The "Uff-Dah!" in the title is meant to express breathlessness at the title itself as well as at this past week as a whole. Things have gotten pretty hectic with work, shadowing, and filling out the VMCAS. Happily, however, I have made great progress on the VMCAS. I finished filling out my extracurricular activities, my awards and honors, and my veterinary experiences. I have also finished filling out my animal experience for the Illinois Supplemental Application. All that remains is to have my personal statement read by more people so I can make it the best it can be, to write three essays (two for the Iowa Supplemental Application and one for the Illinois Supplemental Application), have my letters of recommendation written, and wait for my GRE report to come in so I can photocopy it and package it with all of the other materials for the Kansas Supplemental Application. Well, I also need to send checks with the supplemental applications and pay online for the VMCAS, Iowa Supplemental Application, Illinois Supplemental Application, and University of Minnesota application processing fee. But that about sums up the work I have left. And it's not even July! All in all, I would say that I am very satisfied with the progress I am making. I did not expect to be this far along so soon. It really does pay to be proactive and on top of things. Future pre-vet students, take note! People do not exaggerate when they say how time-consuming and tedious the whole process is. I'm just praying daily that I do not forget anything. That's what an early deadline goal is for (I'm aiming for late July at best, early August at worst). That will give me some time to send in anything else that I forgot and still make the October 2nd actual deadline. But enough about that. You want to hear about my two shadowing experiences this week.
As far as the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota (AERCMN) in Oakdale goes, I cannot give you too much specific information because of client/patient/doctor confidentiality, but I can give you a general overview of how everything went and what I thought of the experience. I was surprised to learn that not everything is hectic all of the time in emergency medicine. There are slow times as well as busy times, just like with any other clinic. Of course, a lot of the cases are much more severe, and probably a higher percentage end badly than in regular medicine. I really admire everyone who can work in this setting. I'm not sure it's for me. But everyone was very pleasant and made me feel welcome and involved despite the fact that I was not allowed to touch any of the animals or assist in any of the procedures. I got to watch two ultrasounds on two different cats, which were really cool. I don't get to see ultrasounds that often at St. Francis. I also learned about a technique for treating hyperthyroidism in cats called I-131. I-131 is a radioactive isotope of the element iodine, and when it is administered to hyperthyroid cats, it kills the tumor cells that are pressing on the thyroid gland and causing the hyperthyroidism. The clinic has a special treatment room for the I-131 cats to stay while they receive their treatment. It's interesting and really cool because the treatment has a cure rate of almost 95%. Hyperthyroidism seems like a very serious condition, so it is neat that such a straightforward treatment exists that is so highly effective. After a cat has been treated with I-131, owners can only play with the cats for thirty-minute periods twice per day for a few days (you know, since the cats are very slightly radioactive). But other than that, the cats don't seem to suffer any ill effects. Way cool. One of the best parts of the day was seeing a fawn come in to the clinic. It had some facial muscle paralysis and was a bit dehydrated, but the whole situation was cool because it was my first clinical experience with wildlife. And it rocked. I learned other cool things like how the heart still puts out electrical impulses that a machine can pick up even after it has stopped beating. Machines will record a false heartbeat even though an animal is not actually still alive. It also seems like emergency vets have a lot more computer time than actual animal handling time. This is somewhat true for regular vets but seems even more true for critical care vets. All in all, it was a wonderful experience that gave me a pretty good idea of what emergency medicine is all about. Even though I will probably not make this field of veterinary medicine my career, I enjoyed having the opportunity to learn about it and to see why it is not really suited to me. I just like seeing vets in many different settings and seeing how they have an impact in many different ways. It is comforting to me to know there are so many dedicated people out there looking out for animal health in critical situations.
Wednesday was back to good old St. Franny for more fun with dogs and cats. I got to watch four surgeries to start off with. The first was a very interesting cystotomy (bladder stone removal). I was responsible for taking pictures for the clinic to put up on its Facebook page. There were some really cool stones in there, so I think I got some good shots. After that was a fairly straightforward feline spay followed by the longest dental of my life. The dog in question was under for more than two hours! It was a very tedious cleaning, especially since 16 of its teeth had to be removed. The last surgery was thankfully quite brief, just a simple feline declaw. I just think it's so slick how easily the claws are removed from the paws, like cutting through butter with a hot knife. I'm sorry if that's a little weird, but that's how I think about it. As usual, I participated quite a bit. Nothing as big as the last couple of weeks, but I was still able to do some anesthesia monitoring, restraint, light cleaning, acting as a gofer, and taking temperatures. Patti had me put together some "kitten packs," folders full of information for new kitten owners. I have done them before, but I never mind doing them because it is a small thing I can do to help the clinic operate as it should and to get the kitten owners the things they need to give their little ones the best care possible. Finally, toward the end of the day, I was put in charge of changing the litter and water for the four kittens up for adoption who are staying at the clinic and of getting them more food for the night. One of the kittens must have been hungry because as soon as I filled the food dish, he/she lunged right for it. I had to fight Tulip, another one of the clinic cats (I'm starting to feel bad for Odie--he used to be the only one), to keep her from getting into the kitten cage and bothering the little cuties. So, I just did my thing on Wednesday. Nothing out of the ordinary. But a good experience nonetheless, especially since it has been so long since I have had to take care of a cat.
Next week I will only be shadowing once, and on Monday instead of on Wednesday. Dr. J has a prior engagement that precludes her working on Wednesday. I have Monday off, so I am going with her that day. It all works out great for me, though, because I will need Wednesday to pack for a wedding in Colorado. I might have to blog about that if things get interesting or I get some good pictures of the beautiful mountains. You know what I sucker I am for natural vistas and things. Until then!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Summer 2012--St. Francis Veterinary Clinic Visit #3: "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies."
That lovely quotation is from Gene Hill, and it really fits the mood of my latest visit to St. Francis. As I write this, I am taking a break from filling out the VMCAS application for my chosen vet schools (Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and Mississippi). The last two may seem a little odd, but Augie students have been accepted there in the past, so I have faith that the admissions committees will see that I am from a good school, a school from which they have accepted students before, and consequently look better on me. But we'll see what happens. Anyway, you should know that the VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application Service) application is quite extensive and labor-intensive. Not only must I fill out personal information, but I must list each college course I have taken, its designation, what prerequisite it covers (if any), how many credits I earned for it, the grade that I got, and more. On top of that, I must list all of my veterinary and animal experiences, my volunteer activities, and my awards and honors. It is basically a full-time job filling the thing out. And when I am finished with the VMCAS, four of the schools to which I am applying require a supplemental application, which asks more in-depth questions than the VMCAS. Some of the supplemental applications have additional essays, but the two that I need to send by mail look pretty tame, so I'm not overly worried; it's just a heckuva lot to process. Luckily, I am taking this very free day (no work or shadowing) to get as much done on it as I can. I have filled out information for about half of my classes so far. I have also sent e-mails with links to my three evaluators and requested transcripts from Augustana and the University of Minnesota (I took a College-in-the-Schools Spanish course through the U of M during my senior year, so I need to get a transcript for those five credits I earned). So, I have accomplished quite a bit in just two days. But even students with strong work ethics like mine must take a break. I'd been working on the application for about an hour-and-a-half before I ate some lunch and decided to blog about Wednesday while I still felt up to it.
Anyway, on to shadowing. The morning was pretty low-key. I saw some pretty standard surgeries: a canine dental and a feline spay. The third surgery was a little more interesting. It was a wound repair on a Border Collie. I believe he had been running in the yard and split his left hind leg open. The laceration left an awkward triangle of skin and muscle hanging open like a flap. Dr. K did a very good job of trimming the dirty, necrotic (dead) tissue from the edge of the cut and still leaving enough skin to close the wound. It was a pretty tight job, but it looked beautiful when it was done.
I did a lot of cleaning on Wednesday, too. I had to clean up poop twice (so fun...) and vomit three times (even better!). The vomit was from the wound-repair dog, who escaped from his kennel while I was trying to clean it. I half dragged him back and had to clean the blood from his leg off the floor. I nearly slammed the kennel door in his face because he tried to escape again, and he seemed really scared. I felt bad, but he was not being very good, either. Oh, and I'm sorry if this disgusts you, but I want to give you an accurate picture of what I do. Veterinary medicine is not all fun and games. It's low down and dirty a lot of the time.
However, it was all worth it for an afternoon appointment with a mother Collie and her nine pups! They were the absolute epitome of adorable, and I had to restrain myself from giggling out loud because they were just so stinking cute! The pups were part of a "Royal Collie" breeding program, so they all had very regal names like "Lady Ann" and "Prince Honey." My favorites were three puppies with a lot of black on them. They were basically tricolor because they had a little bit of tan near their noses and feet, so the effect was quite striking. Two of the black ones were going to the same family, a family with two little boys whose personalities each matched that of one of the puppies. How cute! It is my understanding that all of the puppies were either spoken for or were to be kept by the breeder. Lady Ann was off to Alaska, where her future family eagerly awaits her. Another one of the puppies was headed to Kentucky. I loved getting licked by all of the puppies. It was even cute when they sniffed my shoes and tugged on the legs of my scrub pants.
