AlysonFrederick PersonalStatement
Discussbrieflythedevelopmentofyourinterestinveterinarymedicine.Discussthoseactivitiesand
uniqueexperiencesthathavecontributedtoyourpreparationforaprofessionalprogram.Discussyour
understandingoftheveterinarymedicalprofession,anddiscussyourcareergoalsandobjectives.
Hasachildevertoldyouthatheorshewantstobeavetwhentheygrowup?Youhave
probablyheardthismanytimesbecauseatsomepointintheirchildhood,almosteveryonedecidesthey
wanttobecomeaveterinarian.IwilladmitthatIwasoneofthosekids.Iwantedtohelptakecareof
theanimalsonafarmthatmycousinsandIdreamedofowningwhenweweregrownups.Unlikehalf
ofmyfreshmanclasswhoswitchedoutoftheprevetmajorthough,Istillhavethesamedesireandam
pursuingadegreeinveterinarymedicine.
WhenIwasyoungerIsaidthatIwantedtobeavet,butneverseriouslyconsidereditasa
possibleprofession.Duringmysenioryearofhighschoolwhenitwastimetodecidewhattostudyin
college,IchosepreveterinarymedicinebecausetherewasnothingelseIwouldratherdo.Sincethen,
myinterestinveterinarymedicineanddesiretopursuethiscareerhasmaturedfromignorant
complacencytoresoluteconviction.MyexperienceatPennStateasanundergraduatestudentandmy
occupationalendeavorshavegreatlyexpandedmyknowledgewithinthefieldandcommittedmetothe
profession.
Iamfascinatedbythebiologicalmechanismsbehindalllifeprocessesandexplanationsforhow
everythinginnaturefunctions.AsapreveterinarystudentataPennState,Ihavehadmany
opportunitiestolearnaboutveterinarymedicinethroughbothclassroomandhandsonlearning.
Introductorycoursesintoxicology,immunologyandinfectiousdisease,chemistry,andbiologyhelped
merealizemyardorforthelifesciences.MyanimalorientedclassesshowedmehowIcanapplythese
basicsciencestoeverydaylife,especiallyasaveterinarian.Theseclassesandmyinteractionswithother
peoplewithintheCollegeofAgriculturalScienceshavetaughtmemoreabouthowcrucialveterinary
medicineistooursocietyandourwayoflife.
Irealizenowhowtrulyimportantveterinariansarefornotonlyourbelovedpets,butalsofor
sustainingourcountryslargestindustry.MyexperienceswithinthecollegeincludingparticipationinAg
Day,activitieswiththeBlockandBridleClub,andevenbasicanimalscienceclasseshaveshownmethe
unparalleledimportanceofagricultureandanimalstoourexistence.ThroughoutmycollegecareerI
havelearnedaboutournecessityforanimalsfromdairycowstoworkhorsestocompanionanimals.
Furthermore,Ihavebeenabletogainhandsonmedicalexperienceinthedairyindustrythroughmyjob
attheVeterinaryExtensiondepartment.Iammoreeducatedaboutcommoninfectiousdiseaseswithin
theindustry,conductingfieldinvestigations,andthecowsthemselves.
MyworkexperienceoutsideofPennStatehasalsobeenverybeneficialindevelopingmy
interestinthefield.Iworkasaveterinarytechnicianatasmallanimalclinicandatahorseracepark,so
Ihavehadalotofexperienceinvariousmedicalsettings.Myjobatthesmallanimalclinicwasthefirst
onetoimmersemeinveterinarymedicineandshowedmewhatitwasreallyaboutvetsdonotspend
theirdaysplayingwithcatsanddogs,likechildrenliketobelieve.Itisastressfulanddemandingjob
thatrequiresagreatamountofprecision,skill,andpatience.Ienjoyworkingattheclinic,butithas
actuallymademewanttoexplorecareersoutsideofsmallanimalpractice.Idonotcarefortaking
appointmentsallday,butIhaveconsideredgoingintosurgeryorworkingatanemergencyclinic.
MyjobattheDelawareRaceParkhasshownmeanentirelydifferentsideofveterinary
medicinethatIhadneverconsideredasapossiblecareerpath.Ilovethefastpacedenvironment
becauseitoffersalotofvariationwithinthejob.Workingattheracetrackisverystressfulandtaxing,
butithastaughtmealotmoreaboutveterinarymedicineoutsideofcompanionanimals.Infact,Iam
nowstronglyconsideringacareerinequinemedicine,surgeryinparticular.Withoutthisjob
experience,Ineverwouldhaveconsideredthiscareerpath.
Theseeducationalandworkexperienceshaveopenedmyeyestothevastopportunitythat
veterinarymedicineprovides.Imayhavestumbleduponthiscareerbasedonachildhoodwhim,butI
amcertainthatIdonotbelonganywhereelse.Mypassionforveterinarymedicineisfoundedstrongly
uponmyloveforanimals,myinterestinmedicinalscience,andtheneedforsteadfastveterinarianswho
providesuperiorhealthcare.Myexperiencesoverthepastfewyearshavebeencrucialinsecuringthis
foundation,andIhopetocontinuebuildinguponit.
