Hoofprints of My Future by Caelyn

Hoofprints of My Future by Caelyn - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

It all started with a horse. My forehead pressing against the muscled neck, gazing into bottomless pools of expressive, liquid eyes, the velvet nose whuffing against my hand, hooves tipped in iron, the horsey scent, dust motes drifting lazily through sunshine, and that electric crackle that runs through your nerves when you realize you are in control of an animal that is easily 8-12 times your size. As I lead the horse from the ring, I feel alive, purposeful, and invigorated! Since summer of 2022, I have volunteered weekly at Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa (TROT). TROT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing equine-assisted therapy to disabled individuals. Their programs target children with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities and veterans with PTSD. Each week, I work directly with the students during their lessons; I assist them with riding, petting, brushing, and otherwise engaging the horses. I also spend time caring for the animals by feeding, currying, cleaning out stalls, etc. I have completed over 220 hours of volunteer service with TROT, to date.

I have always liked animals, but working at TROT has cemented my resolve. It has helped develop my understanding of what working with animals and people is like in real life and set me on course towards a career in Animal Science. I am currently considering a concentration in big animals, either in the veterinary field or in research and development. When I leave high school, I plan to enter the University of Alabama to obtain my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. I have been accepted into the Honors Program and am pursuing smaller group programs to enhance my educational experience. I also plan to complete the STEM-to-MBA Program and earn an MBA in addition to my bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation, I would like to attend the Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine to obtain my doctorate degree. During college, I will continue volunteering with TROT (or other similar program), participate in animal research projects, and gain work experience in the veterinary field. I hope to expand my horizons and find myself surrounded by like-minded individuals who are also seeking to improve themselves and the world around them.

In addition to providing guidance and reassurance for my career goals, my work at TROT has also influenced my personal goals. Working with disabled individuals has given me great respect for the challenges they face daily. It is important to me to continue working towards goals that provide services and assistance for the disabled and I will advocate for those services throughout my life.

I am very proud of the dedication and perseverance I have put forth to continue my volunteerism at TROT. Working in a barn with animals is dirty, it is often hot, people and animals can be bad tempered or hard to deal with, etc. I also give up my free time to do hard, sweaty, smelly work. However, it is worth it to see the faces of the students when they achieve a new goal or learn a new skill! I know my time is meaningful and is helping to create a stronger community and opportunities for individuals who need therapy and interaction! It has also helped me determine my direction for the future and provided knowledge and instruction for my plans.

Looking back, perhaps it didn’t start with a horse; I always knew I wanted to work with animals, volunteering at TROT merely opened up a world of possibilities I had not previously experienced. As Mark Twain wisely said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” TROT helped me discover my “why,” and I will apply myself with dedication and resolve to make the world a better place for humans and animals, one footprint, hoofprint, or pawprint at a time.