A Heart Full of Animals! by Stephanie

A Heart Full of Animals! by Stephanie - June 2017 Scholarship Essay

The 6-year-old me was adventurous and curious about everything animal related. From catching toads and frogs in the creek, to hand-rearing abandoned kittens in the alleys of Philadelphia, I knew I was destined to have an animal-related job of some sort. As I grew older, dreams of becoming a veterinarian were sparked and eventually stifled by a broken home, lack of support and lack of educational finances. In an attempt to be stronger than my circumstances, I made a short-term plan while in high school to at least start myself on the road to becoming a veterinarian. Right after high school graduation, I was accepted into, and completed, a veterinary technician program that allowed me to work with animals at a nursing capacity. While I loved every bit of my work, I was still compelled to work on more pre-veterinary coursework. I applied and was accepted into a local university with the intended goal of finishing with a Biology degree, bringing me that much closer to the dream.
But life has this funny way of distracting you. It builds walls, it places obstacles, and if you are not strong enough to break through, step over, or incorporated them in, you may just find yourself stuck in horizontal movement, as I did. Priorities changed, financial responsibilities grew larger, self-doubt took hold, and I felt forced to stop and change my pathway. The months turned into years, distractions and procrastination flourished. Suddenly I found myself married with children, and along with this new life, came the awareness of self-sacrifice. The dreams and opportunities I had early on were now superseded by family obligations. Another horizontal move came about as both my family and financial commitments grew. I was accepted into and completed a nursing program and I have been working as a Registered Nurse for 9 years now. And although it has been good for my family, my heart continues to know differently. I make feeble attempts to hold on to that 6-year-old me by occasionally volunteering at animal refuges, or trying to work part -time at animal hospitals when time allows. Even now, my home reflects my heart, with family pets ranging from dogs and cats to reptiles and arachnids. Family members, close friends and some associates I have met over the years, after only catching a glimpse of that passion in me, often ask me why is it I don't work in an animal related field, or how I ever got off track to becoming a veterinarian.
My heart has a relentless grip on this dream, and I wish to ignore it no longer. I now set out on this new road to find financial assistance to make my dream a reality.  At 42 years old, I feel my soul growing ever so restless, diminishing self-doubt day by day. By my side I have a motivating husband, a supportive family, and a determination to finally do what I know is good for my own heart and soul.