YOU ARE ONLY LIMITED BY YOUR IMAGINATION

       My faith in myself was pretty much zero.  How could I possibly find the way?  I know what I want to be, but everyone doubts my ability but not as much as I do.  I have never really excelled at anything so what makes me think I can now?  I want it so bad I can taste it. If only there was a way to become a veterinarian.

       My GPA for my first two years of college was a 1.3.  I had pretty much hit rock bottom.  I remember spending most of my time feeling sorry for myself and I cried a little too.  I was so upset that the best I could do was sleep, eat, and workout.  I couldn't find my way out of the mess I had gotten myself into.  I didn't know what to do so I spent my summer vacation at the Wessmans in Decker, Montana.  I loved that family and just wanted to be with them.  I felt at home with them and I just wanted to be some place that I felt safe.  The country was always a place where I could excel and feel totally at home.

     It was just as I thought.  It was wonderful and I loved being around the horses and the cattle. I remembered how much I missed delivering calves and branding season.  I remembered how I used to sit on the haystack and dream about being a rancher.  I also remembered the time I decided to become a veterinarian. That summer rekindled the fire inside of me that made me want to be around animals for the rest of my life.

    By the end of the summer I knew what I had to do and nobody was going to stop me, especially not myself.  I had enrolled at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.  I stayed at one of the dorms and prepared for what was ahead.  I planned out my strategy and made up my mind that nothing was going to deter me. My strategy was simple.  I was going to eat, sleep, and study.  I would not cut any classes.  I reviewed my work daily.  I would not get behind.  I wouldn't party and my sole consideration was to learn.

I could not believe how well I was doing.  I actually enjoyed what I was doing and I did not miss the usual partying that goes on in college. I was so well prepared for my tests that when I took one, I knew that I had the answers.  I began to thrive.  I couldn't get enough.  I loved it all.  I had received a D and an F in two previous chemistry classes but now I was going to get an A.  I will never forget my first report card I received a 4.0.  I could not believe it.  I skipped all the way to the dorm.  It's hard to explain what you feel especially after having done so poorly.  One of my proudest achievements was when my Histology teacher pulled me aside and told me in 20 yeas of teaching that I was the first one that had ever received a 100% on my practical exam.

I never let up.  I was totally consumed by the memories of the passed failures and I was never going to go there again.  I fulfilled all my requirements for veterinary school and I applied to Washington State University at Pullman, Washington.  That was in a day when everyone had to go through an interview in order to be accepted into veterinary school.  I will never forget that day because I was interviewed by Dr. Richard Ott.  He told me that he had never seen anyone go from 1.3 to 4.0.  My mother's maiden name was Ott so I asked him if that helped.  He just laughed and continued with the interview.

I heard from Washington State Veterinary School about a month later and it was official.  I had been accepted.  Obviously, I was more than delighted and I have never looked back.  My life has been even more rewarding than I thought it would be.  My life as a Veterinarian has been more fruitful than I expected and I wouldn't change if for anything.  My only regret has been that I wish I could have spent more time with my family. I remind the veterinarians who work with me to spend more time with their family so they do not have the same regret.

The main reason I wrote this was in hopes that someone might read it and realize that determination and dedication are more important than being smart.  I've decided that we are all as smart as we think we are.  I use to think I was stupid so therefore I acted stupid. There came a day when I realized that stupidity is a perception and if I could change my perception of being stupid to smart then things could change.  It took awhile but it so slowly happened.  My two favorite sayings are " If you don't like the way you're feeling, change the way you're thinking" and '' You are only limited by your imagination".

I can still remember my friends and the people around me telling me how I would never make it.  I especially remember Father Pat, a priest friend of the family, telling me I would never be a veterinarian because I was not smart enough.  I can only tell you this.  I wanted it so bad, I never really heard what they had to say.  I truly believe that you can do anything you want to do or become the person you always wanted to be.  It takes guts and determination but it is truly within your reach.  So what's stopping you?