Some people grew up knowing what they wanted to do for the rest of their life, I was not one of those people. I spent years bouncing between different areas of science, trying to figure out what niche I fit into. By the time I entered university, the only conclusion I had reached was that I liked learning about and working with living organisms. During my time at university, I attempted to not only gain a holistic view of the sciences, but also to explore fields involving living organisms. While I thoroughly enjoyed my work with different species, I still felt lost in terms of my career path. That is, until I spoke to one of my biology professors about my dilemma. She simply suggested, “If you like animals, why not try a shelter?” There were many moments that gave me a sense of fulfillment from working closely with animals and their owners. From seeing a new rescue’s behavior change from standoffish to loving, to helping clients choose a companion that best suits their lifestyle—all of these individual moments filled me with a sense of purpose that I had never felt before. One moment, however, stood out to me. Four mixed puppies were received into Bideawee Animal Shelter after their mother was hit by a car. I vividly remember the mix of emotions I felt when I thought about what these dogs have been through, and what kind of life they would have from that point on. Whether they ended up being service, hunting, or companion dogs, I was assisting in giving these animals a second chance—something most humans do not even receive. What it comes down to is changing lives. Veterinary staff have the power to not only change an animal’s life, but the life of the owner as well. This doesn’t always necessitate expensive diagnostics or extensive workups, but tailoring the treatment of the pet to the owner’s lifestyle while keeping the animal’s best interest in mind. Every pet is different, thus their individual treatment plans should be different as well. I aim to keep these notions in mind as I make the transition to the role of general practitioner after graduation. In three years time I’ll be out in practice and hopefully have found my footing in the veterinary world. The desire to be a part of my local community fuels my interest in general practice and shelter medicine wherever I go. While many of us enter this field to help animals, the love of helping both animals and people is what fuels me to be a light for those around me in their trying times. Some of the hardest moments for both pets and pet owners occur in general practice and in shelters, and being able to help both parties through those difficult times is one of the many reasons this field is so special to me. I do this not for self-satisfaction, but because I too would want someone to help me along the way as I go through excruciating moments with my furry loved ones.