Now that’s a campaign I can get behind
It’s been a busy year for politics. Between the summer provincial election, the upcoming municipal races, and the chaos south of the border and beyond, constituents everywhere are likely feeling a sense of electoral fatigue. To combat the constant disappointment of broken promises and backdoor dealings, I decided now would be an appropriate time to challenge the changemaker most influential to my own life — me.
Being in vet school, it’s not hard to quickly find yourself within a sort of bubble. Spending eight hours a day, five days a week, with the same relatively small group of people allows for more than just flu viruses to fester. It also lends itself to a form of isolation, where almost everything you read, learn, or discuss relates to the health of animals. It’s important to be aware of this tendency, so that one can remain an active participant in the ‘outside world’ (even when it feels like there may not be one).
Though I’m not sure the word “matured” is most fitting, I would certainly say that surviving the first year of OVC strengthened my skills of introspection and provided a sound idea of what all veterinary professionals should keep in mind when it all feels like too much. In keeping with that, here are five pledges of my own that I am vowing to do my best to uphold throughout this coming year and beyond — perhaps you’ll see something here that you find useful for yourself.
1. I will engage in activities I enjoy that are completely unrelated to veterinary medicine
Work-life balance is important, and that includes doing the things you love — even the things that won’t advance your career in any way.
2. I will not read that extra lecture when I am already 20 minutes late for bed
Oh don’t get me wrong, it’s tempting! But the notion that 30 more slides when I’m already brain dead is actually going to improve my grades is a bit outlandish coming from someone who subsequently falls asleep in class the next morning.
3. I will continue to speak enthusiastically about donkeys to whomever will listen
This isn’t really an area that needed any improvement. However, for the sake of transparency, I wanted it to be clear that my mild obsession won’t be going anywhere. Sorry (not sorry).
4. I will not reduce my worth as a person or future vet to the numbers received on a test
This is a very easy but dangerous trap to fall into. There are so many skills and qualities that cannot be quantified, and when we enter practice, we’re not going to have someone associating our work with a grade.
5. I will cut myself some slack
While we all need to hold ourselves accountable, we are humans who get tired, make mistakes, and sometimes, don’t know the answer. This is perhaps the most important reality to accept — and the one we have most difficulty in accepting.
Photo provided by Carleigh Cathcart