Now that I am older, my relationship with my faith has changed. When I was younger, faith was simply something I practiced because my family did and so it was expected of me as well. Today, faith means trusting that everything will unfold the way it is supposed to, even when I cannot see the bigger picture. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to stop overthinking the things that are outside of my control. While I still work hard toward my goals, I try not to obsess over every possible outcome. Instead, I live by a simple motto: what is meant for me will find its way to me, and what is not meant for me will pass right on by. If I receive an opportunity I have been hoping for, I believe that it was meant to be part of my journey. If I do not receive it, I trust and accept that there is a reason and that something better suited for me lies ahead. This mindset has helped me navigate my educational journey more confidently. As a first-generation college student pursuing a career in animal welfare and veterinary medicine, there have been moments when I questioned whether I was making the right decisions. Between balancing school, work, finances, and future plans, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. During those moments, my faith reminds me that I do not have to have everything figured out right away. I simply need to continue putting in the effort and trust that I am being guided to where I need to go. While my faith provides me with peace and direction, it is my passion for animal welfare that has pushed me to pursue higher education. My biggest goal is to become a Registered Veterinary Technician and eventually work as a Doctor’s Assistant while specializing in neonatal animal care. To achieve this, I understand the importance of education and the knowledge it provides. Through my experiences working with and caring for animals, I have seen firsthand the impact compassionate veterinary care can have on both pets and the people who love them. Those experiences strengthened my desire to build a career where I can make a meaningful difference. Together, these two have helped shape the person I am today and continue to motivate me as I pursue my dreams. While I do not know exactly what the future holds, I am confident that if I continue to work hard, remain faithful, and stay true to my purpose, I will end up exactly where I am meant to be. Personal Instagram: @mv.xi.x Vet Med Journey: @mvveterinarycollective

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt most at ease with animals and those who care for them. But it wasn’t until my childhood dog, Cloe, suddenly lost the use of her hind legs that I realized caring for animals was my true calling. Cloe was a little white-and-black Chihuahua mix that my mommy found at work one day. After we met, she quickly became my best friend. When she got sick, I was incredibly scared and overwhelmed, as I didn't know what was wrong or how to help her. Because I was so young, I had no idea how best to give the medication to make her feel better, so all I could do was watch her struggle. In those moments, I felt completely helpless. To this day, that experience has stayed with me and, as a result, showed me that vet med was my answer to 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' However, while I initially thought that veterinary school would be my path, things changed after working as a shelter volunteer, a veterinary assistant, and an ER customer service representative. These roles helped me realize I much prefer being the middleman. Ultimately, I want to work as a doctor’s assistant once I become a licensed RVT. Based on my previous experiences, I now know I work best when I can be hands-on with animals, helping them feel safe and comfortable while also alleviating owners’ confusion. I enjoy translating medical terms and treatment plans into simpler language so pet owners truly understand what is going on and feel informed rather than overwhelmed, as I once was. Knowing my purpose early on gave me a sense of direction, but there were times when my goals still felt impossible to reach. Growing up, Black people in the veterinary world were rare in my experience, and even today, they remain a very small percentage of the field. This lack of representation, combined with being a first-generation college student, created strong feelings of uncertainty. As a result, I often doubted that I belonged. With no family insight to rely on, I had to seek out opportunities, apply to programs, and build my career path largely on my own. Nevertheless, these challenges shaped who I am today. They deepened my empathy for anyone who also feels uncertain or underserved, especially when caring for a sick pet. As I look to the future, I am committed to being a bridge that families and their pets can rely on for the guidance I once needed and striving to make the veterinary field a more supportive one.

"Supporting a business based on race is a stupid movement"- Random Tiktok commenter Over the years I have often seen individuals like this express their discontent when content creators choose to support businesses within the black community and it frustrates me that in 2024 people still do not understand the importance of supporting minority-owned businesses. Due to this if I could have everyone in the world read a book it would have to be "Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy" by Maggie Anderson. The story follows a Chicago couple, Maggie and her husband John, as they commit to exclusively supporting Black-owned businesses for an entire year, sharing the challenges and advantages of this mission. During this endeavor, they soon discover that finding Black-owned businesses to meet all their needs can be extremely difficult and inconvenient. This goes to show that resources to capital, quality locations, and a solid customer base are scarce throughout the community. Thus, the world should read "Our Black Year" because it is informative and inspirational. Anderson explains the economic status of Black Americans with the history of economic disenfranchisement they have faced for years. Beginning with slavery through the Jim Crow era to the 21st century where they witnessed these challenges continue in 2009. I believe after reading this story everyone will finally begin to understand the negative impact of systemic racism on small Black businesses. Like the Andersons, I hope this leads individuals to alter their spending habits and contribute to the economic empowerment in marginalized communities.