It Is Priceless To Dream Big by Cami

It Is Priceless To Dream Big by Cami - April 2021 Scholarship Essay

The best piece of advice that I would have given myself five years ago is, “No dream is too expensive or too out of reach”. This advice is really important to me because it is a motivating factor in my life. Many people throughout the years have asked me what my plans are for the future. Will I still live in Pittsburgh? Will I call home every day? Will I be married? While answers to these questions may still be in the making, one thing is for certain and has been since I was younger—I intend to become a veterinarian. I have an immense passion for all animals, making my decision to become a veterinarian inevitable and simple. However, choosing this future career will bring many obstacles, including, but not limited to, debt, hard work, and stress. One thing I do know is that the payoff will be worth it—achieving my dream job is something I look forward to. I have finally acknowledged that neither money nor practicality will deter me from my dreams.

Another reason that this advice is important to me is that it was coincidently given to my mom by her own parents. Unfortunately, she did not get to pursue her dreams, such that her current job pays only the bills—it is not what she planned for herself growing up. My mom believes in me and knows that I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to. This is a motivating factor for me, allowing me to hear every day how strong I am. Life is hard and at times I want to give up; however, she repeatedly reminds me that my dreams are worth pursuing. She does not want me to make the same mistakes she has made, i.e., not following her dreams. From being around my family, I have come to the realization that if I do not at least try to become a veterinarian, then I will regret it. Of course, it is important to have a job that can pay the bills, but earning money is not my goal in life. If I get to work with animals every day, then I will not consider that working—I would consider it living the dream. I will be happy waking up every day and going to the same place.

Looking back, I want to tell my younger self that if my dreams make me happy, then that is a great enough reason for me to pursue that path, because if not I will regret it for the rest of my life. My future job will allow me to help animals—putting others who need assistance first before me. One day I want to travel to underserved communities and provide them with medical care for their pets at affordable prices. I believe that every animal deserves to live a safe and healthy life. Achieving success in my chosen career will allow me to promote peace in this chaotic, unpredictable world. Thus, my ability to enact change in the world around me is exciting. I often hear people who say that they want to leave their mark on this Earth, either by becoming wealthy, famous, or both. I, on the other hand, am not looking for this kind of life. I just want to care for God's greatest creations--animals. Nothing would make me happier than going to work every day doing what I love.

Nevertheless, no dream comes without a cost. Like I mentioned above, veterinary school is highly competitive, expensive, stressful, demanding, and exhausting—there are only around 30 accredited vet schools in the country. It is guaranteed that there will be times when I question my values in life, but I am not worried about that. I know in my heart that I was born to become a small animal veterinarian—it is my purpose for living. Therefore, the best piece of advice that I would have given myself five years ago is, “No dream is too expensive or too out of reach”. Animals are not just animals to me, rather they have given my life meaning. They have given me personally a purpose. I intend to pursue my dream career with all my heart, and I know that one day I will achieve the ultimate goal of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.