A Real Dream Job

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A Real Dream Job Although the phrase “dream job" is used far too often, I truly found mine. I have been a practicing large-animal veterinarian for 30 rewarding years. Becoming a veterinarian was always my dream. By the time I was 12 years old, I envisioned a fulfilling career as a large-animal veterinarian. The journey toward my dream started when I was seven years old at a camp in Bonsall, California. I had the opportunity to spend about 7 weeks at the camp each year until I was 16. Over the years I learned many skills based on treating horses and various farm animals. During my fifth year attending this camp, I knew my future would involve caring for large animals. I continued my involvement after camp by enrolling in the agriculture program at my high school. I became a member of the FFA and held three officer positions. During my sophomore year I had the opportunity to work along side a veterinarian during the necropsy of a steer. We discovered that the membrane between the rumen and the heart had been punctured with a foreign object, most likely a small piece of metal. The foreign object had caused an infection. The infection led to the build-up of fluid, which put pressure on the heart, causing the steer to die. This experience helped solidify my desire to become a veterinarian. Less than a year later I had another opportunity to work along side the same veterinarian in the necropsy of a gilt. Upon examination we saw that the gilt had a lung that had never inflated. The lung was discolored and had a squishy consistency, except where there was scar tissue. We hypothesized that the deflated lung and scar tissue were the result of the young animal having pneumonia near the time of birth. After high school I continued the pursuit my dream job by attending The Purdue University College of Agriculture in West Lafayette, Indiana. After majoring in
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