2.5 years later...

I forgot about this blog until someone Facebook messaged me recently because they were nervous before starting the program this fall.  So, I figured I'd give the blog a little update on what's going on with me post-graduation and post-certification.

First, this is a story about the fact that you never know where this career can take you.  I went into the program married and living in a house in Aurora, IL.  I was happily volunteering in a shelter that did spays and neuters and thought my interests were shelter medicine, surgery specialty, or general practice.  In my second year Eileen (our Exotics and Clinical Pathology II teacher) reminded my class that there were a lot of opportunities available for our second externship:  zoos, research labs, wildlife rehab, marine mammal rescue, exotics practices...  I just froze.  Marine mammals?  I had been fascinated by them since I was a little kid!  Could I really work with them?  I worked hard and ended up getting an externship approved at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California.  They offered no housing, but my husband happened to get a job offer to work at Twitter in San Francisco at around the same time.  We flew out for his interview and to check out the area; he took the job, and moved out there right away while I finished school.  That gave me a place to stay for the externship and so, I took it! The rest is history.  At the end of my externship I was absolutely in love with the idea of helping to not only rehabilitate seals and sea lions, but also help Marine Mammal Center work with many other organizations to do all sorts of research to benefit marine mammals, humans, other animals, and the environment.  Even though my husband and I divorced shortly after graduation I got my own place, continued volunteering at Marine Mammal Center, and got a job at a very busy small animal clinic.  I love the Bay Area and am really excited that I've been working at Marine Mammal Center (paid!) as a Fill-In Vet Tech pretty regularly for about 8 months now!

I have to say JJC gave me an amazing foundation to build upon once I graduated.  Large animal class was a lot of fun, but I never thought I'd really use the skills I learned like herding cattle.  But, being in a pen with sea lions and getting them to move is a lot like herding cattle!  Also, all that work at the microscope in Clinical Pathology class really paid off.  With lots of practice (because I like microscope work) the doctors at the small animal clinic I work at now as ME to give them second opinions on their slides!  I've also caught incorrect dosing, drug interactions, and am trusted at my small animal clinic to premed, induce, intubate, prep, and monitor for anesthesia with little to no help from a doctor.  I get complements on my x-rays, understand the views the doctors require based on the animals' presenting complaint, and am comfortable doing exams on my own and writing in medical records (in SOAP format).  All these things I learned at JJC and perfected on the job!  I've met lots of students from other schools and I'm certain JJC students are some of the best.  Dr Keller is really hard on his students, but it pays off once you're on the job so keep that in mind when you're upset that you studied so hard and got a C on one of his killer Keller exams!

All in all life is good.  If you have any questions or comments feel free to add them here or find me on Facebook.  I'm happy to help ease jitters, listen to rants from current students, tutor via email/FB, or whatever!