I have always known I was going to study veterinary medicine, but it wasn’t until recently I realized that I desired to make a greater impact within my future profession. I began showing rabbits from a young age, competing at the county fair and local shows. After showing rabbits for a few years, I began to show horses. After over a decade of working with my animal partners, I attribute much of my personal development to the experiences I had with my four-legged teachers. My passion and appreciation for animals grew when I volunteered at a therapeutic riding barn. At the weekly lessons, I worked with students with emotional and physical disabilities as they learned valuable skills through an equine partner. I held many roles, including being a side-walker for students working on muscle growth and balance or giving instructions using elementary sign language signs so students who are hard of hearing can participate in all activities. Volunteering at this organization showed how impactful animals can be in an individual's lives. The therapy horses were a form of freedom for some students and every evening I loved watching this life-changing bond between students and horses unfold. As I neared high school graduation I had the intention of studying animal science as my undergraduate degree before applying to vet school. That was until I learned that veterinarians are between two and four times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. This statistic shocked me, and as I spoke with local veterinarians they described an emotionally draining work environment caused by grieving owners and appointments that ended with negative results. This series of events changed my path for the future. Entering my freshman year of college I started my major in psychology. Throughout my undergraduate education, I learned about the grieving process, the common stages of grief and how grief can trigger depressive episodes. I also learned about social behaviors of humans and how specific environments can impact actions. Having a background in psychology, I plan to run a practice that prioritizes animals' health but also the health of staff. I want to provide mental health resources for anyone in need and create an appropriate balance between work and home to help prevent early burnout. Operating a clinic that emphasizes mental health will benefit the staff and our patients. By having a proper work-life balance, our practicing team will care for our patients without draining themselves of their love and passion for the profession. Because of this, I hope to see an improvement in client relations. Increased enthusiasm and dedication of staff will help create a more welcoming environment for our clients. The improved care provided by the well-balanced team will be undeniable, fostering a relationship of trust and commitment with our clients. Further incorporating my education in psychology, I plan to create a more empathetic bedside manner for my patients, especially in times of grief or decision-making. Each relationship between a pet and its owner is wholly unique. Similarly, the grieving process is unique to each person. I aspire to create an environment where everyone’s individual needs are satisfied. By understanding the grieving process and emotions, I hope to ease the stress during difficult times for the loving owners by providing my veterinary knowledge and emotional support, creating an empathetic environment for my patients and clients. I believe my approach to veterinary medicine will not only have a positive impact within the profession but also on the community. In bringing more attention to mental health, it will benefit both our patients, clients, and our veterinary family.

Ten years ago, if you were to ask me what future career I was interested in, my response would have confidently been: “I am going to attend Michigan State University and become a veterinarian.” Over the years, that career goal has never wavered. My fascination and passion for animals began when I was very young. At the age of nine, I became involved in 4-H. While participating in 4-H, I worked with animal partners in a competitive setting. I have shown rabbits for ten years and have been competitively showing horses in the art of dressage for eight years and growing. 4-H instilled in me a unique kind of dedication and responsibility toward my animals. Nurturing an appreciation for the complexity of these creatures, my desire to become a veterinarian grew. My volunteer work also reflected my interest in animals. Working at a therapeutic riding barn, we helped kids improve their communication and motor skills with an equine partner. I learned that animals are complex, intelligent creatures who are more than just companions. Animals are unique teachers who encourage the development of valuable life skills. While working as a veterinary assistant at an equine veterinary clinic serving over half of Michigan, I observed first-hand how needed veterinarians are. Despite the doctors at Classic Equine working close to eighty-hour work weeks, patients were still being pushed months out for appointments. Seeing the constant need for more veterinarians confirmed that this is the profession I belong in. After years of working with animals, my love and interest were undeniable, and knowing that I could make a difference in the veterinary field provided all the motivation I needed to pursue my dreams. As a current junior at Michigan State University and a member of the Honors College, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. I am also applying to vet school in the 2024 application cycle. Due to long hours causing burnout and emotional strain, veterinarians have a tragically high suicide rate. Having a background in psychology, I plan to run a practice that prioritizes animals' health but also the health of staff. I want to provide mental health resources for anyone in need and create an appropriate balance between work and home to help prevent early burnout. Operating a clinic that emphasizes mental health will benefit the staff and our patients. By having a proper work-life balance, our practicing team will care for our patients without draining themselves of their love and passion for the profession. Because of this, I hope to see an improvement in client relations. The increased enthusiasm and dedication will help create a more welcoming environment for our clients. The improved care provided by the well-balanced team will be undeniable, fostering a relationship of trust and commitment with our clients. Incorporating my education in psychology, I plan to create a more empathetic bedside manner for my patients, especially in times of grief or decision-making. Each relationship between a pet and its owner is wholly unique. Similarly, the grieving process is unique to each person. By understanding the grieving process and emotions, I hope to ease the stress in difficult times for the loving owners by providing my veterinary knowledge and emotional support. By blending my expertise in psychology, hands-on experience with animals, and deep passion for veterinary medicine, I will create an environment that offers exceptional and empathetic veterinary care to my patients and their owners.

