Need Some Advice...

Sometimes, people overlook the fact that life, with the grace of God, extends over decades of time- with much (most) of spent working. Life is expensive. Doing what you love, what you have a passion for, what you love as a 20 something (or even 30 something :eek:) sounds wonderful. It really does. When you factor in a mortgage, a car payment, health insurance, the utilities, grocery money, food/vet care for your animals, it loses its luster a bit.

Think long term. Think about tomorrow, and the thousands after that. Think about making enough money to support yourself and your habits. It is the dirty truth that many people wake up and realize at some point- money does matter. And, in this country, *usually* more education = more money. And, *usually*, in this country, more education = more opportunity.

Quitting anything, dropping out of anything, has more to do with the individual than it does with the program that is being dropped. I went through this myself, and many people don't know this about me- mostly because it is a huge failure on my part, and I hate that I did it. I entered a master's program for public administration. I took two classes (it was a part time program), and dropped them both. My reasons? "I changed my mind", "it was too hard". Really? I quit on myself. I let those voices in my head govern my behaviour. I had no one encouraging me to stick with it, and I had no one reminding me that life isn't always easy or convenient. I had nothing but excuses, and it is still something to this DAY that I regret. Now? with a full time job, my law degree, and a small child? No way. Can't do it, without taking away from my child. Sure, I am *fine* (well, some people think that), but it is still something I regret doing. No way was a master's program in public administration more difficult than law school, which I entered two years later, and successfully completed.

Bri- I am super sorry to hear about your decision. I do think you will come to regret it.

Vet techs do NOT make a glamorous living. In fact, I barely make enough to cover my bills and pay off my student loans from going to school. And I am registered!!!!! If I was not living with my boyfriend and splitting utilities/rent... I would probably still be living at my parents. And that's the sad truth. But my current employer also terribly underpays us.. I should be making at least $2-3 more an hour than I do... Hence why I am looking for another job :D

But remember, as a tech, you are not limited to only working in small animal clinics. You can go into many different fields... research being one that I know makes an ok pay, and food companies pay a decent amount too...

Point being... you have to do something you love.. regardless of pay... if making money is something that is important to you, then a vet tech is not the route you wish to take.

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Originally Posted by Jessika

Point being... you have to do something you love.. regardless of pay... if making money is something that is important to you, then a vet tech is not the route you wish to take.

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That is such foolish, youthful advice. Most of us need $$ to live. That one also loves what one does is a blessing. But, to say "regardless of pay..." yikes.

I agree with Danielle, if you really hated Science, you wouldn't enjoy Vet Tech School anyway.

I to, am a little concerned with your decision. No one here is saying you HAVE to go on to Vet School, hell, you don't even need to be a Vet with the Animal Science Degree. I was in the FFA and we learned that there was plenty of other things that can be done. I am pretty sure you can be an RVT with that too, if that's what you really wanted. You can work in agriculture, research, Veterinary Science, go on to Grad school, etc. You just have a LOT more options with the Bachelors. You may be worried about loans, but you already have some from UT anyway, you're almost done, I think you should just finish to.

Last year, I was so ready to give up on being a Science Major because of one math class, one math class. I actually went as far as changing my major to Xray Technology, something my parents wanted. I knew and still to this day know I would have regretted that a hell of a lot. If I got lucky and had gotten a job in that field (with a little research I learned that it is not so easy anymore), I would have been miserable thinking of what could have been if I had just worked a little harder. I always think of selling myself short, and still do sometimes, but it always comes down to my ultimate goal. I've learned from my internship and newer experiences what I was meant to do and just because I don't do well in a MATH, doesn't mean I can't achieve it. I may be in under grad a little longer, I may have to go to grad school, I may have to move to some remote area for a little while for a job, but at least I know if I keep my grades up, gain experience, do internships, and keep learning I can come up with some sort of resume, get a entry level position in the Fish and Wildlife service or some other Gov't Agency related and start from there (or even look in the private sector). Life wasn't meant to be easy, and that took me FOREVER to realize. and guess what? I passed my math class!

I wish you luck in whatever you decide...just my point of view.

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Originally Posted by Cataholic

That is such foolish, youthful advice. Most of us need $$ to live. That one also loves what one does is a blessing. But, to say "regardless of pay..." yikes.

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Well you obviously need money to live. The point I was making is if you want a huge salary, then being a vet tech is not the profession you want to be in. And being a tech is definitely one of those jobs you must love, regardless of the pay, because you don't make a lot. Period. But someone has to do it. I don't consider this "youthful, foolish" advice when this is very relevant.

Dropping out would be the biggest mistake you can make. The first year of vet school is always the hardest, once you get into the next yrs and start real hands on work it gets so much more interesting. Everything worthwhile in life is hard work but very satisfying when you graduate and know you're set for life in a job you love---imagine getting paid for doing something you love.
Taking " a rest" is something you will regret-- some students do go back but most never do. And don't kid yourself, vet techs do not do almost the same work a vet does and some are not very well paid for the work that they do.
I think you should reread all the great advice you were given and just make up your mind that you will do this no matter what it takes....giving up might make you happy for a few yrs but down the line you will always regret it.