I also got to participate a lot again today. I did some restraint and got to draw up a canine rabies vaccine (I did not administer it because that requires a licensed DVM). I also gave more subcutaneous fluids today, this time just one liter to a Pit Bull. She was very patient with me and sat quietly with her dad while I administered the fluids. I think everything went a lot more smoothly this time. I didn't have any major problems, and no one really needed to help me, which was so cool. I got that great feeling again from knowing that I played a big part in helping an animal feel better.
This upcoming week is another double-shadow week. On Monday, I will get to shadow at an emergency clinic in Oakdale, and Wednesday is back to St. Francis, of course. For the Monday shadow, I have to fill out some forms when I get there, and I won't be allowed to touch anything (for obvious reasons). But I am excited to see what the lifestyle of an emergency vet is all about. I used to watch that show Emergency Vets on Animal Planet, but this will be even better because it will be real life! No word yet on what I will do and see at St. Francis this coming week, but I'm sure it will be great. For now, I must keep chugging along on the VMCAS application. My goal for today is to finish entering all of my classes and maybe start on something else (like one of the four supplemental applications) if I am not too worn out from filling out my coursework. I shall prevail!
Anyway, on to shadowing. The morning was pretty low-key. I saw some pretty standard surgeries: a canine dental and a feline spay. The third surgery was a little more interesting. It was a wound repair on a Border Collie. I believe he had been running in the yard and split his left hind leg open. The laceration left an awkward triangle of skin and muscle hanging open like a flap. Dr. K did a very good job of trimming the dirty, necrotic (dead) tissue from the edge of the cut and still leaving enough skin to close the wound. It was a pretty tight job, but it looked beautiful when it was done.
I did a lot of cleaning on Wednesday, too. I had to clean up poop twice (so fun...) and vomit three times (even better!). The vomit was from the wound-repair dog, who escaped from his kennel while I was trying to clean it. I half dragged him back and had to clean the blood from his leg off the floor. I nearly slammed the kennel door in his face because he tried to escape again, and he seemed really scared. I felt bad, but he was not being very good, either. Oh, and I'm sorry if this disgusts you, but I want to give you an accurate picture of what I do. Veterinary medicine is not all fun and games. It's low down and dirty a lot of the time.
However, it was all worth it for an afternoon appointment with a mother Collie and her nine pups! They were the absolute epitome of adorable, and I had to restrain myself from giggling out loud because they were just so stinking cute! The pups were part of a "Royal Collie" breeding program, so they all had very regal names like "Lady Ann" and "Prince Honey." My favorites were three puppies with a lot of black on them. They were basically tricolor because they had a little bit of tan near their noses and feet, so the effect was quite striking. Two of the black ones were going to the same family, a family with two little boys whose personalities each matched that of one of the puppies. How cute! It is my understanding that all of the puppies were either spoken for or were to be kept by the breeder. Lady Ann was off to Alaska, where her future family eagerly awaits her. Another one of the puppies was headed to Kentucky. I loved getting licked by all of the puppies. It was even cute when they sniffed my shoes and tugged on the legs of my scrub pants.
I also got to participate a lot again today. I did some restraint and got to draw up a canine rabies vaccine (I did not administer it because that requires a licensed DVM). I also gave more subcutaneous fluids today, this time just one liter to a Pit Bull. She was very patient with me and sat quietly with her dad while I administered the fluids. I think everything went a lot more smoothly this time. I didn't have any major problems, and no one really needed to help me, which was so cool. I got that great feeling again from knowing that I played a big part in helping an animal feel better.
This upcoming week is another double-shadow week. On Monday, I will get to shadow at an emergency clinic in Oakdale, and Wednesday is back to St. Francis, of course. For the Monday shadow, I have to fill out some forms when I get there, and I won't be allowed to touch anything (for obvious reasons). But I am excited to see what the lifestyle of an emergency vet is all about. I used to watch that show Emergency Vets on Animal Planet, but this will be even better because it will be real life! No word yet on what I will do and see at St. Francis this coming week, but I'm sure it will be great. For now, I must keep chugging along on the VMCAS application. My goal for today is to finish entering all of my classes and maybe start on something else (like one of the four supplemental applications) if I am not too worn out from filling out my coursework. I shall prevail!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Summer 2012--VCA Cedar Animal Hospital Visit #1: Bird Brains
The clever title of this post refers to the fact that I saw quite a few birds yesterday when I was shadowing Dr. B at the VCA clinic. First, it was a cockatoo, then a cockatiel whose name escapes me at the moment. Later came two male parrots. Some parrot species are also called eclectuses, sexually dimorphic species of birds in which the male and female look physically different. Males are typically green with orange-and-yellow beaks (like candy corn) while females are typically red and purple or red and blue with black beaks. I learned a lot about how to properly handle birds. For instance, they are often wrapped in a towel that matches their feather color closely because it helps them feel less stressed out. Birds also have complete rings of cartilage around their trachea, so it is permissible to hold them at their necks when restraining them. It is very hard to suffocate them. Humans and other mammal species have C-shaped rings of cartilage, open at the back of the trachea. This gap in the cartilage allows the esophagus to expand and press against the trachea so that we can swallow effectively and pain-free. I also learned the signs of stress in birds: heavy breathing, closed eyes, and a decreased ability to grip things with the talons. Birds are much different from mammals because they are exothermic or "cold-blooded," meaning that their environment must be kept at a temperature close to their ideal body temperature. Being wrapped in a towel puts them at risk for overheating because they do not have mechanisms for keeping a stable body temperature on their own. As such, I noticed that when restraining the birds, the doctors and techs kept a firm grip on the birds' necks but kept the towel open at the front to regulate the temperature. Finally, I saw a green macaw. She was very pretty but didn't seem too keen on any of us. I really enjoyed getting to see all of these different bird species on the same day.
I also saw a rabbit yesterday. She was in because she had recently begun to put up a fight when she was given her antibiotics. Her normal behavior was to lie quietly while being given her medicine, but her owners had to start restraining her pretty strongly in order to administer the medicine. Her mom and dad were not happy about this because they saw how upset she was. We took her back into the treatment area with us and gave her some subcutaneous fluids--about 150 mL. It looked really funny on the rabbit because she was so small. The bulge from the fluid draped over her side and made her look almost grotesque. I learned that subcutaneous fluids treat not only dehydration but also high fevers, such as the rabbit had. Since the fluid is at room temperature and the body at a much higher temperature (sometimes as much as 30-33 degrees higher), introducing fluid below the skin can help dissipate some of the heat and return the body to a more normal level.
I was a bit more of an active participant yesterday than I have been at VCA in the past. I acted as a sort of gofer and retrieved various items as needed by the doctors or techs. At one point, Dr. B drew some blood from a parrot's leg, and he pulled away from her so quickly that the hole left by the needle started bleeding. Dr. B let me apply hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball to the site and clean it up a little bit.
I was also introduced to a new breed of dog of which I had never heard before. It's called a Cane Corso, which is from Italy (yay). Cane Corsos (Cani Corsi?) are very large, about the size of Great Danes but with more bulk to their frames. As you can imagine, they are quite intimidating and are known to have aggressive tendencies. This makes sense given their use as cattle herders and boar hunters. The Cane Corsos I met yesterday were black and mixed with Mastiff, so I'm guessing that's where they got their amiable natures (the Mastiff, not the coat color). They were also a brother-sister pair, which I thought was cute and touching (family is the greatest).
All in all, I had a very satisfying day of new experiences and lots of learning about different animal species. I see now that it's good to shadow at two different places each week because I get different views of veterinary medicine from each. St. Francis gets me hands-on learning, while VCA gets me more of the "book" learning about exotic species that I used to get at St. Francis when small-animal medicine was all new and unfamiliar to me.
Stay tuned for my post about tomorrow's St. Francis shadowing. I'm sure it will be active and exciting as always.
I also saw a rabbit yesterday. She was in because she had recently begun to put up a fight when she was given her antibiotics. Her normal behavior was to lie quietly while being given her medicine, but her owners had to start restraining her pretty strongly in order to administer the medicine. Her mom and dad were not happy about this because they saw how upset she was. We took her back into the treatment area with us and gave her some subcutaneous fluids--about 150 mL. It looked really funny on the rabbit because she was so small. The bulge from the fluid draped over her side and made her look almost grotesque. I learned that subcutaneous fluids treat not only dehydration but also high fevers, such as the rabbit had. Since the fluid is at room temperature and the body at a much higher temperature (sometimes as much as 30-33 degrees higher), introducing fluid below the skin can help dissipate some of the heat and return the body to a more normal level.
