Volunteering: Good for the Applications, Good for the Soul

Pre-veterinary Requirements Can be Overwhelming

As a pre-veterinary student, there is a lot on your plate. So many things have to be done to make sure your application is well-rounded and impressive enough to get your foot in the door for interviews.

You have to keep your grades up, participate in leadership and extracurricular activities, consistently get animal experience, and gain veterinary field exposure. It can all get overwhelming, exhausting, and discouraging. I know that exhaustion all too well.

Volunteering Looks Good and Feels Good

There was one aspect of the application that saved me. That was taking time to volunteer. Vet schools love to see a pattern of volunteer work, both long-term and short-term. But, for me, what started as checking off a box, turned into my personal hiatus. These experiences allow time to breathe, reset, and forget all worries as you help others.

Good For The Soul

I had the opportunity to volunteer with an Equine Therapeutic Riding Center. I learned so much while volunteering there. Volunteering at the therapeutic riding center taught me more about compassion than almost any other experience during my undergrad. Many of the home situations for families with disabled children can be troubled. The director of the riding center found that a high percentage of special needs parents have marital problems and eventually divorce. In addition, due to the attention that these children with special needs require, siblings are found to get less attention from the parental units. This can lead to acting out and higher rates of depression and anxiety for the siblings of special needs children. The therapeutic riding center prioritized supporting the whole family unit as well as giving the physical therapy needed for those disabled children.

Many times, volunteers would have opportunities to reach out to the parents and siblings during lessons and involve them in the process. It was always so warming to see the smiles as the siblings interacted and the parents cheered and participated. In these times, it was important to have compassion for the family unit. These parents were trying their best to support their family and provide the care and attention that all of their children require. Siblings are trying to find a balance between their own life and being there in support of their sibling who needs more attention and help. Compassion allowed us as volunteers to make meaningful connections and empower those with whom we interacted.

During my time volunteering at the Therapeutic Riding Center, the families and participants gave me opportunities for growth in determination, inclusion, and compassion. It offered an opportunity to take a break from my own hectic life, forget my own overwhelming schedule, and help others in need. It was a place of encouragement, of perseverance, and of refuge.

Remember, volunteering is about more than checking something off of your To-Do List. It is about making connections, learning new things, and giving to others. Volunteering is good for your applications, but it’s even better for the soul. Go out, forget yourself, and enjoy helping others.