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Originally Posted by Asiel

And don't kid yourself, vet techs do not do almost the same work a vet does and some are not very well paid for the work that they do.

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Totally missed this part of the post... I echo this: Vet techs absolutely do not do anywhere close to the same job as a vet, hence the huge difference in pay. Do we work harder physically during the work hours? Yes. In the US anyway, we are forbidden to diagnose, prognose, perform surgery or prescribe medications. These are things only a vet can do. And those 4 things is a huge bulk of what goes on in this medical field. And this is for a registered tech. You are even further limited as to the duties you are allowed to do if you aren't registered!!

We are a support staff, we support and help the vet. But we are not vets...

Any job you go to school to train for or work towards is going to leave you with debt. You have to ask yourself if that's something you can see yourself doing long-term. I strongly recommend against dropping out of school altogether, though!! That would be a huge mistake and you would very likely end up regretting it later.

I don't recommend doing what my friend did... started uni fresh out of high school, ended up switching majors every year for her first 4 or 5 years in uni... cost her parents thousands upon thousands of dollars... she finally graduated this past year. If you're not sure... stick in school, get some gen ed classes out of the way, work toward your associates or bachelors degree... then crack down on a major when you KNOW what you want to do.

I "took a break" after high school, a 5 year break, but when I finally went to college again it was because I knew in my heart this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I haven't read this entire post so forgive me if this has already been said. But have you ever worked in an animal related job before? I know you have and love animals but that's not the same thing as working with them. I've known plenty of people who love and have animals and tell me they could never do my job (groomer) and people who love and have animals and have tried to be a bather and couldn't handle it. Maybe you should try getting a job as a grooming assistant/bather or possibly vet assistant (if they have those there? I think here you can be an assistant without a degree but not a tech) and see if you can honestly handle that before you jump into vet/vet tech school as I know it's quite pricey. Also it would give you good experience for future training anyway, and it's a paycheck. You can get a job as a bather without any experience at most places, they will teach you. Cleaning up poop/dealing with difficult animals/getting bit is not something everyone can handle, even animal lovers.

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Originally Posted by caseysmom

my daughter thought she wanted to be a vet until she volunteered with a vet for a year every Saturday, he was pretty relaxed and let her do everything he did, even surgeries

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ARE YOU SERIOUS???????? :eek::eek::eek: Yikes - it's a wonder this guy didn't lose his license, and I'm pretty certain he would have, if this fact was publicly known. Definitely not a vet that I would recommend to anyone, or take any of my animals to.

I know this is kind of off the mark. You've gotten a lot a really good advice here. When I graduated from high school I had planned to go to college to become a paralegal. Unfortunately, my brother's college education took top priority. I've been working since I was 15 years old. I found that the workplace experience far outweighed any education I could have gotten. I became good at what I did through experience. I later went on to work at the 1 thing I had a great passion for... writing. I'm not saying you should quit school all together and go to work. I also put myself through paramedic school. I worked full time during the day as a secretary and went to school at night. I knew that no matter what I would always have something to fall back on. Because being a secretary didn't pay that well, I worked both jobs for 20
years. I was a single parent raising a child. I think what you need to do is talk to an advisor and see if they can give you guidance. I wish you much luck, Bri. And remember, the 1 person you know that no matter what, will be there always for you is yourself.

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Originally Posted by caseysmom

He's a great vet all his patients love him he was always by her side it was mostly spays and neuters she assisted he let me come in and watch too they were pretty straightforward, this is a great guy people would bring in pets to put down and he would say okay and take them home.

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He may have been a great vet and loved by all, but that doesn't change the fact that what he was doing was most definitely illegal and highly unethical. I shudder to think that he was allowing just a volunteer (and a kid, at that), to participate in surgical procedures.

A friend of mine for his SAE project (Supervised Agricultural Experiment)with the FFA volunteered and later worked for a vet. He assisted in surgeries as well, but by assist I mean, handing the Vet tools, things of that nature. I think that's what Caseysmom is getting at.

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Originally Posted by Alysser

A friend of mine for his SAE project (Supervised Agricultural Experiment)with the FFA volunteered and later worked for a vet. He assisted in surgeries as well, but by assist I mean, handing the Vet tools, things of that nature. I think that's what Caseysmom is getting at.

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I'd like to think that was the case, but I doubt it. She said "let her do everything he did, even surgeries" and "he was always by her side". That sounds to me like he was letting her perform at least some part of the surgical procedure.

My apology to Caseysmom if I am wrong. I really hope that I am.

And that being said - I'll say no more. I am not being confrontational, but I was shocked to read what I did - thus my response.

