A Girl's Best Friend by Ashlyn

A Girl's Best Friend by Ashlyn - October 2019 Scholarship Essay

When I was five years old, my father surprised me and my sister with a gorgeous yellow Labrador Retriever we decided to name Sugar. Ever since I can remember, she was a four-legged vacuum, always cleaning up the mess I made at dinner. She always stayed right by my side and refused to be left at home. Up until the age of 11, my family lived in suburb of Atlanta, and Sugar was restricted to the house and a fenced-in backyard. In 2012, my family decided to move to Kalispell, Montana, and build a house on a 40-acre piece of property. Sugar had really only known one side of the fence her whole life. Now, she was about to have all the room to run around, and be her silly self.

Only two years after moving to the Big Sky, Sugar started having some medical issues. We often went riding on trails with the four-wheeler and she always ran beside us. However, in March of 2013, she would run by me for the last time. She developed severe hip dysplasia and her spinal cord was disintegrating. She had tumors in between her vertebrae causing her to become paralyzed in her back legs. After 12 weeks of physical therapy, there was only one humane option left. I remember coming home from school that day and asking where she was, forgetting that I would never see her again.

Since I was little, I have always wanted to major in the sciences and become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After Sugar died, she became my motivation to succeed in my academics, and more importantly be the best veterinarian possible. I decided to major in microbiology so I can have a better understand about how microorganisms like bacteria and virus affect living systems. I plan on conducting research at during my time at college, and hope to get involved in experiments focusing on the health of animals. Once I obtain my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, I want to use my knowledge from my schooling to specialize in orthopedic surgery. I lost my best friend at a very young age. Now, I want to do everything in my power to make sure little girls don't lose theirs if it can be avoided.

Sugar and her memory encourages me everyday to study a little longer, edit the essay one more time, and become the best person I can be.