Ten years ago, if you were to ask me what future career I was interested in, my response would have confidently been “I am going to attend Michigan State University and become a veterinarian.” Over the years, that career goal has never wavered. I have been involved in animals from a young age, where my strong fascination and passion developed. I became involved in 4-H working with animal partners in a competitive setting. My interest was also reflected in my volunteer work, working at a therapeutic riding barn, helping kids improve their communication and motor skills with an equine partner. I found that animals are complex, intelligent creatures that are unique teachers who encourage the development of valuable life skills. As a current junior at Michigan State University and a member of the Honors College, I am pursuing a bachelor of science in psychology. Due to long hours causing burnout and emotional strain, veterinarians have a tragically high suicide rate. Having a background in psychology I hope to run a practice that not only prioritizes animals' health but also the health of staff. I want to provide mental health resources for anyone in need and create an appropriate balance between work and home to help prevent early burnout. My future clinic would provide optimal care for our patients without exhausting the staff and their love for the profession. Unfortunately, this dream comes with a cost. Veterinarians have one of the worst debt-to-income ratios, comparing the cost of medical school, and starting salaries. Knowing this, I have tried to be financially proactive about my education. I saw an opportunity in my high school's advanced placement courses to decrease my future cost of education. I researched what credits Michigan State would accept and then I planned my high school academics in a way that I could simultaneously complete my credits for graduation while also earning college credit. With this approach, I was able to complete a year of my undergraduate studies while still in high school. In addition to decreasing my undergraduate education by a year, I applied to be a resident assistant for the 2023-2024 school year. This opportunity will not only allow me to be a support system for incoming students but will also provide me with free housing for the academic year. This opportunity will cut the cost of my senior year in half, further helping my overall cost of education. This is also why I apply for a multitude of scholarships. Any contribution to my education is huge for me. This financial support assures that my academic and career dreams are possible. Supporting my education will allow me to combine my undergraduate education with my doctorate program to create an in-clinic environment that supports the staff and animal patients. It will allow my goals to come to fruition, making that childhood dream into a reality. I hope someday I will be able to repay any financial support for my education by providing compassionate care for furry family members.

Pursuing veterinary medicine has always been a definite for me. I never doubted that someday I would receive my doctorate to successfully treat and care for local animal companions. The spark that started my passion for animals occurred eleven years ago. 4-H was very prevalent in our community. Hoping to get me interested, my mother purchased a mini lop rabbit and found a 4-H club for us to join. Little did she know that these moments were a catalyst for my future. Participating in 4-H instilled in me a unique kind of dedication and responsibility towards my animals. As I nurtured an appreciation for the complexity of these creatures my desire to become a veterinarian grew. I developed an insatiable curiosity to know more about the rabbits I was working with. Every year I learned more about potential afflictions, preventative care, and treatments, along with common characteristics that provided a window into the animal's overall health. This eagerness to learn only expanded when I started my equine project eight years ago. I was, and continue to be, fascinated by the intelligence my equine partners have expressed over the years. For both project animals, I wrote research papers and created poster presentations in an avid attempt to share my learnings with others. I quickly realized I loved the experience of learning a new topic and exploring the intricacies of a potential illness. One of the distinctive qualities of the veterinary profession is that there will always be more to learn. I find the continuous developments in this field exciting; while I progress as a veterinarian I will be able to learn more to help become a better provider to my patients. My passion for learning that developed many years ago will not be hindered in my future career. As an undergraduate student at Michigan State University, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology intending to apply to veterinary school next cycle as a participant of an accelerated program through the Honors College. I acknowledge that my bachelor's program is unusual for my future aspirations. That being said, I have found, in my experience working with veterinarians, that there is a continuous emphasis on the importance of the human aspect in this profession. This aspect, though incredibly important, is often not accentuated enough for aspiring veterinary professionals. While striving to be well-rounded in all elements of veterinary medicine, I began my bachelor program in Psychology, knowing that my animal-related experience and studies would also assist in making sure that I have the needed background going into vet school. With my education, I hope to create a veterinary practice that not only provides exemplary care for animal patients but for human owners as well. I believe my background in psychology will contribute to my bedside manner so that I can appropriately comfort and support clients through hard times and be available for the console, presenting an empathetic and safe space for emotional expression within the clinic. Our animal companions are family, and the mental strain can be taxing when a family member is injured or ill. Knowing how to communicate with grieving individuals is an unfortunate but important aspect of the veterinary profession. In my practice, I will combine my undergraduate education and my expertise learned during Veterinary school to create an environment that is not only focused on the animal patients but also the human caretakers who love their companions so deeply.

