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Life as a Vet Student:

How SAVMA has Affected My Life

Kara Tassone - St. George's University - Class of 2006

There are many facets to veterinary medicine that are not traditionally learned in a classroom setting. Extracurricular experiences can enhance practical lessons. Being a SAVMA member has changed my life in a variety of ways. The people I have encountered through participating in SAVMA have been motivating and enriching. I have learned about the power of unity, the strength of the veterinary profession, and the kindness of colleagues.

Every time I attend a SAVMA function, local or national, the diversity represented by our profession is outstanding. I am honored to meet people who are willing to persevere through great odds to make a career in veterinary medicine a reality. Students and fellow professionals constantly remind me of the individuality that unites to make a beautiful array of Veterinarians that can do anything, from flying a plane to discovering a cure for lymphoma. The SAVMA student-body represents the future of veterinary medicine and the vast array of possibilities that lie before us.

SAVMA offers students the opportunities to develop inter-personal and leadership skills. Students can harness the energy and expertise that will enable our generation to guide the profession to accomplish great things. My experiences in the SAVMA House of Delegates have taught me that with unity, perseverance, and vision we can accomplish anything. By standing together as a group, we call attention to important issues affecting the profession's future.

Practical familiarity is another important element of veterinary medicine. As a SAVMA member, the are ample opportunities to gain extra experience in many aspects of our profession. I never dreamed about how exciting it would be to identify the stages of a bovine pregnancy via rectal exams. Nor did I imagine that I would look forward to a Saturday afternoon trimming goat hoofs. Through these extra opportunities, information from the classroom has been reinforced in tangible settings. Our SAVMA chapter has enabled learning through real life situations.

Experiences can also alter our outlook on life. Studying for an exam seems much less important when a hurricane has destroyed your home. After hurricane Ivan, students from St. George’s University were having great difficulties, emotionally and financially. SAVMA members from across the globe gave moral and financial support. They offered everything they could, without hesitation, to students they had never met, simply because they understood that their colleagues needed help. This to me exemplifies the most amazing thing SAVMA has ever offered-INSPIRATION.

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