Moving Up

Today has been a very exciting day for me. I was offered my first job at my top-choice clinic. I'll be starting slow and working my way up in hours, and I'll be working for a wonderful veterinarian who loves his job, takes good care of his employees, and has a passion for serving the community and world beyond. He's a fabulous mentor with a solid reputation in our community, and I feel honored that he has decided to add me to his team.



I realized today that this job offer is really the fruition of a dream that's been in process for me since I was 17. It was an odd thing realizing what I wanted to do at such a young age, but many in this profession feel as though it's a calling and a passion. I remember where I was when I realized and it all seems so odd now. I was 17 and rebelling against everything and everyone (but mostly my parents). School had never been a priority, and no matter how much trouble I got in, the one thing that brought me calm and serenity was the barn. I've always had pride that I took the initiative with my horse passion--although my parents were supportive, they had no interest in horses and so gave me the tools to do it on my own. I never owned a horse until I graduated high school. My parents didn't buy me riding lessons, riding clothes or show entries. They told me I would look back one day and be as proud of myself as they were of me for working towards my passion, and they were right.

The bus ride to the barn was a portal into a world where I was smart, compassionate, and had a drive that could equal no other. I was never a great rider (and in fact was quite timid), but accepted this and worked hard to improve my skills. I volunteered on Saturdays and Sundays feeding, mucking stalls, cleaning piles of schooling tack and turning out the horses. My work was quiet and I was alone much of the time with my 48 charges. I learned their personalities, their quirks, their scratchiest places and who I could take down to the turn-outs together.



It was on the bus to the barn one day when I had the epiphany, as it can be described as nothing else. It was as if someone leaned over and said in a clear voice, "You're going to be a veterinarian." The bus was not a quarter of a mile from the stop that would leave me a half-mile from my precious barn, and I remember being so startled I almost missed the stop. I got off the bus and crunched my way down the gravel shoulder deep in thought. It seemed so clear that I was suddenly struck by the oddness that it had never occurred to me before, except when I was a young girl and being a veterinarian was one of the standard responses (in addition to "horse trainer," "princess," and "my mom"). The idea began to take shape and become less of an idea and more of a drive. It just felt right. Since then, I've had countless joys, countless sorrows, disappointments and victories that cannot be paralleled. And every second, every tear, every late night, every ounce of stress and sweat has been absolutely worth it.

Well, 17-year-old Elly. You've made it. It won't be easy and it won't always be fun, but guess what. You're going to be a veterinarian.