For the first time, I’m grateful for my struggles. I’m grateful for the nights I was in tears during undergrad because I thought I didn’t get a good enough GRE score. I’m grateful for staying the extra two hours at the clinic because I thought it was going to help my applications that much. I’m grateful that I'll probably never feel worthy enough to be surrounded by such amazing future clinicians and to be at such a prestigious school.
I came to the realization that I am thankful for how hard it was to get to where I am today. Every time I think back to application season, I still think it's a miracle I got into vet school. I know that if it weren't for God, I probably wouldn't have gotten in, let alone my first-choice school. And for that, I’m extremely grateful for where I am, and I can't help but thank God for his never-ending blessings and grace. Whether I get C’s, whether I get A’s, whether it's a sucky week or an amazing week—I know where I am is the best place I could possibly want to be all thanks to a wonderful God.
Oddly enough, the challenges and hard journey preparing for vet school is what's getting me through vet school. Knowing just what I had to do to get where I am now fuels me to push through the challenges and finish strong. Yes, school is hard. Being a doctor will be hard. But you know what is really cool? A thousand other people wanted my position, and I was selected. And I was selected because they saw that I had what it took to be a veterinarian—to go through the rigorous schooling, to go through the stress, and to tackle the mental challenge that they knew it would be.
I guess this entry is going to turn into an encouraging note to future Linzey. Look, I know it’s hard. It’s really hard. The hardest thing you’ve ever done in your life. And yeah, your peers may be smarter than you. And you may not have gotten the grade you wanted. But like Paul, learn how to be content in every circumstance—in the high, and in the low. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
But take a step back right now. Where do you go to school? The #1 veterinary school in the world. The WORLD. You know why school is hard? Because you’re getting the BEST education there is. And if you’re learning, you’re doing it right. Who cares that you didn’t know how many platelets are in a high power field on a microscope slide. You can be confident that you’re becoming a extremely well prepared doctor in the making. AND don’t compare yourself to your peers. Everyone was made to do their own thing, and God has made you a people person. Make that your goal and your priority. God gave you this dream for a reason, and you better believe he’s going to give you the tools and the stamina to achieve. He ain’t gonna waste that dream on anyone!
-first year vet student, linzey
