fling. Three reasons why I have decided to pursue a career as a veterinary technician because I want to work in a career that I love, I want to be able to make a difference in the agriculture community, and I want to serve underserved communities in a way that I can help both the animals and the owners. There is a substantial need for affordable emergency medicine for specifically large animals in Western NC and Eastern TN areas. I want to be able to serve my community members and local farmers by providing affordable care for their pets, but also for their livelihoods as many farmers depend on their animals to provide for their families.

My love for helping animals came from my father when I was very young. We both loved watching and studying animals. I decided in Kindergarten that was what I was born to do. I would go fishing with dad, and walk through woods to see deer, eagles, hawk, etc. As my schooling continued my love never changed. My father was diagnosed with Rectal cancer in Summer of 2019. We still found times to enjoy wildlife together. I spent a lot of time in the following years helping my mother and brother care for him as he got weaker. This ment less time seeing our animals. So he would have me go out and draw what I saw so I brought those wildlife memories indoors to him to enjoy through my eyes. As Senior started we were so excited to see this goal come true and make my father so happy. GOD had other plans for my father, and on December 6, 2023 he got his very own wings. I am finishing Senior year without him by my side, however, I am more determined to finish the story. I am hopeful my mom and scholarships will help me financially to complete my long journey and honor my father by finishing our story. Long term I would love to open my own clinic for low income pet owners. My dad is one reason, but the lack of emergency clinics in my area of Indiana that are affordable is a big reason for my desire to complete Vet Tech School. These animals need someone who shows compassion, love, caring and not the dollar sign at the end of the service rendered. I have always had dogs in our family and find that dogs live for the few hours each day they see you. You are their life, but unfortunately some people don't realize this until it's too late. Animals become family, and the loss of that member can be devastating. For this reason I would love to look into grief counseling in the clinic I want to open for family and loved ones of the animal who passes. I have big dreams, a story to complete for my father and I, and a dream to bring to life. I want to impact someone's life and animals lives in a profound way just like my father did mine. After the first time we nursed a bird and it's broken wing back to health and watched it fly away I have felt the love of caring for animals. I want to impress my father in heaven, and my wonderful mother who is trying to keep the dream alive.

I believe every animal deserves to be in a loving and caring environment. All of our four-legged friends should be well cared for and in a safe home. I believe there is no reason for animals to be abused or tormented. I know some animals may act violently and viciously sometimes, but that is mostly due to fear of people. Animals are a product of the environment in which they were raised. In around the fifth grade I remember there was a small dog that used to roam around the courtyard area of my elementary school. I remember how sickly the dog looked, to put it lightly the dog looked half dead. He had many open cuts and welts on his body and was in desperate need of medical help. It was never confirmed, but we believe he was part of a dog fighting ring, but that was just a theory. My music teacher took a liking to the skittish dog and had a few students help and initiate fundraisers to raise money to help with his medical. In our school we wore uniforms but once a week we were allowed a color clothes day to raise money for clubs and other departments in the school, we as students decided to give up those days and start to raise the funds for his care that way. We also did water sales on weekends to come up with funds. In the end, we were able to raise most of the funds to pay for his bills. I remember during this time really looking up to my peers and especially my music teacher for helping and even taking in the dog that we eventually named Ricky. I feel like that's when I started to notice, care for, and advocate for animals more. It also made me realize how cruel and despicable some people are to leave an animal in that condition and not help. After this experience, I began helping and volunteering at my local animal shelter. I still try and go volunteer and help out when I can, but truth be told I have been trying to work and save for college. Most recently I helped to paint a flea market/adoption center, that will help raise funds for the animals in the shelter. I have also helped with taking the dogs on walks and feeding them.