The Reasons Why I Want to Be a Veterinarian
After drawing a close to my first day of kindergarten, I declared to my dad, “I want to be a veterinarian!”. But why I want to be a veterinarian? In this essay I will share my story.
Why I Want to Be a Veterinarian and How This Desire Has Changed
Such a statement naturally might concern any father after picking their child up from a new school, let alone releasing their prized possession into the arms of persons who were practically strangers. I, however, thought the idea was simple to understand, as I stared intently into my dad’s eyes. My dad cautiously replied, “A vegetarian?!”, to which I replied, “No dad! A vegetarian!”. At this point in my life, my pronunciation of words was still a bit unclear, and I couldn’t get my mouth to form the word I meant to say: “veterinarian”. This ramble continued back and forth, and by the end of the conversation, I still had no idea what the difference was between vegetarian and veterinarian. I continued to become frustrated, as I was unable to get my point across. All I knew was that my heart was telling me I had to be a veterinarian! It took me a couple years to be able to distinguish between a vegetarian and a veterinarian. Although I was only 5 years old, I imagined that a veterinarian would have a burning passion to care for animals and be self-sacrificing.
Overtime, this story was repeated in my family because it was unusual that a 5-year old would know what they wanted to do for the rest of their life. Many of my family members often speculated that it was just a phase, and that I would change my mind as I grew older. Even now during family gatherings, I am constantly asked if I still want to pursue a profession in the medical field, to which I always reply, “Yes, of course!”. After I declared my “vegetarianism”, I would ask others in my classes if they needed help on a math problem, or checking an essay for grammatical errors. It has constantly been vital to my life that others around me are happy and comforted to the best of my ability. As I have grown older and have matured, my initial desire to help animals has mutated into helping people. What started as a seed of desire, has grown into a prosperous tree with deep foundational roots. I have channeled my energy into volunteering at a number of healthcare based organizations, and interning at various doctor’s offices to gain more experience and insight.
One of the most impactful organizations that I have been involved with has been the Oak Cottage Memory Center of Santa Barbara. Designated as a leader in this setting, I socialize and play games with Alzheimer’s patients, including crafting with them, which help repair the delicate fabrics of their semi-torn life that has been taken away from them by the loss of their memory. Initially, I was scared to step foot in the building, skeptical that the residents may be belligerent or indifferent to my help. However, after seeing the smiles on their faces, I quickly learned that they deeply enjoyed my small chats with them, and our bowling matches that we played. By volunteering at this organization, changed my whole perspective on life. It has strengthened my interest in medicine, confirming my desire to help others. In addition, this experience has also encouraged me to be a confident leader, regardless of what the stereotypes are. After walking out of the glass doors of the Memory Center, I am filled with a passion that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.
In conclusion, this is how I decide to become a doctor. My story has started with love to animals and a childhood dream to become a veterinarian. The life path which I shared woth you is what drives me to become a doctor in the future, and utilizing my strong passion to help and lead others to change lives for the better.
