Hello, my name is Neylan Vily, I'm a high school junior who is extremely passionate about animals, service, and veterinary medicine. I have been obsessed with caring for animals and what makes them happy and feel good since I was younger. Eventually, this grew into a strong career path, the one I aim for, the path of becoming a veterinarian. From volunteering and working with animals and seeing the inside workings of vet clinics, I've come to understand that becoming a veterinarian involves much more than just healing illnesses, it involves bettering a quality of life, acting as the voice for the voiceless and strengthening the bond between a person and their pet. One experience that holds a great deal of significance with me was starting a non-profit, the Passion Pet Project, whose main goal is to collect and donate supplies to animal shelters. My inspiration for the Passion Pet Project stemmed from my rescue dog Lucy; seeing how loving and companionate stray animals could be once given a chance at a real home truly opened my eyes to the true nature of animals. While working at shelters, I saw what an overwhelming challenge it was for them to get enough supplies such as blankets, towels, toys, and food, they often only got donations when they asked. Seeing so many animals without a warm bed and toys pushed me to do something. The Passion Pet Project collected donations of blankets, towels, toys, food and many other basic necessities and brought them to local animal shelters. It started as a small thing, but over time the donations that I was collecting began to grow into something bigger and started a small community outreach. I was not only able to contribute to the animals by collecting needed items but I also raised an awareness of the needs for animal shelters among the community. Once I went to a shelter to deliver the supplies and saw the impact that those small things had, I knew that a real difference could be made by contributing my effort. Leadership, responsibility, and community service are all qualities that the Passion Pet Project has given to me. I have also searched for opportunities where I could gain real-life experience in the field of animals. Through volunteer positions in different animal-related environments, I have worked side-by-side with many veterinarians; I have had the chance to watch procedures, learn what goes into patient care, and gain insight in the world of veterinary medicine. My interactions with the world of veterinary medicine have only confirmed my choice for my career path and have demonstrated the integral role of veterinarians in the well being of animals as well as humans. My goal in the veterinary world is to make the world a better place by providing high quality veterinary care to animals while continuing to advocate for animal welfare and helping rescue organizations reach more adoptions, improving animal's quality of life. I hope to raise awareness among pet owners in my community about preventive care, proper pet care, and the importance of animals' health. In the future, I will further use the skills and knowledge that I will gain in my veterinary career to spread veterinary care to communities that would not otherwise receive it and ensure that animals will get the treatment that they deserve. I've learned that change often comes through compassion and willingness to contribute whether it be through a non-profit, volunteer position or my desired veterinary career.

My passion for animals began at a very young age and has continued to grow throughout my life. Ever since I was little, I have always felt a strong connection to animals and admired the unconditional love and comfort they provide. However, my rescue dog, Lucy, truly changed the way I viewed animal care and inspired me to make a difference in the lives of animals in need. Watching her transformation after being rescued by us showed me how much love, patience, and proper care can completely change an animal’s life. Seeing how happy and trusting she became after being rescued made me realize how many other animals are still waiting for that same opportunity. As I got older, I began volunteering at animal shelters and spending more time around rescue animals. During these experiences, I was deeply affected by the conditions many animals were living in. While shelters work incredibly hard to care for abandoned and neglected animals, many of them rely heavily on donations and community support. I noticed that some animals lacked simple comforts such as blankets, towels, toys, treats, or beds. Even though these may seem like small items, they can greatly improve an animal’s quality of life and help reduce stress while they wait to be adopted. These experiences inspired me to create the Passion Pet Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting and donating supplies to animal shelters. I began organizing donation drives and collecting blankets, towels, toys, food, and other essential items from my community. Over time, I was able to consistently donate supplies to local shelters and encourage others to get involved as well. One of the most rewarding parts of this experience has been visiting shelters and seeing firsthand how these donations positively impacted the animals. Seeing dogs finally have soft bedding to sleep on or toys to keep them stimulated reminded me that even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference. In the future, I plan to continue making a positive impact in the animal world by expanding my nonprofit efforts and pursuing a career centered around animal care and welfare. My intended major is Animal Science on a Pre-Veterinary track because it combines my love for animals with my interest in veterinary medicine and animal health. Through studying Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary studies, I hope to gain the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to better understand animal behavior, nutrition, and medical care.