Just last week, Central Mindanao University College of Veterinary Medicine hosted the 8th National Congress of Veterinary Medicine Students. With this year’s theme: Building Bridges for Excellence in Veterinary Profession Across the Archipelago, once again numerous aspiring vets from both private and state universities gathered. Representatives from 11 Veterinary Medicine schools across the country came and exposed their selves to new learnings, explored wider opportunities, and shared same fun experiences. The 4-day event was packed with talks from numerous respected veterinarians in various subfields of veterinary profession, tours to different vet facilities within and outside the campus, and fun moments at nights meant for students to socialize.
Even though I’m still in my last preparatory semester in this course, we sophomores were still allowed to participate in the said event. Honestly, being a ‘know-nothing’ yet in veterinary matters, I really hadn’t enjoyed the talk too much, but actually the whole thing stirred a question in my mind: is that really how big the opportunities that awaits for me?
When you come to think of it, there are only more or less 21 Veterinary Medicine Schools in our country, yet, the manpower demands for animal health care, for livestock, swine, equine and poultry production and sales, and for the academia are consistently high. Even the demand for veterinarians for abroad is always high too. These demands are always in need for a veterinarian’s skill. That’s the reason why even if a veterinary medicine graduate is not licensed yet, there are handfuls of companies which are reserving or even hiring him already. And I’ am even lucky enough to be enrolled in one of CHED’s only 3 Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) recognized as Center as of Excellence in Veterinary Education.
How about in Bukidnon, is there really a need for veterinarians? The answer is a big YES. Actually, just last month, when I and my dad went to Onda’s Farm (just along the national highway situated in Dalwangan, Malaybalay) to buy some trays of fresh eggs, we had a short talk with its owner. We my dad told Mrs. Onda that I am studying Veterinary Medicine, she immediately told me that I will apply to her when I graduate for she doesn’t have one yet. We were just laughing after that for I still need to conquer 4 more years before I graduate. But that alone proves that there is really a great need for veterinarians in our province alone.
Studying this course isn’t easy at all. It’s even almost a miracle to see someone finishing it in CMU within 6 years! Imagine, just mastering several animal anatomies, studying wide range and differences of diseases among animals, and just the fact that animals as patients don’t even talk where the pain is (vets just got to know), aiming to be a great doctor is a tough fight. Yet seeing those aspiring vets like me inspires me a lot. They don’t strive just to earn money; they don’t strive just to get a stable job. They strive primarily because there is an urge within them that they want to help these helpless creatures, and that they don’t want to see any sad pet-loving kid. Though before, I didn’t wanted to be a veterinarian, I believe within me that animals are my comfort zone, and living in a ranch is my dream. This is not just a dream actually, IT’S MY PASSION. And now I know, this decision is really worth pursuing for.
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