I’ve spoken so many times about how great vet school is: the people, the course content, the EMS placements, etc, etc, but like everything, it’s not always a bed of roses! Especially at this time of year when the stress is hanging over you and everybody’s anxiety levels are going through the roof, it can be so difficult to keep the momentum and the motivation to study hard and keep reaching out for our goal, which at times can be quite difficult to see.
So, how does everybody keep going?
Once again, I’ve been talking to the amazing North East vet student crew and we’ve got some great motivation tips to share with you!
“Although it’s easy to get bogged down with all the hard work involved in learning so many new things and then revising them for exams, doing all the practical things is a great reminder of the career ahead of you, as well as being a lot of fun to do. Also, being on placement gives you a taste of what you have to look forward to in future, which keeps you going and makes all the hard work feel so much more worthwhile!”
“ I think what keeps me motivated is keeping in mind the thought that it will all be worth it for the day that I first walk out of a consult, knowing that I’ve made a difference to someone’s life, even if it is something as simple as reassuring them that their pet is happy and healthy in a vaccination consult.”
“I think it’s okay to not be super motivated all the time- we all go through slumps but that does not make us bad students! Most of my motivation comes from knowing that if I can get through these really tough 5 years, I can then start to really make a difference to the lives of the animals that I love, and to the people that love them, regardless of which field I choose to go into. This really helps me through when I’m struggling.”
When I’m struggling, the biggest help has always been just setting foot onto a farm. Not just because I have an insanely strong love of cows (which I do!), but because it gives me a purpose, reminds me what I’m good at, and is the helping hand I need to answer the question ‘why am I doing this?’.
Everybody has their own goals, dreams, and ambitions. For me, motivation comes from not letting go of these, because if they’re important enough to you, you can keep fighting no matter what stands in your way. Keep dreaming!
Barking Mad 