My life experiences have played a significant role in shaping my career ambitions. Growing up surrounded by animals is where my love for them first began. I have had numerous experiences with various animals, which has motivated me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I hope to become a skilled and compassionate veterinarian, providing care and support to all animals. However, the one experience that was a turning point in my ambition was when my pet, Apollo, got sick. My parents had hoped he would get better after a few days, so they decided to wait before taking him to the vet. We soon learned that this was a mistake. I spent countless nights hearing him yowling in pain and vomiting all over the floor. It crushed me to see my beautiful, wonderful pet in such agony. After a few days, my parents finally relented and made an appointment with the vet. They said they needed to take some tests, so we left him with them overnight. My naive mind thought this was a good thing, that Apollo would get the help he needed and soon return to normal. We got a call the next day. The tests showed that Apollo was dying of kidney failure, and there was nothing we could do. We made another appointment that day for euthanasia. The day Apollo passed away made me realize how much our pets mean to us. And it wasn't my grief that made me discover this, but my parents' as well. I was fortunate to have my companion for a decade, so naturally, I was devastated. It wasn't just me, though. My parents were crushed when Apollo passed away. For a few weeks, it felt like a dark cloud had settled over our house. Apollo was eighteen years old, so my parents had gotten him when they married. Apollo had been in their lives since he was less than a year old. His death only strengthened my desire to become a veterinarian. Almost eight years after his death, I'm now interning at a veterinary clinic and working to become a certified veterinary technician. Even though I haven't been there long, I've seen and learned so much. I've seen the good, the bad, the horrible, and every day I work and witness these things. And each of these experiences made me grow stronger and more resilient. It's not always easy, but I am grateful for the perspective and wisdom I have gained from these experiences.

When I was a little girl, I had a cat named Apollo; he was my entire world. I spent all my time playing with him, feeding him, and even bringing him to bed. Unfortunately, my dream of him living forever was shattered when he fell seriously ill and had to spend a few days at the clinic. He continued to suffer even after returning home, constantly throwing up and yowling in pain. I would later find out that his kidney was failing, and there wasn't anything the vets could've done about it. I didn't realize we would lose him until we got a call from the vet. He had to stay at the clinic overnight, and I thought I would get him back by the afternoon. The vet said his health had worsened, and we could come to the clinic to pick him up or put him down. I tried to convince my family that we could take him home. That maybe there was a chance he'd magically get better. But deep down, I knew what we had to do. I don't remember much after that; after confirming that we were ready to put him down the day became a blur. But there are two things that I remember, the two things that changed my life. One memory was the veterinarians. I remember them comforting me (I was the one crying the most), even hugging me when I had asked them to. They told me with kind eyes that he would no longer be in any more pain. He'd be in another, better place, and one day, I would see him again. It stuck out to me how kind and understanding these vets were. These strangers who didn't even know who I was. It took me years until I realized that maybe these people had lost an animal as well. Maybe when they looked at me, they saw themselves. Animals can connect people in many ways. Whether you're a stranger or a family member. There are many people out there who've had a pet once in their life. And no doubt someone like me, who'd felt so lost and confused when they lost their furry friend. I want to help people by showing compassion and kindness towards them. The last memory I remember was Apollo himself. When my family and I walked into the room, we saw him lying on the metal table. He had plastic tubes surrounding his body. I wanted to run out screaming. I didn't want to be there. I wasn't ready to say goodbye. I wasn't ready for him to leave me yet. I was about to turn and run when my precious Apollo lifted his head, looked at me, and started to purr. He had the most beautiful green eyes, and when he looked at me, I had a realization. This animal. This gorgeous, kind, compassionate animal was dying before my eyes, and he still had room in his heart to love. To love me until his last breath. I always said that we should learn from animals. If we humans would have ever a sliver of their compassion and loyalty, the world would be so much better. I want to be the vet who shows compassion to the people worried about their animals. I want to hug the children who are afraid to lose their animals. I want to help those animals no matter what because they deserve a good, long life. Apollo was eighteen when he left us, so even though I wasn't ready, he was. My sweet Apollo, I'll miss you forever.