I was a bit more of an active participant yesterday than I have been at VCA in the past. I acted as a sort of gofer and retrieved various items as needed by the doctors or techs. At one point, Dr. B drew some blood from a parrot's leg, and he pulled away from her so quickly that the hole left by the needle started bleeding. Dr. B let me apply hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball to the site and clean it up a little bit.
I was also introduced to a new breed of dog of which I had never heard before. It's called a Cane Corso, which is from Italy (yay). Cane Corsos (Cani Corsi?) are very large, about the size of Great Danes but with more bulk to their frames. As you can imagine, they are quite intimidating and are known to have aggressive tendencies. This makes sense given their use as cattle herders and boar hunters. The Cane Corsos I met yesterday were black and mixed with Mastiff, so I'm guessing that's where they got their amiable natures (the Mastiff, not the coat color). They were also a brother-sister pair, which I thought was cute and touching (family is the greatest).
All in all, I had a very satisfying day of new experiences and lots of learning about different animal species. I see now that it's good to shadow at two different places each week because I get different views of veterinary medicine from each. St. Francis gets me hands-on learning, while VCA gets me more of the "book" learning about exotic species that I used to get at St. Francis when small-animal medicine was all new and unfamiliar to me.
Stay tuned for my post about tomorrow's St. Francis shadowing. I'm sure it will be active and exciting as always.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Summer 2012--St. Francis Vet Clinic Visit #2: Earning My Keep
Well, yesterday was another active day at the clinic. Not that I mind those. No, I love getting my hands dirty and really participating in things that make a positive difference for the animals. This day in particular was full of opportunities for me to do just that. It wasn't until the afternoon that I realized why I am getting to do so many cool things: Dr. J is making me work for my letter of recommendation. She will write it, but I also need to do my share and perform tasks for the clinic when I am asked to. I have the skill and the experience, so why not?
As before, I started off my day in surgery. We just had a canine spay and a cat dental. Nothing too exciting. I did more anesthesia monitoring, temperature taking, and patient transporting (i.e., back to the kennel after surgery). I helped restrain a cat for intubation (putting the breathing tube down its throat) and catheterization. I even did some light cleaning of the surgery room after the vet was done for the day. And this was all before lunch!
After lunch, I went to see an appointment with Dr. N. Dr. J's was just for vaccines, but Dr. N's was a three-year-old post-partum black lab/Newfoundland mix. It's easy to see why I went with Dr. N. It was such a cool case, and one in which I played a big part. First, I helped Dr. Nicole hold the old girl while performing a vaginal exam. The dog was not feeling well, especially since she lost all 10 of her pups from the litter, her third. I felt really bad for her and the owner. All that work and no puppies survived. Poor girl. Then, I got the exhausted momma some water because she was a little dehydrated. I guess she didn't drink any because I was soon called to administer two liters of fluids subcutaneously from an IV drip bag. I was a little nervous at first because I have never done anything so big in my life. Dr. N showed me the ropes, though. Each bag is one liter, so there were two. I just had to fit the bag into a special inflatable sleeve that did all of the muscle work for me, ensuring a steady stream of liquid through the tube and needle and into the dog. I did most of the work of keeping the sleeve inflated and adjusting the needle and its location when one lump of fluid got too big or the flow was decreased for some reason. It was pretty straightforward after awhile. I watched the dog and the drip to make sure everything was going smoothly while chatting with her owner. The sweet girl kept nudging my hand whenever I stopped petting her. Her owner said she seemed to like me, which I always enjoy hearing. No sense being a vet unless I have a true way with animals, right!? Dr. N was very grateful, and Peej (a technician) helped me a lot to fix any problems. She seemed impressed because she told me that she had never given two liters before. One liter was about the most she had ever given. Another tech said it looked like I knew what I was doing, which I took as very high praise. I guess I did feel pretty comfortable. My glutes really got a workout, though, from all of the crouching (it was hard to sit and work at the same time, even though Sophie was lying on the ground at her owner's feet). I felt so accomplished afterwards because I saw what a positive impact my work was having on the dog. She looked brighter, like she was feeling better. I enjoyed interacting with the owner and being appreciated by the staff. I liked being in charge of something, taking full responsibility for an animal's health. Cases like this make me want to be a veterinarian even more. More importantly, they tell me that I have the ability to be a veterinarian. And that feels too cool for words.
The rest of the day was pretty eventful, too. I helped restrain a large German Shepard while Dr. J examined his paw and while Peej clipped his nails (two different restraining sessions), which was not easy because I'm pretty sure his limbs were thicker than my arms! I got pretty messy on the nail trim because I kept getting dusted with cracked pieces of nail. I also got to see some cute Dachshund/Pekinese puppies. Finally, I ended my day by helping restrain a couple of animals during an ultrasound (a dog and a cat). The dog was in for suspected Cushing's disease, and the cat was having abdominal problems, which turned out to be cancer. I love watching the radiologist work on her high-tech ultrasound computer. She does everything so effortlessly, and she can read those ultrasounds like they were stories in a book. It just amazes me. It's so cool to see what's going on in the body as it's happening and also cool to see that ultrasounds aren't just for pregnancies.
So, as you can see, I have a lot to do at the clinic, and it seems like they like having me there (and need me...I was kind of in high demand yesterday). This is all good since I really like being there and getting to have all of these cool experiences that I can share with you! Next week will be great because I am also shadowing on Monday at the VCA clinic, so I'll have two things to write about. Yay!
Oh, and the vet application opens a week from today. AAAAH! At least I have all of my letter writers figured out.
As before, I started off my day in surgery. We just had a canine spay and a cat dental. Nothing too exciting. I did more anesthesia monitoring, temperature taking, and patient transporting (i.e., back to the kennel after surgery). I helped restrain a cat for intubation (putting the breathing tube down its throat) and catheterization. I even did some light cleaning of the surgery room after the vet was done for the day. And this was all before lunch!
After lunch, I went to see an appointment with Dr. N. Dr. J's was just for vaccines, but Dr. N's was a three-year-old post-partum black lab/Newfoundland mix. It's easy to see why I went with Dr. N. It was such a cool case, and one in which I played a big part. First, I helped Dr. Nicole hold the old girl while performing a vaginal exam. The dog was not feeling well, especially since she lost all 10 of her pups from the litter, her third. I felt really bad for her and the owner. All that work and no puppies survived. Poor girl. Then, I got the exhausted momma some water because she was a little dehydrated. I guess she didn't drink any because I was soon called to administer two liters of fluids subcutaneously from an IV drip bag. I was a little nervous at first because I have never done anything so big in my life. Dr. N showed me the ropes, though. Each bag is one liter, so there were two. I just had to fit the bag into a special inflatable sleeve that did all of the muscle work for me, ensuring a steady stream of liquid through the tube and needle and into the dog. I did most of the work of keeping the sleeve inflated and adjusting the needle and its location when one lump of fluid got too big or the flow was decreased for some reason. It was pretty straightforward after awhile. I watched the dog and the drip to make sure everything was going smoothly while chatting with her owner. The sweet girl kept nudging my hand whenever I stopped petting her. Her owner said she seemed to like me, which I always enjoy hearing. No sense being a vet unless I have a true way with animals, right!? Dr. N was very grateful, and Peej (a technician) helped me a lot to fix any problems. She seemed impressed because she told me that she had never given two liters before. One liter was about the most she had ever given. Another tech said it looked like I knew what I was doing, which I took as very high praise. I guess I did feel pretty comfortable. My glutes really got a workout, though, from all of the crouching (it was hard to sit and work at the same time, even though Sophie was lying on the ground at her owner's feet). I felt so accomplished afterwards because I saw what a positive impact my work was having on the dog. She looked brighter, like she was feeling better. I enjoyed interacting with the owner and being appreciated by the staff. I liked being in charge of something, taking full responsibility for an animal's health. Cases like this make me want to be a veterinarian even more. More importantly, they tell me that I have the ability to be a veterinarian. And that feels too cool for words.
The rest of the day was pretty eventful, too. I helped restrain a large German Shepard while Dr. J examined his paw and while Peej clipped his nails (two different restraining sessions), which was not easy because I'm pretty sure his limbs were thicker than my arms! I got pretty messy on the nail trim because I kept getting dusted with cracked pieces of nail. I also got to see some cute Dachshund/Pekinese puppies. Finally, I ended my day by helping restrain a couple of animals during an ultrasound (a dog and a cat). The dog was in for suspected Cushing's disease, and the cat was having abdominal problems, which turned out to be cancer. I love watching the radiologist work on her high-tech ultrasound computer. She does everything so effortlessly, and she can read those ultrasounds like they were stories in a book. It just amazes me. It's so cool to see what's going on in the body as it's happening and also cool to see that ultrasounds aren't just for pregnancies.
So, as you can see, I have a lot to do at the clinic, and it seems like they like having me there (and need me...I was kind of in high demand yesterday). This is all good since I really like being there and getting to have all of these cool experiences that I can share with you! Next week will be great because I am also shadowing on Monday at the VCA clinic, so I'll have two things to write about. Yay!
