UC Prompt #1:
Truthfully, I do not know what developed my love and affection for animals. Growing up I was never surrounded by a house pet because my parents never approved it. Nevertheless, this love is what shaped my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. However, as I became older and the ramifications of this dream became clearer, I realized that perhaps this dream was a bit more of a reach than I had expected. However, this all changed in the summer of my sophomore year.
I will never forget the first day I started volunteering at Sante D'or, an animal shelter. I was extremely excited about spending my time surrounded by animals. However, once I entered the doors of Sante D'or, my excitement quickly turned cold upon seeing the disturbing amount of sick animals. Witnessing mentally and physically abused animals was heartbreaking. As I walked past to the backroom, I saw kittens lying helplessly in their cages, cats vomiting and anxious dogs alarmed at every noise. Unable to take in such a disheartening sight any longer, I had one foot out the door before I was stopped by a cat named Junebug. She helped me see Sante D'or not as a depressing place, but as a place full of love and spirit. Junebug was abandoned in a cardboard box with half of her ear cut off and a missing tail. Naturally, when she was brought in she hissed constantly and tried to harm everyone who approached her. During my first days, I was given the responsibility of cleaning and feeding her. After many months of attempting to play, talk, and even feed her with my own hands, she finally opened her heart to me. As a result, for the first time, she quietly crawled out of her cage to sit beside me. A rush of accomplishment and happiness overcomes me whenever I realize that I am that human who healed a hurt animal. I feel satisfied not only to study for my future but the future of animals in need of help.
Although the journey I chose to take may be rough just like Junebug's past, I know that in the end these hardships will not only be insignificant in the light of my accomplishments, but also motivate me until the end. Some people may think of Sante D'or as just a community animal shelter, but for me, it was the place where I finally understood my future career. It was the place where I crafted countless memories and friendships, from the first time I healed a hurt animal to the time when Junebug finally left the shelter to her new home. It was the place where I learned that difficulties are an inevitable part of life, but it is how you overcome the difficulties that shape your future.
