Yellow Jacket Times - Jefferson County Public Schools

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Vet Tech, and Big Ideas Cole Neel If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that each and every one of us have a deep passion that nothing else in our life can compare to. For me, that passion has been animals. No matter where I've been in my life; through my darkest moments and lowest points, they've been by my side, loving me unconditionally. Other careers have crossed my mind, and I've lived through other passions, but a career with animals has always come out on top. Now, saying that I want a career with animals is a pretty broad statement. There are hundreds, if not thousands of different careers that have to do with animals. There's marine biology, vet assisting, animal grooming, animal training, careers with the military. The list goes on and on. So, what is it that I want to do? Well as it stands right now, all signs point to being a veterinarian technician. For those who may be confused what a vet technician is, and how it may differ from being an actual veterinarian, let me clarify. Think of a veterinarian as a human doctor. A veterinarian has an extensive knowledge on veterinary medicine, and is legally able to do surgeries, diagnose patients, and prescribe treatments. Think of a vet technician as a nurse practitioner of the animal world. They can do most of what a veterinarian can do (excluding what I mentioned before, of course). However, most of the care work falls onto the shoulders of the veterinary technician. They take samples from the animals, help during surgeries, and keep a close eye on animal health when they are being held in the vet building. Basically, they’re the care-takers of the animal world. There are a lot of advantages to being an actual veterinarian over a vet tech. Vets make considerably more money, probably have a more fulfilling job, and generally have a higher intelligence. So, with all these advantages (I especially know that some of you might be wondering why I wouldn’t go for the higher paying career), why would I want to choose to be a vet tech? Well, being a vet tech has its advantages as well. They’re hours are less demanding (I know a vet personally who works 12 hours just about every day of the week), vet techs jobs are less taxing (emotionally and mentally), and vet techs get to spend more personal time with the animals. The place that really inspired me, and showed me what a true animal hospital should be like is “Shively Animal Hospital” in Louisville, Kentucky. They have not only some of the most amazing veterinarians and vet techs in the entire state of Kentucky, but they care more than I’ve ever seen an animal hospital care before. They all work with smiles on their exhausted faces, knowing that while their job is difficult, it’s their lives’ passions. They refer to all the animals as “the baby”, knowing that each animal brought into there is just as important to the owner as their own child would be. They know the value of our pets, and they treat them exactly how they should be treated: with love and compassion. It’s this kind of place that I want to spend the rest of my life in. Working alongside people who care about their job, and what they’re doing. Working on something that I don’t mind spending the rest of my life doing. I want to wake up every morning and look forward to my work for the day. You have to follow what your passion is in life, or you’re not going to be happy. All the dollar signs in the world don’t mean anything if you can’t wake up in the morning, looking forward to more than something than green paper in your wallet. Animals are an important part of our lives. They keep us healthy and happy to get us through the day. However, just like us humans, animals get sick, and when they get sick, they have to go to their own doctor. These pet doctors, these veterinarians, are what keep our beloved pets healthy, so that they can continue to make us happy with their love. For such an important part of our lives, why does it seem to be that there are not nearly as many programs to keep our animals healthy as there are for humans? Now, let me elaborate a bit about what I said. When I say “programs to keep our pets healthy”, I mean programs like Passport, Medicaid, and other insurance assisting programs like those, that will help the financially handicapped to pay for their pet’s health. Don’t our pets deserve to be cared for, even if we can’t financially care for them ourselves? Of course we provide the necessities; food, shelter, water, and love, but sometimes, our babies can unexpectedly get sick or injured, and we may not have the funds for it at the time. Now, in my own experience, I haven’t found many vet offices that would allow for a “lay-away” plan of sorts, which allowed you to pay a little for your pet’s visit over time. The very few that I’ve come across that has allowed me to do this usually charged an extreme interest rate, which isn’t good at all. So what are we to do when our pets need medical care and we don’t physically have the funds to pay it? Are we to sit and wait, and hope that our pet doesn’t die soon? Now, I’m not an expert on the economy, or how it works. I’m not going to pretend that I know all the repercussions of instituting a “Pet Passport” program and I’m not going to act like I have all this entire idea planned out, but don’t you think that this is at least an idea that should be taken into some amount of consideration?
