Veterinary students at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine shared their personal journeys through veterinary school in a statement released on Apr. 27.
The stories highlight the challenges and growth experienced by students as they progress through the program, emphasizing both the difficulties and rewards of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.
Blayne Blake, a first-year student at LSU Vet Med, said she has always wanted to be a veterinarian. “I always knew,” Blake said. She is currently pursuing her dream alongside her mother, who is also attending veterinary school but at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The two went through undergraduate studies together before applying to separate veterinary schools.
Blake recalled her acceptance into LSU Vet Med: “It was a Friday night. I was in the barn when I saw on my phone I got an email. I got my laptop and sat on the bed with my mom and twin siblings. Accepted! I was in shock for an hour,” she said.
She offered advice for incoming students: “You’ll hear that it’s hard. Don’t put that in your mind.” Blake grew up on a farm near Mobile, Alabama, where she helped care for horses and dairy goats with her family, gaining early hands-on experience with animals.
At LSU Vet Med, Blake’s days consist of lectures followed by labs and clinical skills sessions. She noted that while being away from family has been challenging, she found support among classmates and friends. After graduation, Blake plans to become a large animal veterinarian and hopes to open a practice with her mother.
Reflecting on her journey so far, Blake said: “I was very nervous about expectations. I have had bad days, but it has been manageable… Overall, I feel a sense of accomplishment.”
