Another reality

Like my esteemed colleague, I always wanted to be a veterinarian. I wrote an essay on the subject in first grade! I think my mom still has it, actually. Although I ended up as a companion animal doctor rather than a doctor for elephants and horses and rabbits as originally planned, I pretty much never deviated from the plan. I'm a person who makes a decision and sticks with it, pretty much. I've never been accused of waffling. Maybe I should run for president? Ha ha.

Anyhoo, I was lucky. I didn't accrue any debt during my undergraduate years, partly because of my parents' generosity and partly because I attended a cheap-ass school. I got a job before going to vet school, and unlike my esteemed colleague I kept it for the first two years of school before really NEEDING to quit (I was able to work overnights. I don't remember sleeping much really! And no, I was not using performance-enhancing drugs.) Still, I managed to accrue a sizable chunk of debt during vet school. But then - a kindly older relative found out, and paid it off for me. Who does that, right?

So, I don't have to worry about the debt. I love my profession: the animals, of course. The intellectual stimulation, the freedom to USE MY BRAIN and my clinical exam and decision-making skills - a lot of my physician friends complain that there are so many insurance-related constraints they feel like they are stuck doing cookbook medicine all the time. It's true that there's a downside or twenty, but, even with all the negative aspects I feel like veterinary medicine is a truly rewarding profession. It's just not financially rewarding, these days, especially if you start out with a crushing debt load. Intellectually and spiritually rewarding - yes. Absolutely. At least until the client with the Lexus and the 20-karat bling shows up with the $2500 designer mutt and declines every damn recommendation because it's too expensive.

I remember being shocked when some of the vets I talked to before vet school did NOT recommend the profession due to the lack of compensation. I thought we should be "above" that. I understand better now but I have to say I am just really glad I did it anyway. I wouldn't want to have to make my living at it, though.

My Reality

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a veterinarian. There was never any question in my mind. While many of my playmates, and eventually friends changed their minds several times, I could not see myself doing anything else. My family went from poor to middle class throughout my childhood. My parents showed me that hard work pays off.
Public school was easy for me so I did not have to study. I worked full time as soon as it was legal for me to while in highschool. This enabled me to save money to pay for most of my undergrad. Throughout undergrad I kept a job or two to save for vet school. I even became a resident advisor to get free rent.

When I started vet school, I quickly realized that working was not going to be an option (other than making some book money stuffing fliers in mailboxes at school). So I needed to take out loans to pay for tuition and fees. In total, I have approximately $200,000 in education debt. I call this my house I will not likely ever be able to purchase. It means that at least 1/3 of my paycheck goes to pay back loans for the next 30 years. This also means I will not likely ever have children as I cannot afford to.

Do I regret my decision? I answer that question differently everyday as I deal with ups and downs. Fortunately I love my career, because I will be working to pay for my education for a long time.

Haiku Truth about Being a Vet

Nine years of college
Now I slave for the public
Ass monkeys we are.