FUTURE EDUCATOR BY: Erica Talbott So many people tell me that I look just like a teacher. I remember my freshman year, walking down the hallway, I saw my friend at his locker with his phone out. Once he noticed me walking, he shoved his phone in his pocket. When he noticed it was me, he laughed and explained that he thought I was a teacher. Now that I am a senior, I’m pretty sure there are a couple of underclassmen who may think that I really am a teacher. It wasn’t until this year that I really thought about becoming a teacher. I think what started it all was when I started volunteering at a local elementary school. I have experience with working with kids at my church as a Children’s Church Leader, but something about actually being in a school setting, was so much more intriguing to me. I can still remember my first day and how all of the kids were so welcoming and just excited to even get to know me. That is when I knew I would be hooked. Now, it might be that I love being around kids, or it might be the fact that teaching is in my blood. My grandmother was a teacher, and my mom was a D.A.R.E. officer (an officer who goes around and teaches kids about alcohol and drug), for many years. My mom is currently going to college to get a degree in education, so that is definitely another factor in my sudden epiphany about becoming a teacher. People ask me all the time, “Erica, why in the world would you want to teach those bad little kids?” I can only respond by laughing. I love teaching and helping kids with the issues they may be facing. To me, the reward is seeing them smile or making them laugh. The kids that I work with, at the local elementary school, have quickly earned a place in my heart in the last three months. I would do anything they asked me to do. Being an educator is something I have a passion for because I think it takes more than just teaching and following a certain curriculum. To be an educator, you have to have a heart for the students you’re going to teach. I believe you have to be able to connect with them in more ways than just as an elder to them. My favorite teachers were always the ones I could go to for help whether it was dealing with school issues or home issues. Those were the teachers I felt helped me the most to grow as a student. Since I know the welcoming approach my teachers gave me worked, that is the type of teacher I want to be. The thing that does worry me about being a teacher is being responsible for so many lives. Some people don’t truly understand how much responsibility teachers have in shaping their students for the future, especially elementary school students. My biggest concern is being able to reach to all of my students and to really guide them down a successful path. I would never blame a child for not being able to learn something or get mad and accuse them of being learning disabled; it would be my fault as a teacher. As a teacher, it would be my job to change my teaching methods to adjust to the type of student I’m teaching. I would just never want to fail at that. Another reason why being a teacher would worry me is because of the dangers. Just this past weekend, in Newtown, Connecticut, there was a school shooting in an elementary school. I couldn’t fathom ever being in a situation like that. What in the world would I do in that situation with my students? Of course I would risk my life for my students, but the adrenaline rush I would get would be so mind-blocking, I can only hope I’ll make the right decision. Once I heard that horrible news, I immediately thought about my kids at the elementary school. I could honestly see myself crying if anything ever happened to one of them. The fact that I would cry over them and I only see them once a week, makes me wonder how hurt I would be if I was their actual teacher seeing them every day. Although an elementary school shooting is not that common, there are still other minor situations that can occur. For instance, dealing with angry parents, dealing with students who have gotten sick or just basic disagreements with co-workers can be an issue. That’s something I don’t have any experience with yet. Whether I’m at the elementary school, or working in Children’s Church, I can always send those issues to either the teacher I’m working with at the school or the parents of the child at church. That’s definitely going to be something new to me. I know it’s possible to get through all of those situations. Of course there will be a bad day here and there, but it’s a part of life; it just happens. What matters is how I respond to those situations that suddenly pop up. I know I could be a great teacher. There’s not a doubt in my mind that I can achieve it. If I just keep the goal in mind, there’s no way I can’t get there. I love teaching and I love being supportive. I love the warmth I get seeing my kids laugh or smile. Teaching is definitely a passion of mine.
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Yellow Jacket Times - Jefferson County Public Schools

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