A number of years ago we took on a local high school student, Owen, for a semester of on-site mentoring. He’d expressed interest in a career in veterinary medicine and wanted to spend time following a veterinarian and veterinary technician team through the course of a day and over a number of weeks. His school mentorship coordinator (who happened to be one of our best former employees!) reached out to me to make arrangements for him.
We’ve taken on many high school mentees over the years. Many have been very engaged in the process, coming to the clinic each time eager to learn and asking good questions. Our best example of this has been Dr. Shelby Hoffman. After spending time shadowing my father and me during her high school years, working for us during her college years, then distinguishing herself at the University of Wisconsin’s veterinary college, she turned into a very good doctor, spending a couple of years with us before moving closer to family in Wisconsin.
Owen proved to be a first-class mentee himself, though his story is different from Dr. Hoffman’s in that he did not pursue veterinary medicine in his undergraduate years. Instead, he’s pursuing an Animal Science major with a Business Administration minor. To further his education, expand his knowledge base, and build his resume, he applied for and obtained a position at the Indianapolis Zoo as a Marine Mammal Animal Care Intern this past summer.
Owen recently wrote to me the following,
I hope you’re doing well! I just wanted to reach out again and say thank you so much for your letter of recommendation when I was applying for internships last summer. On my last day at the Indianapolis Zoo, I asked my manager what set me apart from other candidates and helped me reach the interview stage, and she said it was my letters of recommendation. I truly appreciate the time and support you put into [your letter].
He went on to describe his summer,
I had an even better experience than I could have hoped for. I worked with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Grey seals, Pacific walruses, and California sea lions. This summer, I was able to do a lot of husbandry work, from basic eye checks to fake ultrasounds and injections [for training]. I also had the chance to train animals completely on my own without trainer supervision, which was an incredible experience.
Sometimes the fruit of our mentoring labor at CFVC is showing a student that becoming a veterinarian isn’t, in fact, for them. If coming to such a conclusion sets them up for better life situation down the road, then… mission accomplished!
To say we’re proud of Owen and humbled to have played a small role in his success is an understatement. The truth is… his solid work ethic, upright character, and great attitude are the biggest reasons for his success. Though our relationships with high school and college students don’t contribute a bit to our business, partnering with students such as Owen, those with good character, and seeing them go on to big things are among the high points of our careers.
