I wish to wake each day with a soul unburdened by shame and fear. I will live with the weather of my mind and body, knowing that "sunshine" and "rain" can't exist independently of each other. I want to love myself beyond superficiality.

As a child, when someone asked what job we wanted when we grew up, our imaginations ran wild. I remember imagining myself as Barbie, dreaming I could be a million different things all at once. Yet, I found that it was love at first sight when I first saw the Barbie veterinarian set on the shelf, and begged my mom to buy it for me. Hours and hours of play scenarios ensued, ingraining into me a passion and intrigue for animal care and behavior. Many years later, I am now seeking a BS in Biology with my goal set on veterinary school. But the truth is that as life goes on, most children will change their minds and outgrow their youthful career dreams. Plastic stethoscopes and children's thin white doctor's coats are forgotten, collecting dust in the bottom of taped-up cardboard boxes. For some of us who've managed to hold on to our childhood dreams, we're faced with not only the reality of student loans and GPAs - but also with the realization that we have never seen someone who looks like us work our dream job. Rates of pet ownership in America are skyrocketing. More people than ever before, across all races, have pets and are increasingly invested in their health and well-being. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects jobs for vets to grow 16% by 2029. Despite this, in 2013 The Atlantic dubbed veterinarians as "the whitest job in America". Years later in 2021, BLS figures still report that 94% of veterinarians are white. Only 1.2% of veterinarians in America are African-American. Here, we can see the necessity of diversity in the workplace, across all jobs. This is sorely true for STEM, which is only recently beginning to catch up in terms of the representation of women and minoritized racial groups. Not only do children deserve to dream of being veterinarians, doctors, and scientists, but the young adults they grow up to be deserve to not have their dreams squashed by lack of representation and the struggles that come along with it. Adults that have diligently studied, worked, and sacrificed for degrees deserve to enter a workplace that values their backgrounds and the variety of necessary viewpoints they bring to the table. Beyond individual minorities in STEM, in the context of the veterinary profession: clients should have the option to visit a veterinarian who they feel will take them and their concerns for their pets seriously. Many Black people feel that there is a lack of respect for their dignity and intelligence in professional settings. Others feel there is a simple lack of kindness and consideration. But when we prioritize diversity, we are rewarded with a more well-rounded, informed workplace. Prioritizing diversity means that clients can seek the best care for their beloved pets without worrying about microaggressions or being talked down to. To prioritize diversity means to inspire children's dreams and to promote future success in kinder, more welcoming environments.