In this blog post, we’ll summarize the key criteria for how to demonstrate a pro-life attitude in your veterinary school personal statement, not just in words, but in your experiences, choices, and career plans.
Motivation (why you chose your major)
Ever since I was a kid, I watched veterinarians who were regulars on animal-related TV shows like Animal Kingdom giving injections to tigers and bears, and I thought that while it might be scary to work with big animals, there must be a sense of pride in doing something that not everyone can do.
My mom bought me a small puppy for my love of animals, but it ended up getting enterocolitis. After a week of treatment, her white blood cell count dropped to almost zero and she went into shock every morning, and I was ready to give up, but the vet refused to leave her side, saying he wouldn’t charge me for the treatment, just leave her to live and die.
Eventually, after intensive treatment, the puppy recovered and was able to leave the hospital safely. Meeting a veterinarian who treats animals as if they were her own family gave me a newfound respect for the profession. Fascinated by a profession that allows me to save a life through a single choice, I applied to veterinary medicine.
Academic plans and goals
Once I am admitted to your school, I will work hard to study my major. In addition to studying basic subjects such as organic chemistry, zoology, and genetics, I will study specialized theories such as pathology and anatomy to diagnose and treat various animals.
I will strive to gain a broader perspective through various readings and experiences, as the profession of a veterinarian requires communication not only with animals but also with the people who care for them. In addition to my major studies, I will begin preparing for the national veterinary examination in my fourth year to obtain a veterinarian license. I will also take care of my health by exercising regularly to build up the basic physical strength needed to perform intense classes and labs.
I have a passive and quiet personality, and I often think about how I want to change that. I have made a lot of small efforts, but after entering university, I would like to join an athletic or martial arts club and actively exercise to develop a more active personality.
Plans after graduation
After graduating from your school, I will continue my studies by going to a veterinary graduate school for more in-depth studies. I would like to study abroad in the United States and complete a specialty program in oncology to become an oncologist to do research to benefit animals. I will continue my research under the tutelage of some of the best minds in clinical veterinary medicine and clinical medicine based on basic science.
Even in the United States, it is not common to have both a PhD and a board certification in a specific field of medicine, so I am motivated to further challenge myself. I would like to have integrated qualities in both basic and clinical research and then work to advance medicine and veterinary medicine.
The National Cancer Center has established a consortium to study human oncology based on canine tumor diseases. I am not sure how many years it will be, but I would like to join this consortium and do veterinary research that is applied to both basic and clinical, medical and veterinary medicine.
About me (life view, values)
I have a spirit to explore life phenomena and a keen sense of observation, and I have a heart that values life and loves animals, which are the most important qualities for a veterinarian. Simply liking animals is not the same as examining and treating them. Veterinarians sometimes vivisect animals for experiments and sometimes euthanize them, so I don’t think it’s a profession that can be approached with the motivation of just liking animals.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I was active in a club called “People Who Love Animals,” and we were invited to participate in a dog show at COEX. After the event, we would have a lot of leftover food and treats that were sponsored by dog-related companies, and we would donate them to a shelter run by a kind-hearted individual. This small act of service to homeless animals inspired me to continue to love animals even when the dignity of their lives is compromised in the face of material values.
