I will study Veterinary Science Technology at SUNY Delhi. This will allow me to work in the animal industry in many areas, including government, clinics, and zoos, and specialized areas like animal behavior, psychology, and research. One of the reasons I chose SUNY Delhi is from the first semester, students work hands-on with animals. This will allow me to put academic knowledge into practice, which is the best way to master skills. Homeschooling has prepared me for college-level classes. I’ve completed thirty credits in highschool. Nearly all these credits transfer in as general education equivalencies. Veterinary Science is challenging, but my these courses help me prepare. In New York, homeschoolers can’t participate in votec and Boces programs. If I had been in public school I might have done that. I found other opportunities to work with animals. Many of my academic and extracurricular activities focus on animal sciences. Because of the flexibility homeschooling offers, I can dedicate time and effort to animals and their care. For over seven years, I’ve volunteered at a cat rescue. I clean the facility and socialize cats. I help potential adopters find cats that are good fits. I’ve fostered dozens of cats and kittens at my house—these are often medically fragile and some even require around-the-clock care. I work with the rescue to Trap-Neuter-Release stray cats. Once humanely trapped, they are quarantined to ensure they don’t affect cats housed at the rescue’s primary location. As a result, I quarantine them at my house, separate from other animals. I work with the rescue to get them vetted and neutered at the veterinary clinic. I care for them until they are ready for adoption. It’s not always easy to put cats up for adoption after caring for them for a long time. But my collaboration with the rescue is best for the cats. I have three cats that I adopted that were strays and I cannot keep them all! I am taking a Texas A&M University Veterinary Assistant certification course. It includes 200 hours of curriculum, 225 hours of apprenticeship, and competency in 100 different skills. I complete clinical hours with a local veterinary clinic and work with animals and veterinary staff. The course helps me better care for rescue cats. It expands my understanding of medical procedures. It helps me spot symptoms I may not have noticed before. I will have this program completed by the time I graduate high school in June. My participation in 4-H provides opportunities to learn individually and in groups. I have participated in the 4-H/Cornell University Contribution Project--I submitted proposals and was granted funding that I used to assist the cat rescue. 4-H opportunities led to volunteering in the DEC Ringneck Pheasant Raise-and-Release Program. I received day-old pheasant chicks to rear. After several months, they were released into the wild with hopes they thrive and increase the number of wild pheasants. Raising pheasants is challenging. I learned to care for and handle gamebirds of various ages. As soon as I was old enough to take the exam, I became a volunteer licensed NYS DEC Wildlife Rehabilitator. It is fulfilling to rescue and rehabilitate animals until they are ready for release. Homeschooling allows flexibility to participate in these activities. I doubt I would have had time to dedicate to animals if I had not been homeschooled. The activities I am involved in show me that studying veterinary science is a good fit for me. They provide a foundation and help me understand the expectations of Veterinary Sciences in both college and my future career.