Oh, and the vet application opens a week from today. AAAAH! At least I have all of my letter writers figured out.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Summer 2012--St. Francis Vet Clinic Visit #1: Blast from the Past
Yesterday (Wednesday) was my first shadowing day of the summer, and I am very fortunate to be back where it all began: the lovely St. Francis Vet Clinic. The vet that I shadow also lives in St. Anthony, so she drives me with her to work on Wednesdays. It's a wonderful arrangement, and I really like Wednesdays because she works 8-6, which gives me ample time to see both surgeries and appointments. It makes for a more varied and, therefore, more interesting day for me.
I started off yesterday with a tumor removal surgery. Then, I watched Dr. K cauterize a dog's nose and put in staples, which she said she had never done before. I am constantly amazed at all of the new things that I encounter in veterinary medicine and at how resourceful the veterinarians I know are. I consider myself pretty resourceful in my own right, so I'm looking forward to the day when I get to exercise this skill for myself. After the nasal cautery, I watched two dentals (one for a dog and one for a cat). I helped a lot with surgery yesterday, including filling out the anesthesia sheet for all four surgeries, restraining a couple of the animals for catheterization, and carrying a couple of the patients back into the kennel room after surgery. I also helped take pre-operative and post-operative temperatures on the patients. One of the vet technicians even let me administer a pre-operative antibiotic through the catheter. Very cool. On the whole, I felt very involved and like I was actually assisting the clinic instead of standing around or getting in people's way.
I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before, but the clinic is run exclusively by women. All four doctors are women, the support staff is all women, and all of the vet techs are women. There used to be a male doctor there, but he left about a year ago to join his wife's practice. Since then, it's been all girl power all the way! I think that this is pretty cool because it is not often that you see an all-women business or establishment anywhere. The US is still a fairly patriarchal society, so I am encouraged by these situations of women's leadership. It inspires me as a young woman.
After lunch, I went with Dr. J to see a few appointments. One of the vet techs also had me unpack a box of supplies and divide the contents according to what each person at the clinic ordered (as specified on the order sheet that came with the box). It was a simple job, but everyone else seemed busy, and I really didn't mind doing it. I carefully checked the sheet, bound the items together with a rubber band, and attached a Post-It note to each bundle indicating what supplies belonged to which staff member or doctor. The running joke at the clinic is that I'm free slave labor, which is actually pretty funny to me. I don't mind the title because I just really enjoy the atmosphere and being back at the clinic with which I am most familiar.
I was pleased to make the acquaintance of some new members of the clinic yesterday, as well. These four-legged residents are looking for a home, but unfortunately, I cannot give them one. I said hello to my favorite clinic cat, Odie, who is something of a special-needs child. I think I have talked about him before: he belongs to one of the doctors (Dr. T, if I'm thinking correctly), he has no teeth and no claws, and he has some chronic respiratory problems. But he is such a sweetheart! The clinic has other feline friends for Odie to play with, but they don't like him very much. One is a cream-colored cat with blue eyes and tan patches on his paws and tan stripes on his tail. His name is Amos, a name I really like for a cat. If it weren't for his slim physique and those tan parts, he would remind me very strongly of Thomas. Another is Cheeks, a black cat with a shock of soft fur. He's bald near his ears, making him look kind of freakish. A third is a lovely cat named Bailey. Bailey has brown fur with caramel flecks in it. She is so incredibly sweet. She'd be perfect if she were nicer to Odie. She kept rubbing her head on my arm and under my chin. She even rolled over so I could scratch her belly--most cats don't seem to like it too much. Anyway, I had fun being introduced to these kitties, and I'm excited to see them again next week.
Next week will also be awesome because Dr. N has three ultrasounds planned: one for a dog with urinary problems, one for a dog with general abdominal problems, and one for Bailey, who they suspect has a hernia (they think some of her intestines got jammed up in the pericardial sac near her lungs and heart). Dr. J told me that they will need an extra pair of hands to help restrain the animals during the procedure, so I will be very useful to the clinic. It should be a good time.
I was hoping to get to shadow at another clinic this week, too, but plans kind of fell through. The clinic never e-mailed me back, and my other options have all given me times in June and July when they are available. Since it's still May, I feel bad about pressuring them for shadowing opportunities. No matter. It is not a huge deal if I only shadow once per week for the first couple weeks. I'll just have to step up my game during the remainder of the summer. I am, however, looking into going to work one day with Uncle Steve, one of my dad's brothers, who tends to turkeys on a turkey farm here. I am really interested to see what turkey husbandry is all about. Even though it wouldn't count toward shadowing hours, it would count toward animal experience hours, which the vet school admissions committees do take into account (not as much as clinical experience, but animal experience hours do count for something). Even more basic than that though is the fact that I just really have a deep concern for and interest in animals, and I just think his job is kind of cool. So, we'll see how that goes. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and I hope you tune in next week for my second summer post.
I started off yesterday with a tumor removal surgery. Then, I watched Dr. K cauterize a dog's nose and put in staples, which she said she had never done before. I am constantly amazed at all of the new things that I encounter in veterinary medicine and at how resourceful the veterinarians I know are. I consider myself pretty resourceful in my own right, so I'm looking forward to the day when I get to exercise this skill for myself. After the nasal cautery, I watched two dentals (one for a dog and one for a cat). I helped a lot with surgery yesterday, including filling out the anesthesia sheet for all four surgeries, restraining a couple of the animals for catheterization, and carrying a couple of the patients back into the kennel room after surgery. I also helped take pre-operative and post-operative temperatures on the patients. One of the vet technicians even let me administer a pre-operative antibiotic through the catheter. Very cool. On the whole, I felt very involved and like I was actually assisting the clinic instead of standing around or getting in people's way.
I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before, but the clinic is run exclusively by women. All four doctors are women, the support staff is all women, and all of the vet techs are women. There used to be a male doctor there, but he left about a year ago to join his wife's practice. Since then, it's been all girl power all the way! I think that this is pretty cool because it is not often that you see an all-women business or establishment anywhere. The US is still a fairly patriarchal society, so I am encouraged by these situations of women's leadership. It inspires me as a young woman.
After lunch, I went with Dr. J to see a few appointments. One of the vet techs also had me unpack a box of supplies and divide the contents according to what each person at the clinic ordered (as specified on the order sheet that came with the box). It was a simple job, but everyone else seemed busy, and I really didn't mind doing it. I carefully checked the sheet, bound the items together with a rubber band, and attached a Post-It note to each bundle indicating what supplies belonged to which staff member or doctor. The running joke at the clinic is that I'm free slave labor, which is actually pretty funny to me. I don't mind the title because I just really enjoy the atmosphere and being back at the clinic with which I am most familiar.
I was pleased to make the acquaintance of some new members of the clinic yesterday, as well. These four-legged residents are looking for a home, but unfortunately, I cannot give them one. I said hello to my favorite clinic cat, Odie, who is something of a special-needs child. I think I have talked about him before: he belongs to one of the doctors (Dr. T, if I'm thinking correctly), he has no teeth and no claws, and he has some chronic respiratory problems. But he is such a sweetheart! The clinic has other feline friends for Odie to play with, but they don't like him very much. One is a cream-colored cat with blue eyes and tan patches on his paws and tan stripes on his tail. His name is Amos, a name I really like for a cat. If it weren't for his slim physique and those tan parts, he would remind me very strongly of Thomas. Another is Cheeks, a black cat with a shock of soft fur. He's bald near his ears, making him look kind of freakish. A third is a lovely cat named Bailey. Bailey has brown fur with caramel flecks in it. She is so incredibly sweet. She'd be perfect if she were nicer to Odie. She kept rubbing her head on my arm and under my chin. She even rolled over so I could scratch her belly--most cats don't seem to like it too much. Anyway, I had fun being introduced to these kitties, and I'm excited to see them again next week.
Next week will also be awesome because Dr. N has three ultrasounds planned: one for a dog with urinary problems, one for a dog with general abdominal problems, and one for Bailey, who they suspect has a hernia (they think some of her intestines got jammed up in the pericardial sac near her lungs and heart). Dr. J told me that they will need an extra pair of hands to help restrain the animals during the procedure, so I will be very useful to the clinic. It should be a good time.
I was hoping to get to shadow at another clinic this week, too, but plans kind of fell through. The clinic never e-mailed me back, and my other options have all given me times in June and July when they are available. Since it's still May, I feel bad about pressuring them for shadowing opportunities. No matter. It is not a huge deal if I only shadow once per week for the first couple weeks. I'll just have to step up my game during the remainder of the summer. I am, however, looking into going to work one day with Uncle Steve, one of my dad's brothers, who tends to turkeys on a turkey farm here. I am really interested to see what turkey husbandry is all about. Even though it wouldn't count toward shadowing hours, it would count toward animal experience hours, which the vet school admissions committees do take into account (not as much as clinical experience, but animal experience hours do count for something). Even more basic than that though is the fact that I just really have a deep concern for and interest in animals, and I just think his job is kind of cool. So, we'll see how that goes. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and I hope you tune in next week for my second summer post.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Now, Where Were We?--Week 10 and Finals Week
Right now, I am sitting in my room having just finished my last final! Huzzah! Junior year has come to a successful close. I can't believe that I started out this year in LONDON. It seems like a dream. A really good dream, but a dream nonetheless. And now here I am. I traveled the world. I completed my senior research project. I shadowed a large animal veterinarian. Yeah, my life is awesome. Thank you for caring enough about me to read about it!
