While going through a memory box that my mom keeps for me, I stumbled upon a very distinct drawing which I had created in kindergarten. Though the illustration is sloppy and the words are messy, I can clearly make out the statement “I want to be a vet because I like to pet animals”. While I am often asked exactly when I discovered I wanted to become a veterinarian or what specific experience or encounter made me interested in veterinary medicine, I truly believe that an inherent love of animals has always existed deep within me, distinctly and sometimes more subtly, directing my academic and personal endeavors.
My desire to achieve the goal of becoming a veterinarian is undoubtedly what drove me to double up on core courses in order to graduate high school early and move forward on my educational journey. Up until that point, I attributed all of my successes to my passion for veterinary medicine and told myself that if I just focused on that goal, everything else would fall into place. However, during my freshman year of college, I encountered many struggles involving my academics, mental health, and personal well-being. It was in these moments of difficulty that I discovered how my passions not only dictated my successes but aided in overcoming my setbacks as well. By making a huge life change and transferring to a school ten hours away, I was able to not only rediscover my love for veterinary medicine but also discover a healthy work-life balance and figure out my own, unique interests within the field.
It was during my junior year of college when my desire to enter the field of conservation medicine through public policy and research was affirmed. What captivates me about veterinary medicine is its global nature and the many facets it takes on in our world. With a rapidly growing population and perpetual industrialization, the prospect of human-wildlife conflict constantly increases and affects both species along with the environment, socioeconomic factors, and morality as a whole. In 2015, I started this not-for-profit organization, Pause for Paws, which aims to spread awareness and educate the public about the cruel practices that plague the African Lion such as trophy hunting, retaliatory killing, and poaching. What began as a personal platform to stand up for a cause I believed strongly in soon became a much larger initiative fueled by research and an understanding of the reciprocal relationship that exists between practices that are detrimental to conservation and factors like the economy. Through pursuing this, I have been able to examine relationships between things like the free market and the perpetuation of the poaching industry, the human refugee crisis and its effects on population dynamics, and false conservation practices and the economy of local communities. My ultimate goal is to utilize the skills endowed in veterinary medicine as well as the relationship it possesses with the environment and human nature to further create a name for conservation medicine and show how the protection of all species is essential to promote global and societal well-being.
Finding your passion may seem daunting at first. But I implore you to look deeply inside. Find that flickering flame that ignites you and drives you to be the best version of yourself you can be in all that you do. And remember that while your passions can undoubtedly lead to many accolades and successes, it is also your beacon in times of disappointment and even failure. Never let others dictate your happiness or your pursuits. Never feel ashamed to boldly pursue your passions and continually search for what gives you meaning in life. I can't promise that things will always come easy...but I can promise it will all be worth it (cheesy, I know).
Now that you know a little bit about my journey and my undeniable passion, I'd love to know more about you and your interests! What sets your soul on fire? What makes you unique?
And as always, if you have any comments, questions, concerns or just want to talk about how to find and develop your passions, don't hesitate to reach out! I love hearing from you.
Be like a lion,
Heidi