A Cat’s Uterus Fulfills My Dreams by Hannah

A Cat’s Uterus Fulfills My Dreams by Hannah - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was a little girl, it has been my goal to someday become a veterinarian. My resolve on the subject wavered a bit as I grew, switching to several other professions, but it always comes back to vet. My passion for animals keeps me focused on the path I know I’m meant to take. The support of my family lent many helpful resources, such as books and hands-on experiences, to my cause.

Perhaps the most rewarding thing I have done so far on my journey was to gain entry to the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences. This past summer, I participated in a college summer course for rising high-school seniors of higher education levels. My classes were rigorous and interesting, with many interactive parts. The veterinary science course had no classroom work; it was all out in the field, learning through action. During this class, I was part of a necropsy on a pregnant cat, gave heifers pregnancy checks through their rectums, did physical examinations on dogs, and, perhaps the most exciting part for me, scrubbed in on surgeries.

The surgeries were quite simple, just neutering a dog and spaying a cat, but to see the vet cut open the animal and remove the genitalia was amazing to watch. I assisted by giving the vet her tools, and holding the cat’s uterus out of the way so it could be clamped for safe removal. As easy as these tasks were, I felt such a sense of accomplishment when doing them that I left the operating room feeling better than I had in quite a long time. The experience sealed my dream to become a veterinarian in stone, and I finished the whole program more determined than ever to achieve my goals.