I've continued to do well in classes (A on my last Anatomy exam and an A on my final debate). I was very flattered to receive an e-mail from my speech instructor telling me that I should join Debate Team because I "prepared really well for [my] speeches" and am "an excellent speaker." Wow. I never would have thought I would receive that compliment. I think I'm a terrible speaker. The only reason I'm good at speeches is because I write them out and memorize them. I'm a decent speaker because I'm a fantastic writer. It just makes me giggle a little.
I really enjoyed my last week at the Aledo clinic. I made everyone brownies and wrote them a note thanking them for all of the time they committed to teaching me about large animal medicine. I am so glad that I spent those 63 hours at the clinic this term. Sure, there were times when I hated my alarm clock when it went off at 6 AM, me feeling like I was hit by a ton of bricks. But towards the end, I really got involved in the daily functioning of the clinic and came to look forward to that time as a nice break from classes and homework, a great way to start out my day. I liked the long drive through rolling hills past farms, radio up and singing along like my life depended on it.
On Tuesday of Week 10, Dr. W had me helping him restrain animals for blood draws and injections, putting a dog back in the kennel area before surgery, and counting out pills for a prescription. On Thursday, I got to help Mrs. F walk the dogs who are boarding at the clinic. It was an absolutely glorious morning, and since I hadn't been out to the farms in awhile, it was a great way to start out my day. I would not have traded where I was at that moment for the whole wide world.
Having had such a great experience this term, I'm looking forward to finishing up my shadowing this summer. The vet that I regularly shadow has agreed to let me shadow her again like I did last summer, which is awesome. There are also a few other veterinary clinics (two of them emergency clinics) that will let me come once or twice during the summer. All in all, I think I should be pretty set for hours. I know I will be a bit behind, but I'm aiming for above 400 hours by the time I submit the application. I've had numerous responses from vet schools who tell me that they worry if the hours are less than 400, so over 400 seems to be a good way to go. Because of these shadowing opportunities, I am thinking about blogging over the summer, too. I want to keep this blog centered on my academic and veterinary experiences, so that's mostly what I'll write about (i.e., less about the normal summer stuff or work). I don't know how frequent it will be because I'll hopefully be busy all the time with shadowing, working, and filling out the VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application Service) when it becomes available in June.
On Sunday the 13th, I was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success along with several of my friends. We had a nice dinner and ceremony in the College Center. I received a membership certificate, t-shirt, and pin (which I affixed to my shoulder bag along with my Mortar Board pin).
Then, of course, this week was all about los finales. I think my Physics final went well. I felt pretty prepared, and the test didn't seem too difficult. Anatomy seemed to go well, too. I was really worried about it because I feel like I have been slacking a bit in my studying and like I did not have as good a grasp on the most recent material as I had on earlier material. However, I really buckled down and concentrated on the troublesome stuff when I was reviewing, and I think it paid off. I felt pretty sure of myself when I was taking the test, so I am sure it will all be great. I am hopefully getting two or three percent extra credit for participating in the Anatomy research study, so that eases my mind quite a bit. My other "finals" were not really finals. I had to write an overall reflection paper for my large animal internship telling what I had learned and why I still wanted to be a veterinarian after all of it. And for Oral Advocacy, our final was a take-home essay final. I found it quite easy to complete, especially since the topics for the essays were pretty interesting. We could pick five essay prompts and write about one of four or five subjects. I was able to write about why I would make a good wildlife veterinarian, why I chose Biology as my major, and why The Lord of the Rings is awesome. So, I think I had about as much fun as someone can have with a final. I am anxious to see my grades for this term, but they will not be up until Wednesday. Ugh. So long to wait!
Today is a bittersweet day. I am glad to have finished this year strong. It wasn't always easy, especially when I had to come back and hit the ground running after London. But the support of my friends, family, God, and my readers (you may be friends and family, too) really helped me pull through when the going got rough. However, I am sad to be leaving my roommates. Devon and Sarah are amazing girls, some of the best roommates and now friends that a girl could ask for. I was disappointed when I heard that Hannah was not coming back for Winter or Spring Terms, but Devon and Sarah became very good friends, and we had so many fun times together. In fact, on Tuesday we rode our bikes to the Freight House Farmers Market in Davenport, and just last night we had a really nice final "fancy" dinner at Olive Garden. I wish I could live with them next year, but that is one of the prices I must pay for having gone to London. My roommates next year will be just fine. We will all get along and be polite and pleasant to each other, but I cannot think that we will be as good of friends to me as Devon and Sarah have been. But it will be a great senior year, and I will be able to see Devon and Sarah often. We will still do things together. Hannah is also coming back, and she will even graduate on time! It's going to be so strange to be seniors in college. Time flies so fast. But I will be honored to walk at Commencement with all of my classmates. We've been through it all together, and I've met so many incredible people this year.
Tomorrow Mom will come to take me home. The summer awaits with all of its possibilities and opportunities: shadowing, hopefully working, watching my brother race, vacationing, gardening, and more. I miss my family, and I am eager to be with them again and to see friends from home, too. I'm also very ready to start applying to vet school. I've wanted this for so long, and filling out the application will put me just that much closer to my dream. It's give-it-all-you've-got time, and I intend to do just that.
Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, a few last images from the school year.
I've continued to do well in classes (A on my last Anatomy exam and an A on my final debate). I was very flattered to receive an e-mail from my speech instructor telling me that I should join Debate Team because I "prepared really well for [my] speeches" and am "an excellent speaker." Wow. I never would have thought I would receive that compliment. I think I'm a terrible speaker. The only reason I'm good at speeches is because I write them out and memorize them. I'm a decent speaker because I'm a fantastic writer. It just makes me giggle a little.
I really enjoyed my last week at the Aledo clinic. I made everyone brownies and wrote them a note thanking them for all of the time they committed to teaching me about large animal medicine. I am so glad that I spent those 63 hours at the clinic this term. Sure, there were times when I hated my alarm clock when it went off at 6 AM, me feeling like I was hit by a ton of bricks. But towards the end, I really got involved in the daily functioning of the clinic and came to look forward to that time as a nice break from classes and homework, a great way to start out my day. I liked the long drive through rolling hills past farms, radio up and singing along like my life depended on it.
On Tuesday of Week 10, Dr. W had me helping him restrain animals for blood draws and injections, putting a dog back in the kennel area before surgery, and counting out pills for a prescription. On Thursday, I got to help Mrs. F walk the dogs who are boarding at the clinic. It was an absolutely glorious morning, and since I hadn't been out to the farms in awhile, it was a great way to start out my day. I would not have traded where I was at that moment for the whole wide world.
Having had such a great experience this term, I'm looking forward to finishing up my shadowing this summer. The vet that I regularly shadow has agreed to let me shadow her again like I did last summer, which is awesome. There are also a few other veterinary clinics (two of them emergency clinics) that will let me come once or twice during the summer. All in all, I think I should be pretty set for hours. I know I will be a bit behind, but I'm aiming for above 400 hours by the time I submit the application. I've had numerous responses from vet schools who tell me that they worry if the hours are less than 400, so over 400 seems to be a good way to go. Because of these shadowing opportunities, I am thinking about blogging over the summer, too. I want to keep this blog centered on my academic and veterinary experiences, so that's mostly what I'll write about (i.e., less about the normal summer stuff or work). I don't know how frequent it will be because I'll hopefully be busy all the time with shadowing, working, and filling out the VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application Service) when it becomes available in June.
On Sunday the 13th, I was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success along with several of my friends. We had a nice dinner and ceremony in the College Center. I received a membership certificate, t-shirt, and pin (which I affixed to my shoulder bag along with my Mortar Board pin).
Then, of course, this week was all about los finales. I think my Physics final went well. I felt pretty prepared, and the test didn't seem too difficult. Anatomy seemed to go well, too. I was really worried about it because I feel like I have been slacking a bit in my studying and like I did not have as good a grasp on the most recent material as I had on earlier material. However, I really buckled down and concentrated on the troublesome stuff when I was reviewing, and I think it paid off. I felt pretty sure of myself when I was taking the test, so I am sure it will all be great. I am hopefully getting two or three percent extra credit for participating in the Anatomy research study, so that eases my mind quite a bit. My other "finals" were not really finals. I had to write an overall reflection paper for my large animal internship telling what I had learned and why I still wanted to be a veterinarian after all of it. And for Oral Advocacy, our final was a take-home essay final. I found it quite easy to complete, especially since the topics for the essays were pretty interesting. We could pick five essay prompts and write about one of four or five subjects. I was able to write about why I would make a good wildlife veterinarian, why I chose Biology as my major, and why The Lord of the Rings is awesome. So, I think I had about as much fun as someone can have with a final. I am anxious to see my grades for this term, but they will not be up until Wednesday. Ugh. So long to wait!
Today is a bittersweet day. I am glad to have finished this year strong. It wasn't always easy, especially when I had to come back and hit the ground running after London. But the support of my friends, family, God, and my readers (you may be friends and family, too) really helped me pull through when the going got rough. However, I am sad to be leaving my roommates. Devon and Sarah are amazing girls, some of the best roommates and now friends that a girl could ask for. I was disappointed when I heard that Hannah was not coming back for Winter or Spring Terms, but Devon and Sarah became very good friends, and we had so many fun times together. In fact, on Tuesday we rode our bikes to the Freight House Farmers Market in Davenport, and just last night we had a really nice final "fancy" dinner at Olive Garden. I wish I could live with them next year, but that is one of the prices I must pay for having gone to London. My roommates next year will be just fine. We will all get along and be polite and pleasant to each other, but I cannot think that we will be as good of friends to me as Devon and Sarah have been. But it will be a great senior year, and I will be able to see Devon and Sarah often. We will still do things together. Hannah is also coming back, and she will even graduate on time! It's going to be so strange to be seniors in college. Time flies so fast. But I will be honored to walk at Commencement with all of my classmates. We've been through it all together, and I've met so many incredible people this year.
Tomorrow Mom will come to take me home. The summer awaits with all of its possibilities and opportunities: shadowing, hopefully working, watching my brother race, vacationing, gardening, and more. I miss my family, and I am eager to be with them again and to see friends from home, too. I'm also very ready to start applying to vet school. I've wanted this for so long, and filling out the application will put me just that much closer to my dream. It's give-it-all-you've-got time, and I intend to do just that.
Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, a few last images from the school year.
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| We have a little baby bunny friend in our backyard! What a cutie!! |
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| The irises blooming on the other side of our fence. |
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| Yup, that's us. |
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| Fabio approves of the nice, sunny weather we've been having. More like, "I was wondering when that crazy girl was going to let me play outside." |
Sunday, May 13, 2012
A Quick Note
Hello, faithful readers! This is just a quick note to let you know that I have been really busy with my final week of classes and studying for finals, so I won't be blogging this week. I will try to blog soon after I return home (May 19th), so don't worry. I'll get the end-of-the-year post up eventually! Catch you on the flip side!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Make It Stop!--Week 9
My stress levels are through the roof right now. I feel so swamped with stuff. This is probably the busiest end of the term I have ever had. I did not get to go to Aerobics at all last week because of other obligations. I think I will feel better if I can go both Monday and Wednesday this week. I just had a big Physics video project to work on, plus my final debate speech (both of which are group/partner projects, which are more stressful because then I have to coordinate meeting times and such). In addition, I have a big Anatomy lab practical on Thursday.
Yet as stressful as my classes were this week, I had an absolutely great time at the Aledo clinic. Dr. W signed me up for these Animal Care Technologies training courses, with topics ranging from cytology to triage to basic restraint. This could really help prepare me for the basic medical terminology of vet school and the basic techniques of training and handling animals. I saw a really cool tumor-removal surgery on a very old dog (15 years old and very large). I got to hold his legs while Dr. W operated because he was essentially just pinching the tumor off the dog's neck, and the dog was too big to tie down to the surgery table with the rope that is there. That was on Tuesday. On Thursday, Mrs. Z (one of the receptionists) put me in charge of spinning pig blood in the centrifuge because it was a crazy day. Dr. W was already there when I arrived because he had been called in for a semi-emergency. I also helped that day by moving a dog from isolation to the rolling cage because there were two dogs in isolation who had been diagnosed that day with parvovirus. I just felt very involved this week, and it's certainly taken me long enough to feel that way. I can't believe next week is my last week. I wish I could come back in the fall, but my schedule is just too full already.
I also found out this week that I got another A in Oral Advocacy. I need to stop worrying about that class, but I cannot. This coming week is our big final debate, and I do not feel prepared for it because my partner keeps changing things on me and isn't as quick about getting things done as I am. So, by the time I thought I was finished writing the speech, she was making comments about how my logic needed work in some places and how I might want to reconsider how I state things. I keep having to go back and edit my speech, so I feel like I can never just start memorizing it and feeling like I actually have a good grasp on what I am supposed to say. I am getting some extra credit from the course, though, so I can kind of afford to do a little less well on this speech than on the previous three.
And I guess this week was pretty cool because I was inducted into Mortar Board and attended the Circle K end-of-the-year picnic at Shantytown. I sat with my Relay for Life teammates at the induction, which was really hilarious, so I had a good time. I even got a cool pin to put on my shoulder bag. Shantytown was fun because Heather and I did most of the building for the shanty, just like last year. I brought strawberries because everyone else who signed up to bring food brought something like cookies or chips or popcorn. Ya know, the unhealthful stuff. And you know me. Fruits and veggies rock! That evening, Sarah and Devon went to dinner without me, but I was okay with it because I don't need to spend money on takeout food and because I was hanging out with my fellow CKers. But I was so excited when I got back because Sarah bought a book for me! She and Devon went to a store called The Book Rack, and she found a paperbook copy of City of Glass, the third book in the Mortal Instruments series. I am currently reading the second book (City of Ashes), which I hope to finish before the school year ends (because it's from the library). That way, I can start on City of Glass when I get home. Ah, home. Sounds good right now. I miss it. :(
Anyway, I also enjoyed Anatomy lab this week because we got a brief introduction to the cadaver lab, which I will be taking as a class in the fall. I was a little put off at first because it's, well, real human bodies. There's a reason I want to be an animal doctor. But they keep the faces covered, and there are actually some cool things to see. The bodies are all elderly, so some of them have bypasses or enlarged hearts. One woman even still had her cancerous ovaries, one as large as a grapefruit, the other more like a ping-pong ball. I'm really glad I'll only be in there once a week and that I'll have about an hour-and-a-half to clean up afterward before Physics lab because it does not smell nice in there thanks to the formalin used to preserve the bodies.
Saturday finally rolled around, and with it, Celebration of Learning! I had picked up my t-shirt on Wednesday and wore it Thursday so I could enter the raffle for a $100 Amazon gift card. I did not win, but I really like the t-shirt! Anyway, I started the morning with the keynote speaker. She was a 2004 Augie grad who now works in Milwaukee on environmentally-sustainable urban planning. Her talk was a lot about grabbing life by the horns and living it to the fullest. At 11:30, I attended the Honors Recognition to receive a pen for my achievement in earning the Anderson Swedo Science Education Endowed Scholarship, an award that I shared with two other Biology students. Afterward, I headed upstairs to stand by my Molecular Genetics poster, which I had set up before the keynote address. My first two visitors were the professor I had for the class (Dr. Scott, who has agreed to write one of my letters of recommendation for vet school) and my Botany professor. He was hilarious. I also talked to another biology professor and to a professor from the Communication Studies department. It was so funny because she told me, "Okay, now just give me an explanation in really simple terms." Finally, I talked with Alicia, another student from Minnesota who has given me many rides two and from Augustana over the past couple of years. She was there with her family giving a presentation related to Spanish, one of her majors. All in all, I think it went pretty well.
Later, Devon and I watched the Kentucky Derby, which I absolutely love! She rooted for Take Charge Indy, and I rooted for Creative Cause. Obviously, neither of us had that great of picks. Then, we watched Secretariat, which I really enjoyed. He truly was an amazing horse. Anyway, I'm excited for the Preakness in a couple of weeks. I also saw a lot of commercials for the London Olympics, which really gave me some serious chills down my spine. Wow. It's gonna be awesome. I'm going to recognize everything! Yeah. I still miss London. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Right now, I am finishing up some homework and generally preparing for the week ahead. I already told you a lot of what is going down (my final debate, my lab practical, etc). I'm just two short weeks away from heading home for the summer, where I will hopefully be able to work a little and shadow a lot.
Let's do this!
Yet as stressful as my classes were this week, I had an absolutely great time at the Aledo clinic. Dr. W signed me up for these Animal Care Technologies training courses, with topics ranging from cytology to triage to basic restraint. This could really help prepare me for the basic medical terminology of vet school and the basic techniques of training and handling animals. I saw a really cool tumor-removal surgery on a very old dog (15 years old and very large). I got to hold his legs while Dr. W operated because he was essentially just pinching the tumor off the dog's neck, and the dog was too big to tie down to the surgery table with the rope that is there. That was on Tuesday. On Thursday, Mrs. Z (one of the receptionists) put me in charge of spinning pig blood in the centrifuge because it was a crazy day. Dr. W was already there when I arrived because he had been called in for a semi-emergency. I also helped that day by moving a dog from isolation to the rolling cage because there were two dogs in isolation who had been diagnosed that day with parvovirus. I just felt very involved this week, and it's certainly taken me long enough to feel that way. I can't believe next week is my last week. I wish I could come back in the fall, but my schedule is just too full already.
I also found out this week that I got another A in Oral Advocacy. I need to stop worrying about that class, but I cannot. This coming week is our big final debate, and I do not feel prepared for it because my partner keeps changing things on me and isn't as quick about getting things done as I am. So, by the time I thought I was finished writing the speech, she was making comments about how my logic needed work in some places and how I might want to reconsider how I state things. I keep having to go back and edit my speech, so I feel like I can never just start memorizing it and feeling like I actually have a good grasp on what I am supposed to say. I am getting some extra credit from the course, though, so I can kind of afford to do a little less well on this speech than on the previous three.
And I guess this week was pretty cool because I was inducted into Mortar Board and attended the Circle K end-of-the-year picnic at Shantytown. I sat with my Relay for Life teammates at the induction, which was really hilarious, so I had a good time. I even got a cool pin to put on my shoulder bag. Shantytown was fun because Heather and I did most of the building for the shanty, just like last year. I brought strawberries because everyone else who signed up to bring food brought something like cookies or chips or popcorn. Ya know, the unhealthful stuff. And you know me. Fruits and veggies rock! That evening, Sarah and Devon went to dinner without me, but I was okay with it because I don't need to spend money on takeout food and because I was hanging out with my fellow CKers. But I was so excited when I got back because Sarah bought a book for me! She and Devon went to a store called The Book Rack, and she found a paperbook copy of City of Glass, the third book in the Mortal Instruments series. I am currently reading the second book (City of Ashes), which I hope to finish before the school year ends (because it's from the library). That way, I can start on City of Glass when I get home. Ah, home. Sounds good right now. I miss it. :(
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| This is actually from last year, but the Dream Team of Hannah and Heather never ages. |
Saturday finally rolled around, and with it, Celebration of Learning! I had picked up my t-shirt on Wednesday and wore it Thursday so I could enter the raffle for a $100 Amazon gift card. I did not win, but I really like the t-shirt! Anyway, I started the morning with the keynote speaker. She was a 2004 Augie grad who now works in Milwaukee on environmentally-sustainable urban planning. Her talk was a lot about grabbing life by the horns and living it to the fullest. At 11:30, I attended the Honors Recognition to receive a pen for my achievement in earning the Anderson Swedo Science Education Endowed Scholarship, an award that I shared with two other Biology students. Afterward, I headed upstairs to stand by my Molecular Genetics poster, which I had set up before the keynote address. My first two visitors were the professor I had for the class (Dr. Scott, who has agreed to write one of my letters of recommendation for vet school) and my Botany professor. He was hilarious. I also talked to another biology professor and to a professor from the Communication Studies department. It was so funny because she told me, "Okay, now just give me an explanation in really simple terms." Finally, I talked with Alicia, another student from Minnesota who has given me many rides two and from Augustana over the past couple of years. She was there with her family giving a presentation related to Spanish, one of her majors. All in all, I think it went pretty well.
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| I love the color! |
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| My name in the program for the Honors Recognition. |
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| My entry in the Celebration of Learning program; this is the abstract for my project that I submitted when I signed up for Celebration at the beginning of March. |
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| All dressed up and ready to share my knowledge with the world! |
Right now, I am finishing up some homework and generally preparing for the week ahead. I already told you a lot of what is going down (my final debate, my lab practical, etc). I'm just two short weeks away from heading home for the summer, where I will hopefully be able to work a little and shadow a lot.
Let's do this!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Relay Day--Week 8
As you can guess from the title, I spent most of this week getting pumped for Relay for Life. I will talk about that soon, but I first want to tell you about the days before.
My refutation speech on Tuesday went pretty well. I did mine on smoking at Augustana. We also had a mock trial in the class on Thursday. I was pretty nervous for it beforehand, but luckily, I prepared really well, and we got to choose our roles, so I was able to execute mine very well. (I gave the opening statement for the defense.) It was actually really enjoyable and funny!
Tuesday was also the induction ceremony for new BBB members. I sat with Heather and one of the members of my SNT group, Bryan. We chatted a little about Relay, since we were on the same team. It was great to see all of the new members and celebrate their acceptance into the society.
Shadowing went pretty well this week. I was able to help quite a bit around the clinic, sweeping floors and restraining animals as needed. Dr. W and I went to semen test a bull on Tuesday, which was something new.
Finally, Friday arrived! Relay for Life was so great! We started with a Survivors Ceremony, complete with two laps around the track at Pepsico Rec Center for survivors from the Augustana community (some students, some faculty). We had a great speech by one of our most revered professors, Bob Tallitsch. Most of the rest of the time was spent walking around and dancing to the music they were playing. Because I reached my goal of $100, I got a cool purple wristband that allowed me access to the VIP room and free food from Noodles and Company. I had such a great time with my teammates. They are all really cool and funny people. We played games and talked. Devon and I cheered on Sarah, Bryan, Liz, and Emma when they played water pong. We finished at around 5 AM, and I didn't get to bed until 5:30. Needless to say, I was really tired and slept until noon, but it was so worth it. My only regret is that I cannot go next year because I will be home (hopefully working before I come back to graduate in May). We did get a team picture, though, so I can always remember the great time I had.
This weekend has been pretty low key aside from Relay. I've just been working on homework and resting so I can recover from staying up so late on Friday/Saturday.
I got A's on both of my tests--Anatomy and Physics--so things are still going well academically, too.
Next week, I have lots of things to look forward to. Monday is my induction ceremony for Mortar Board. Wednesday is our end of the year meeting for Circle K--a potluck at Shantytown (a fundraiser put on by Habitat for Humanity where student groups buy cardboard boxes and sleep in them overnight to raise awareness for homelessness). We have an orthopedic surgeon coming to Anatomy on Wednesday to talk to us about knee and shoulder surgery. Saturday is Celebration of Learning, where I will get to display my poster from Molecular Genetics and answer questions anyone has about it while I stand in the hall with my fellow students. I'm looking forward to showing off my own work as well as seeing that of my peers.
Well, that's all for now! It's getting down to the wire with classes; only two more weeks of learning before Finals Week, and then I'll be home for the summer. Busy, busy. Have a great week!
My refutation speech on Tuesday went pretty well. I did mine on smoking at Augustana. We also had a mock trial in the class on Thursday. I was pretty nervous for it beforehand, but luckily, I prepared really well, and we got to choose our roles, so I was able to execute mine very well. (I gave the opening statement for the defense.) It was actually really enjoyable and funny!
Tuesday was also the induction ceremony for new BBB members. I sat with Heather and one of the members of my SNT group, Bryan. We chatted a little about Relay, since we were on the same team. It was great to see all of the new members and celebrate their acceptance into the society.
Shadowing went pretty well this week. I was able to help quite a bit around the clinic, sweeping floors and restraining animals as needed. Dr. W and I went to semen test a bull on Tuesday, which was something new.
Finally, Friday arrived! Relay for Life was so great! We started with a Survivors Ceremony, complete with two laps around the track at Pepsico Rec Center for survivors from the Augustana community (some students, some faculty). We had a great speech by one of our most revered professors, Bob Tallitsch. Most of the rest of the time was spent walking around and dancing to the music they were playing. Because I reached my goal of $100, I got a cool purple wristband that allowed me access to the VIP room and free food from Noodles and Company. I had such a great time with my teammates. They are all really cool and funny people. We played games and talked. Devon and I cheered on Sarah, Bryan, Liz, and Emma when they played water pong. We finished at around 5 AM, and I didn't get to bed until 5:30. Needless to say, I was really tired and slept until noon, but it was so worth it. My only regret is that I cannot go next year because I will be home (hopefully working before I come back to graduate in May). We did get a team picture, though, so I can always remember the great time I had.
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| Team Cure Brigade! From the left is Renae, Liz, Bryan, me, Grace, and Emma. Sarah is in the front. I really like this picture because we all look so good! |
I got A's on both of my tests--Anatomy and Physics--so things are still going well academically, too.
Next week, I have lots of things to look forward to. Monday is my induction ceremony for Mortar Board. Wednesday is our end of the year meeting for Circle K--a potluck at Shantytown (a fundraiser put on by Habitat for Humanity where student groups buy cardboard boxes and sleep in them overnight to raise awareness for homelessness). We have an orthopedic surgeon coming to Anatomy on Wednesday to talk to us about knee and shoulder surgery. Saturday is Celebration of Learning, where I will get to display my poster from Molecular Genetics and answer questions anyone has about it while I stand in the hall with my fellow students. I'm looking forward to showing off my own work as well as seeing that of my peers.
