In December 2020, I decided that I wanted to get more involved in my community. I found myself on a local Facebook page reading about the impact a foster home can have on an animal. Soon after, my mother and I filled out our first foster application. Flash forward three years, my mother and I have fostered and have found homes for 171 dogs and counting. Through fostering, I have discovered my passion for helping dogs regain their overall health and well-being. In June 2020, I continued to get involved and applied as a veterinary assistant at a nearby small animal veterinary clinic. Shadowing and assisting veterinarians allowed me to expand my knowledge about veterinary medicine and gain hands-on learning experience. This helped me solidify my career goal of becoming a veterinarian in the companion animal field. I have continued to work at the clinic for the past three years, and have loved every minute of it. I have grown to love every aspect of veterinary medicine, especially getting to work closely with clients and their pets. I believe that my experiences being a pet owner, taking care of foster dogs, and working alongside amazing veterinarians gives me a unique perspective on this relationship. One case that's close to my heart that demonstrates this was my foster dog Joey. Joey was an eight-year-old Yorkie mix and he was the sweetest, most well-behaved dog anyone could ask for. Unfortunately, when my mom and I took Joey in he had severe hyperkeratosis on his paw pads, skin allergies, and many other issues that had gone untreated. Joey's health issues left him unable to walk and balding in many spots. The veterinarians at my clinic along with many dermatology specialists were able to help us get Joey's feet to the point he could walk again, treat his bald spots, and get him back to the health he deserved to be in. This was a year and a half long journey, but unfortunately just when we believed the fight was almost over Joey started suffering from severe seizures. The seizures got to the point we ultimately had to decide to euthanize him. Everyone at the clinic loved Joey and without veterinarians, he would never have been able to live life without pain, even if it was just for a few months. Joey along with the other dogs my mom and I have fostered have allowed me to experience the joy an owner gets as their sick dog begins to become healthy again. A good vet treats sick animals, but an amazing vet works alongside their clients and is with them for every step of their pet's journey. I strive to be an amazing veterinarian one day, and part of that journey will be paying for vet school. Being the oldest of four children, my parents are unable to assist me with any financial support for my schooling. I have worked multiple jobs year-round since I turned fourteen to send myself to college. While in vet school I want to focus my attention on my studies so I can be successful in school. Working will make these goals difficult due to the course load. This scholarship will significantly decrease the amount of student loans that I will have upon graduating. As a veterinarian, I want to be able to give my full attention to my patients and give back to the animal shelters in my community. I will make an impact in the field of small animal medicine for both patients and clients, and this scholarship will assist me in making this goal into reality.

In December 2020, I decided that I wanted to get more involved in my community. I found myself on a local Facebook page reading about the impact a foster home can have on an animal. Soon after, my mother and I filled out our first foster application so that I could help one of my favorite animals, dogs. Flash forward three years, my mother and I have fostered and have found homes for 171 dogs and counting. Through fostering, I have discovered my passion for helping dogs regain their overall health and well-being. In June 2020, I continued to get involved and applied as a veterinary assistant at a nearby small animal veterinary clinic. Shadowing and assisting veterinarians allowed me to expand my knowledge about veterinary medicine and gain hands-on learning experience. This helped me solidify my career goal of becoming a veterinarian in the companion animal field. I have continued to work at the clinic for the past three years, and have loved every minute of it. I have grown to love every aspect of veterinary medicine, especially getting to work closely with clients and their pets. I believe that my experiences being a pet owner, taking care of foster dogs, and working alongside amazing veterinarians gives me a unique perspective on this relationship. One case that's close to my heart that demonstrates this was my foster dog Joey. Joey was an eight-year-old Yorkie mix and he was the sweetest, most well-behaved dog anyone could ask for. Unfortunately, when my mom and I took Joey in he had severe hyperkeratosis on his paw pads, skin allergies, and many other issues that had gone untreated. Joey's health issues left him unable to walk and balding in many spots. The veterinarians at my clinic along with many dermatology specialists were able to help us get Joey's feet to the point he could walk again, treat his bald spots, and get him back to the health he deserved to be in. This was a year and a half long journey, but unfortunately just when we believed the fight was almost over Joey started suffering from severe seizures. The seizures got to the point we ultimately had to decide to euthanize him. Everyone at the clinic loved Joey and without veterinarians, he would never have been able to live life without pain, even if it was just for a few months. Joey along with the other dogs my mom and I have fostered have allowed me to experience the joy an owner gets as their sick dog begins to become healthy again. A good vet treats sick animals, but an amazing vet works alongside their clients and is with them for every step of their pet's journey. I strive to be an amazing veterinarian one day. As a veterinarian, I want to be able to give my full attention to my patients and give back to the animal shelters in my community. I will make an impact in the field of small animal medicine for both patients and clients, and this scholarship will assist me in making this goal into reality.

In December 2020, I decided that I wanted to get more involved in my community. I found myself on a local Facebook page reading about the impact a foster home can have on an animal. Soon after, my mother and I filled out our first foster application. Flash forward three years, my mother and I have fostered and have found homes for 171 dogs and counting. Through fostering, I have discovered my passion for helping dogs regain their overall health and well-being. In June 2020, I continued to get involved and applied as a veterinary assistant at a nearby small animal veterinary clinic. Shadowing and assisting veterinarians allowed me to expand my knowledge about veterinary medicine and gain hands-on learning experience. This helped me solidify my career goal of becoming a veterinarian in the companion animal field. I have continued to work at the clinic for the past three years, and have loved every minute of it. I have grown to love every aspect of veterinary medicine, especially getting to work closely with clients and their pets. I believe that my experiences being a pet owner, taking care of foster dogs, and working alongside amazing veterinarians gives me a unique perspective on this relationship. One case that's close to my heart that demonstrates this was my foster dog Joey. Joey was an eight-year-old Yorkie mix and he was the sweetest, most well-behaved dog anyone could ask for. Unfortunately, when my mom and I took Joey in he had severe hyperkeratosis on his paw pads, skin allergies, and many other issues that had gone untreated. Joey's health issues left him unable to walk and balding in many spots. The veterinarians at my clinic along with many dermatology specialists were able to help us get Joey's feet to the point he could walk again, treat his bald spots, and get him back to the health he deserved to be in. This was a year and a half long journey, but unfortunately just when we believed the fight was almost over Joey started suffering from severe seizures. The seizures got to the point we ultimately had to decide to euthanize him. Everyone at the clinic loved Joey and without veterinarians, he would never have been able to live life without pain, even if it was just for a few months. Joey along with the other dogs my mom and I have fostered have allowed me to experience the joy an owner gets as their sick dog begins to become healthy again. A good vet treats sick animals, but an amazing vet works alongside their clients and is with them for every step of their pet's journey. I strive to be an amazing veterinarian one day. As a veterinarian, I want to be able to give my full attention to my patients and give back to the animal shelters in my community. I will make an impact in the field of small animal medicine for both patients and clients, and this scholarship will assist me in making this goal into reality.