May 28, 2024 Hello, my name is Quentin C. Keplinger. I graduated Sunday, May 19, and will be attending Concord University in the fall. Over the last few weeks, I have given serious thought to a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills used to achieve it. I knew from a very early age that I wanted to become a veterinarian. My biggest and greatest personal accomplishment is the job I currently hold. My mom is employed at a local veterinary clinic and would often pick me up after school. I would be out of the way but could still watch all the action taking place around me. As I got older, I started becoming more involved. I volunteered for tasks such as stocking supplies, cleaning kennels, folding laundry, and the list goes on. By constantly helping, and asking questions, I gained basic knowledge and experience of veterinary medicine, which drove me to want to know more. I would go home in the evenings and look things up about cases, reading articles about medicine and how to further help animals, and even began asking for books and tools pertaining to veterinary medicine. I went to work for my sister-in-law, who is a veterinarian owning her own private practice. While working for her, I was able to further my skills and knowledge base, giving me an even deeper love for the profession. Through this experience I gained personal and professional skills. I was approached by the practice manager from the clinic where I spent my adolescent years about coming to work for them as a veterinary assistant. I was torn. I found myself, somewhat reluctantly, deciding to say something to my sister-in-law. A few weeks after she called me in the office, and said “I am going to let you go.” I was completely crushed. She continued to say “I need you to do this. If this is the career you want to pursue, you need to step out of your comfort zone, gain experience with other doctors, and the hard things that go along with it.” In the weeks to come I accepted the offer by the clinic where I grew up. I felt so out of place and awkwardly uncomfortable out of my comfort zone. I tried to do well at the job I had been hired to do, and reminded myself of the importance of learning through new experiences. I found myself praying, asking God to cover and provide me with peace. My strengths are that I’ve learned how to become comfortable with new experiences, and how to adapt to new challenges. How to overcome the small things. How to push through the hard times that we come up against, and the importance of friends to support you during tough times. Personally, the skills I used to get where I am are the ones I learned from this journey. Specifically, these skills are a stronger work ethic, determination, and perseverance. I also feel I have gained many new values to support these skills, such as, how to interact with people on a more personal level, and how to hold myself to a higher and more professional standard. I feel I would not be where I am today if it were not for the things I have outlined in this essay. I now hold so much valuable knowledge and experiences, many life lessons from wonderful co-workers and amazing veterinarians who have inspired me along the way. I would be honored to receive this scholarship. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Kind Regards, Quentin C. Keplinger