Well, that's all for now! It's getting down to the wire with classes; only two more weeks of learning before Finals Week, and then I'll be home for the summer. Busy, busy. Have a great week!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Spinning Ball in the Middle of Space--Week 7
Happy Earth Day! I'm kind of a nature girl, so I really like Earth Day. I didn't do anything environmentally-oriented today, but I did get out a little bit just to appreciate the breeze, sun, and the green leaves on the trees, so I think that counts!
Anyway, this week was pretty important. I had a meeting on Tuesday for upcoming seniors, all about what to expect living off-campus and how to find the right resources if we have problems. I mean, most of it was pretty self-explanatory, but I suppose it's always good to get a reminder.
I met with my advisor on Wednesday to discuss Fall Term and applying to vet school. The application opens in just five weeks! I'm a bit nervous because it's a big task, but it'll a get done. It was a little sad to have my meeting with Dr. Good because it is my last with him before he leaves for Gustavus. He was very encouraging and complimented me very highly when he said that my "passion for science really shines through." I told him thank you for all of the help he has given me over the past two years. I cannot count the number of times I have come to him all stressed out about classes and life, and he has helped me straighten many things out.
I registered for my classes on Friday. In the fall, I will be taking Physics again (I missed the first trimester this year because of London, so I have to take it in August), Biochemistry, Immunology, and Cadaver Lab. I am excited to take more advanced biology classes. I had Molecular Genetics last term, but I need more before I graduate. Cadaver Lab is just as it sounds...dissecting a real human body! I'm curious to see the pathologies present in the cadaver I will be dissecting with my as-yet-undetermined partner.
I also took my second Physics test of the term on Friday. I felt much more sure of myself and not as stressed about the time as last time.
On Thursday, I learned that I was accepted into Mortar Board for next year. I can't remember if I told you a lot about Mortar Board, but it is a senior national honor society. So, it's like Circle K but for high-achieving fourth-year students. There are about 60 people in the group, so it's composed of the top 10% of the class.
On the subject of my shadowing, it's still going well. I got to meet one of the receptionist's sons on Tuesday. He is a third-year vet student at Oklahoma State, so it was great to hear his stories and get some advice. Like, "Buy a stock in your favorite alcohol." Gems like that. But seriously, I always like knowing more about what my life is going to be like soon. Thursday was my favorite day of shadowing so far. Dr. W went out to a farm and treated four different species while he was there--dogs, cats, horses, and even a llama!! Will wonders never cease? The llama was nice but kind of creeped me out because it was staring at me. The dogs were so sweet. One was an old Golden Retriever named Sam (a girl), a young Yellow Lab named Chloe, and a middle-aged Black Lab named Luther. They were a little unsure of me at first, but I just held out my hand for them to sniff and scratched their heads and ears a little, and then they decided that I was pretty okay. Soon, they were following us to the barn and sticking their noses into my hands for me to pet them. They also kept bringing me their Kong toy so I could throw it and play fetch with them. I got to help Dr. W by holding the dogs and squeezing off the veins in their arms so he could draw blood for heartworm checks. I felt pretty involved and happy that I had a job to do (he forgot his tourniquet at the clinic). But it was such a great experience.
This weekend was really fun because Sarah and I finally finished the Avatar television series. It was absolutely fantastic. Luckily, there is The Legend of Korra, a kind of sequel series, to watch every Saturday, so that helps ease my Avatar withdrawal. Sarah's family was here for Sibling Weekend, so we watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol after we went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner and then got Whitey's ice cream for dessert. Today, I went bowling at Milan Lanes for the Circle K social (plus we dropped off the Spastic Paralysis money that we raised from the Easter egg fundraiser). Unfortunately, we had to sit through an hour-long Kiwanis meeting before we got to bowl (and we had to leave early because a lot of people had to be back for other obligations by 3:30), but it was still a good time, and I'm glad I went.
As you might have guessed, I have another hectic week ahead. I'm giving my third speech on Tuesday, and I'm still as nervous as I have been for the last two, even though I've been doing stellar in the class. I just can't help it--as soon as I get up there, my heart starts beating like a mile a minute. Even when it's just to read off some notes. It's so weird. I've got a lot of assignments and things to work on, too, like preparing for our mock trial in Oral Advocacy and working on my Darwinian medicine project in Anatomy (I'm doing mine on flat feet/fallen arches). Luckily, Friday is a pay day, which is awesome. Friday is also Relay for Life! A big shout-out and thank you to everyone who has contributed so far! I'm very close to my goal of $100, and it's going to be a great time, like an all-night party with pizza and a DJ and good friends. And it's all for a great cause! Man, I love college.
I'd love to hear if you did anything earthy for Earth Day. Even if you didn't, that's okay. Have a good week, as always!
Anyway, this week was pretty important. I had a meeting on Tuesday for upcoming seniors, all about what to expect living off-campus and how to find the right resources if we have problems. I mean, most of it was pretty self-explanatory, but I suppose it's always good to get a reminder.
I met with my advisor on Wednesday to discuss Fall Term and applying to vet school. The application opens in just five weeks! I'm a bit nervous because it's a big task, but it'll a get done. It was a little sad to have my meeting with Dr. Good because it is my last with him before he leaves for Gustavus. He was very encouraging and complimented me very highly when he said that my "passion for science really shines through." I told him thank you for all of the help he has given me over the past two years. I cannot count the number of times I have come to him all stressed out about classes and life, and he has helped me straighten many things out.
I registered for my classes on Friday. In the fall, I will be taking Physics again (I missed the first trimester this year because of London, so I have to take it in August), Biochemistry, Immunology, and Cadaver Lab. I am excited to take more advanced biology classes. I had Molecular Genetics last term, but I need more before I graduate. Cadaver Lab is just as it sounds...dissecting a real human body! I'm curious to see the pathologies present in the cadaver I will be dissecting with my as-yet-undetermined partner.
I also took my second Physics test of the term on Friday. I felt much more sure of myself and not as stressed about the time as last time.
On Thursday, I learned that I was accepted into Mortar Board for next year. I can't remember if I told you a lot about Mortar Board, but it is a senior national honor society. So, it's like Circle K but for high-achieving fourth-year students. There are about 60 people in the group, so it's composed of the top 10% of the class.
On the subject of my shadowing, it's still going well. I got to meet one of the receptionist's sons on Tuesday. He is a third-year vet student at Oklahoma State, so it was great to hear his stories and get some advice. Like, "Buy a stock in your favorite alcohol." Gems like that. But seriously, I always like knowing more about what my life is going to be like soon. Thursday was my favorite day of shadowing so far. Dr. W went out to a farm and treated four different species while he was there--dogs, cats, horses, and even a llama!! Will wonders never cease? The llama was nice but kind of creeped me out because it was staring at me. The dogs were so sweet. One was an old Golden Retriever named Sam (a girl), a young Yellow Lab named Chloe, and a middle-aged Black Lab named Luther. They were a little unsure of me at first, but I just held out my hand for them to sniff and scratched their heads and ears a little, and then they decided that I was pretty okay. Soon, they were following us to the barn and sticking their noses into my hands for me to pet them. They also kept bringing me their Kong toy so I could throw it and play fetch with them. I got to help Dr. W by holding the dogs and squeezing off the veins in their arms so he could draw blood for heartworm checks. I felt pretty involved and happy that I had a job to do (he forgot his tourniquet at the clinic). But it was such a great experience.
This weekend was really fun because Sarah and I finally finished the Avatar television series. It was absolutely fantastic. Luckily, there is The Legend of Korra, a kind of sequel series, to watch every Saturday, so that helps ease my Avatar withdrawal. Sarah's family was here for Sibling Weekend, so we watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol after we went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner and then got Whitey's ice cream for dessert. Today, I went bowling at Milan Lanes for the Circle K social (plus we dropped off the Spastic Paralysis money that we raised from the Easter egg fundraiser). Unfortunately, we had to sit through an hour-long Kiwanis meeting before we got to bowl (and we had to leave early because a lot of people had to be back for other obligations by 3:30), but it was still a good time, and I'm glad I went.
As you might have guessed, I have another hectic week ahead. I'm giving my third speech on Tuesday, and I'm still as nervous as I have been for the last two, even though I've been doing stellar in the class. I just can't help it--as soon as I get up there, my heart starts beating like a mile a minute. Even when it's just to read off some notes. It's so weird. I've got a lot of assignments and things to work on, too, like preparing for our mock trial in Oral Advocacy and working on my Darwinian medicine project in Anatomy (I'm doing mine on flat feet/fallen arches). Luckily, Friday is a pay day, which is awesome. Friday is also Relay for Life! A big shout-out and thank you to everyone who has contributed so far! I'm very close to my goal of $100, and it's going to be a great time, like an all-night party with pizza and a DJ and good friends. And it's all for a great cause! Man, I love college.
I'd love to hear if you did anything earthy for Earth Day. Even if you didn't, that's okay. Have a good week, as always!
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