Bri - a 14 year old in Pakistan was shot in part because she went to school and got educated. Does that not make you appreciate your being able to get an education in your country?

Finish school. Finish this term at least. It will show other schools that you finish what you started.

And if you take a break? I have a funny feeling you will get a job, and get pregnant, and never get back to school...it can happen very very easily.

Do it while you can!

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Originally Posted by caseysmom

You have a right to your opinion pomptzu no animals were in danger like i said it was routine things. The whole point of my post was that it changed her mind. But she changed her mind a few times that is life and normal but she is still on track in college that is the important thing.

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When you start to coin procedures as "routine" in the medical world, you start to let your guard down and get lazy because "its just a routine spay, what can go wrong?". Lots of things can go wrong. I don't agree with it, but I also understand that this type of thing happens a lot, a lot more than most of you pet talkers think. It's one thing if he was allowing her to help on stray animals that didn't have a home (yet), but not on a client's pet.

In any case, what's done is done. No sense getting into ethics over things that happened in the past, I suppose.

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Originally Posted by Jessika

When you start to coin procedures as "routine" in the medical world, you start to let your guard down and get lazy because "its just a routine spay, what can go wrong?". Lots of things can go wrong. I don't agree with it, but I also understand that this type of thing happens a lot, a lot more than most of you pet talkers think. It's one thing if he was allowing her to help on stray animals that didn't have a home (yet), but not on a client's pet.

In any case, what's done is done. No sense getting into ethics over things that happened in the past, I suppose.

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When I said routine that was my opinion this all happened 6 years ago and I refuse to sit and argue about it that wasn't the point of my post and I really don't care if others disagree like you said its in the past. She got to watch, she got to cut the stitches after he did them she FELT involved enough to change her mind that was my point geez.

Back on track Bri if you can stick it out there are a lot of jobs you can do with your animal science degree besides being a Vet. I am only keeping at this because I care, just remember that please I hope the best for you. My oldest daughter didn't like college and she does have a decent job it can be done but the pay is lower for ever. I was lucky when I met my husband I wasn't in college and he talked me into going to college so it can be done with a guy it just depends, its just that we got a thread about your fiance and shortly after you were quitting school, you can't really blame us.

I've worked as a dog bather before and hated it, but that was because of my boss and unfair treatment.

I've volunteered in a vet clinic, shadowed at UT's vet hospital and volunteered in animal shelters. I love the environment and everything that goes on. I don't care if I get to cut open a dog or just draw blood in the future, all would be satisfying careers. I never cared about the amount of money I made either, so that's not an issue.

I don't get the big deal over Caseysmoms daughter helping with surgery. I've been in ORs before and assisted with a couple of things in my volunteering and shadowing. Heck, in my animal science classes we've castrated piglets, calves, and I drew blood on Brennan. So I mean as long as there is supervision and guidance, I don't see the big deal.

Anyway...

I know you're all just trying to be helpful and I appreciate it.

I'm not 100% sure what I want to do in regards to this yet. I've talked to a couple of vet tech schools and I've registered for classes at UT next semester until I make up my mind.

You'll all be happy to know Michael isn't too thrilled with the "take a few semesters off" idea.

Either way I'm going to vet tech school, it's just a matter of when. The taking Semesters off thing is mainly a way to work and save money to relocate. Since I'd have to move an hour away from home when I transfer. I'm still thinking and debating and haven't made a final decision yet.

I also found out I can't drop the other class I need to without owing the university money :/, so I'm gonna have to finish it out and retake it later. I also found out a lot of my credits probably aren't going to transfer, so I'm going to end up retaking a lot of animal courses and the few sciences involved in vet tech. There are less actual sciences (bio, chemistry, etc) and animal sciences don't bother me.

So I will keep everyone updated!

Also apologies for any typos, typed all that on my phone and cant edit it and autocorrect is not my friend lol

Well we are cyber friends and don't ever want to alienate you from being comfortable here want you to feel comfortable to come her and talk.

And friends don't let friends make big changes in their lives without poking their noses in...heck, jumping right in on it!

I never thought I would sound OLD and be saying stuff like "looking back" etc...But you are in such a perfect position to get everything you want now as far as an education. I know your mom is having troubles and you have financing for classes. However, whenever you get out in the world on your own, with a partner or not, it really IS much harder to get back in the groove.

I think of it like you are in a river. The currents and directions may change, but keep going with the flow. If you get out, and you're all dried off and in clean clothes and comfy, it'll be harder to jump in again - in the middle of the flow!

OK, it's winter here, chilling my gray matter...

To echo what someone else here said, first year is a b****! And I was just in Arts! It's almost like a test to see who is good material. Second year was HEAVEN by comparison.

You can do it. Even if you have to take a course over again, you may have a different teacher - and that makes all the difference!

You go girl - you can do it!:):love::love: