ISV Program Application Essay

Guns pointing they yelled, “No one move! Count to one hundred!” I lay quiet and in fear as the robbers quickly left the store with my dad’s wallet and the store’s money. After this traumatic incident I did not feel safe again until my mom introduced me to my dog Haley. Haley and I became best friends with an unbreakable bond; after thirteen years she continues to inspire me to help animals. In college, I initially believed the best path for me to help animals was through studying law. While walking on campus one day, I felt helpless when I saw a litter of stray kittens fighting to survive. Seeing these abandoned animals inspired me to find a solution to end animal homelessness, and it became immensely clear that I wanted to become a veterinarian

My drive to achieve this goal helped me commit myself to my studies, and I declared biology as my major. I pursued experience in the veterinarian field through several opportunities, including engaging in the International Student Volunteers (ISV) program, shadowing small animal and equine veterinarians, and obtaining an internship in Washington D.C. My volunteer work with ISV was unique because I worked with exotic animals while immersed in a foreign culture. On my first day in the ISV program I learned how to feed emus. During my first experience feeding the emus I was almost attacked by one and learned I had to be highly alert. I was instructed to appear taller by holding my arm straight above my head to deter any threats. By being more aware and operating quickly, I did not have any more frightening incidences with the emus. I learned precautionary measures must also be taken while working with domesticated animals. I experienced the importance of this while shadowing a small animal veterinarian in Florida. We needed to vaccinate a 150 pound angry and scared

These characteristics are needed throughout the field of veterinary medicine. I also learned the necessity of confidence while shadowing an equine veterinarian in New Hampshire. During a wellness examination a horse experienced an adverse reaction to a vaccine; it began seizing and throwing its body around, potentially hurting itself and others. The doctor remedied the situation before anything went terribly wrong. Being a veterinarian requires confidence, vigilance, and the ability to think quickly while staying precise. I further developed my skills of working quickly and precisely during my internship in Washington D.C. I pursued this internship knowing it would broaden my knowledge of animal rights, and help me develop an understanding of our political system. A major part of being a veterinarian is effectively communicating with people such as owners, and while working my internship in Washington D.C. I was able to greatly enhance my interpersonal skills. Daily duties included communicating with constituents, and conducting and relaying research for a