My Informational InterviewBy: Lydia Burrows

Veterinarian Medicine

• I interviewed Dr. Shelly on December 3rd at Glenwood Veterinarian Hospital. The interview was about 25-30 minutes.

Situation• I take my dogs to this hospital because my dog, Howie has

really bad allergies that he has to get shots for. Unfortunately, my Guinea Pig had to be put down so we scheduled an appointment for him to do that and so I could interview him.

• I set up the interview with him face to face on a previous arrival because my dog had an ear infection.

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Questions• When did you realize this is what you were interested in?

• What skills does it take to be a vet?

• What is the most difficult situation you’ve been faced with while working as a vet?

• What makes you a good veterinarian?

• What do you have to do to become a vet?

• What is a normal day for you?

Answers• I knew this is what I wanted to do when I was very young. I

have been interested in animals and have grown up with them all my life.

• You need to go to a four year college and get a degree in really anything but to get a head start you most likely will get a degree in Sciences. Then vet school. Vet school for the first two years is mainly classwork and you go on these field trips to animal shelters and learn how to take care of them medically. The next two years it is mainly hands on animal work and a little bit of class work. It is really fun but a lot of studying is involved and it is very challenging.

• I make a good veterinarian because I simply love what I do. You succeed in what you love to do, I enjoy every minute of my job.

Answers continued…• A normal day for us…We get here at 8 am. In the summer we

have cattle and horses and llamas that we check on. We take their temperature and record them…We then check the appointment scheduled for the day and If we have surgeries to do or dentistry. Some days we will have dogs and cats all lovable and they are cooperated and sometimes there are days where is seems everyone wants to scratch and bite you…even the clients!

• Horse Story

What I have learned…• I have learned a lot about what every day life is for a vet and I

would love to do what they do every day. None of what she said made me turn away at it. I was glad to know I had a lot in common with Dr. Shelly. I learned the difficult things I may have to deal with and how to deal with them. I learned how long you have to be in school for and its not as bad as I thought it was. I am still happy that I like this career because it gives me confidence that I am going to be successful later in life. This job may not pay too much but at least I will be doing what I love.

The End