I have played soccer for twelve years. Although I aspired to be a good player, I cared most about having fun each season. I became more competitive in high school, with the arrival of a new coach. Coach Smith had a plan to turn Wellspring soccer into an undefeatable team, a formidable opponent. Following his guidance, In mid-January of 2020, we began conditioning, six days a week for 2-3 hours a day. I have always been an optimistic person. Pessimism does not have a place in my life. This attitude towards obstacles has helped me, especially during quarantine. When Covid hit, my soccer season ended abruptly, leaving me feeling defeated. Despite the immense disappointment, I quickly learned that when things don’t go as planned, looking towards the future and making every situation a positive experience is the best response to have. This moment truly showed me the importance of optimism. I was used to giving 18 hours a week for two months towards soccer. I took the time and drive I was using for soccer and I adjusted my attention towards my horse project. I have competitively shown horses for six years. Despite my considerable training, I struggled to overcome certain learning curves that held me back from being successful at competitions. With more time due to soccer being canceled, I was able to make significant progress with my horse, Valerie. Together Valerie and I improved our performance and by the end of the year, had our most successful show season out of all our years of competing. I will continue to apply my optimistic approach to every challenge I face in the future. This approach will help me continue to grow as a person by seeing the bright side in gloomy moments and finding new opportunities in unplanned situations.

I am an avid reader who consumes books of a wide variety of genres. Though this ensures I always have a good book to read, it adds to the challenge of deciding a favorite. How am I to compare a mystery by the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christe to a young adult fantasy novel; or the biography of Walt Disney to a historical fiction that takes place during the first Great War? Though there are many books I consider a ‘favorite’ the book I wish to describe is Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse by Robin Hutton. Sergeant Reckless is an untraditional biography, following the story of a four-legged Marine. Reckless was named after the recoilless rifle; she was needed to carry the heavy artillery the rifles required. Reckless served during the Korean War, specifically the Battle of Outpost Vegas. Reckless made 51 trips in one day alone to resupply the guns under intense gunfire. Sgt. Reckless not only received injuries in her trips but made every run completely by herself. Reckless was the only animal ever made a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Reckless was also awarded two Purple Hearts, a Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, amongst many other awards. Those who served with her often said that Reckless wasn’t just a horse, she was a Marine; equally as clever and smart as the rest of them. I describe Sgt. Reckless's story as my favorite because it filled me with a deep enthusiasm while reading. I wanted to share Reckless's brilliance and story with everyone, so they too could appreciate her. I have a deep passion for animals and believe their intelligence is often underappreciated. Though Reckless’ story isn’t well-known, it nestled its way into my heart and the exclusive club of my favorite books.

I am a bit of a perfectionist. I set high expectations for myself and push myself to ensure that every goal I set is achieved. But sometimes, being a perfectionist and having high standards for oneself can be exhausting. It can wear on one's motivation because you develop the mindset that you can't make mistakes - a mindset that is unhealthy. Throughout my various extracurricular and academics, I have maintained my growth mindset by teaching myself that it is okay to make mistakes. We are all human and making mistakes is a natural part of learning. I do not need to be perfect at something on my first attempt. Instead, I can develop my skills, talents, and hobbies through dedication, hard work, and arguably most important: input from others. I need not grow alone, but together with those who are well-educated in the fields, I wish to improve upon. When learning something new, I am not afraid of looking "dumb" when I ask questions nor do I tear myself down when my progress is delayed. Every moment I spend working towards my goals is a moment well spent. This approach to learning has helped me develop an optimistic personality. I have the deep belief that everything will work out in the end. This optimism has also helped fuel my growth mindset because it gives me continued faith in my own abilities. I know that I have the initiative and power within me to learn and overcome setbacks I face. By developing this confidence in myself, I have allowed myself to maintain a growth mindset.