INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
STANDING COMMITTEEE ON WELLNESS (SCOW)
DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE 03
MIND
-over-
matter
CONTENTS
4
IVSA SCOW Find out how IVSA tries to riase awareness on Mental & Physical health issues
14
SICKNESS & VET SCHOOL WELLNESS WEEK @RVC Find out what the Wellness Week at the Royal Veterinary College in London, the UK is.
SCoW Member Jaclyn shares her story about being diagnosed with Hodgins Lymphoma in vet school.
INTERVIEWS
BE MORE PRODUCTIVE
Veterinarians and students from all over the world share their experiences and opinions. Find out from their stories that everyone struggles from time to time
Learn more about how to increase your productivity & decrease your level of stress!
20
10
Chair's note
Welcome to the third issue of Mind over
as students work so very hard to be able to
Matter! My name is Taylor Strange, and I am
participate in veterinary school, but when we
from the the United States and and
get here, the stakes are much higher than
completing a doctorate of veterinary
before. We are now not just trying to pass,
medicine at Texas A&M University. I am
but also trying to gain the necessary tools to
proud to be serving as chair for the 2017-
become competent veterinary professionals.
2018 Standing Committee on Wellness
That can be a lot of pressure. How do we
(SCoW)! Wellness is a topic that I hold near
overcome the struggles that accompany a
and dear to my heart, and I want to assure
high-stress curriculum? Throughout this
each of you that my team is filled with
issue, we will tackle that question. I sincerely
passionate individuals who are working hard
hope this helps you find a bit more balance
to increase the wellness of every single one
and wellness in your life.
of you. Mind over Matter is one of our proudest projects in SCoW. This issue addresses a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of veterinary students everywhereAcademic Stress. Though across the world our veterinary curriculum is different, there is one thing that remains amongst them all- rigor. We
TAYLOR STRANGE CHAIR OF THE IVSA STANDING COMMITTEE ON WELLNESS
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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 3
UPDATE ON PROJECTS OF THE ONLINE COUNSELING SERVICE It is becoming increasingly common for students to bottle up their feelings, leading to mental health issues and further stress. Thus, our main goal is to provide a service that guarantees students will have someone to turn to and express their feelings or worries, whether it be to a professional or a trained volunteer. Students will be able to access this counselling service at any time necessary. This project is overseen by Elwin and Natasha, who are currently searching for the best possible service suitable for all veterinary students.
MENTOR-MENTEE PROGRAM The mentor-mentee program is led by Hana and Aaminah in collaboration with Taylor Strange- the SCOW Chair and Joseph Lunt the Chair of the Working Group on Alumni (WGA). This program is aimed at students to develop their strategies and skills in overcoming any hardships and hurdles that they may face and to deal with them effectively and efficiently. The programs purpose is to provide these students with the tools and knowledge they need to develop a healthy and sound mind Currently, we working towards establishing the foundation of this program and are trying to recruit possible mentors.
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STANDING COMMITTEE ON WELLNESS WELLNESS TOOLKIT
The aim of the Wellness Toolkit is to provide resources to both students and universities to help them improve their overall Wellness. We think the toolkit is important because not all universities focus as much on Wellness as is needed. Students will be able to turn to these resources for help on how to cope with stress, anxiety, and other obstacles that vet school presents us with. The project is currently being overseen by Clara, Jaclyn, and Elwin.
E-LEARNING COURSE The E-learning module project is aimed at creating an online course to raise awareness on wellness issues within our profession and provide tools and tips on how to address these issues in our life and careers. The module will consist of different courses on various topics related to wellness designed to educate participants, provide resources, and create an open environment for further discussion of wellness issues. The plan is to make the module available online free of charge for veterinary students and veterinarians. Hana (from the University of Tennessee, one of the module project’s partners) is leading this project. She is currently contacting partner organizations to begin building course topics and collecting the needed resources for the module.
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PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO FILL IN THE SURVEY ON STUDENT WELLNESS
CLI
HER
CK E!
As the IVSA has members from all around the world, we aim to represent each and every one of them. This survey was created to ensure that all of their voices are heard, allowing us to identify the main factors leading to a decline in mental health and what we can do to help veterinary students! This project is handled by Vincenzo and Natasha, who are currently trying to promote participation as it is vital in order for us to gain a wider understanding of the student's opinions.
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INTERVIEWS In the second issue of the Mind over Matter journal, we published several interviews with vet students and professionals from all over the world. In these interviews, they shared their experiences, their struggles & their ways of coping By publishing these articles SCOW hopes to break through the stigma around mental health and to make this topic open for discussion. All these people have their own struggles, but it shows you that you are not alone!
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU Please send an email to studentwellness@ivsa.org if you're interested in being part of the interviews..
ivsa_wellness
CLICK HERE Like the SCOW Facebook Page and Instagram to receive your daily dose of inspiration, interesting resources & articles, projects, interviews and much more! Vincenzo is managing the social media for SCOW
INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK
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WELLNESS WEEK @RVC By Natasha Alia - a member of SCOW & student at the Royal Veterinary College in London
The RVC held it’s Wellbeing Week from the 13th of November until the 17th of November, with various activities arranged by the Students’ Union Welfare team (led by Hatti Smart, our Welfare Officer), ranging from relaxing massages to more challenging exercises. Both students and staff participated in this event, making it thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.
MEDITATION & MASSAGES The week began with an early meditation session, helping those who joined to clear their mind before the start of their busy day. This was followed by multiple massage sessions in the afternoon, which allowed any built up tension to be released. Aside from this, a movie night was held at the Camden Campus with free pizza and snacks provided. Two 5km runs with the RVC’s Triathlon Club were spread across the week, both held at the Hawkshead Campus. Other activities included a night walk and an afternoon of arts and crafts (with free biscuits!) for students to unwind and de-stress.
THIS EVENT BROUGHT US CLOSER AS A COMMUNITY AND PROVIDED A REMINDER TO TAKE A BREAK EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND FOCUS ON OUR OURSELVES.
SEXUAL HEALTH Additionally, sexual health stands were set up in both campuses, providing information on local services, leaflets, free condoms, oral dams and chlamydia tests. Students also had a chance to speak to representatives from the Drug and Alcohol Service and Nightline who could give appropriate advice or answer any queries.
NO STRESS NOVEMBER In conjunction with Wellbeing Week, the RVCSU also dubbed this month “No Stress November”, holding sessions over the course of 2 weeks which targeted physical health and fitness, such as yoga, body weight movements and circuit training sessions. To further encourage participation, those who attended four sessions would be entered into a prize draw, giving them the opportunity to win prizes including free gym memberships, massages and studio classes. The RVC is extremely dedicated towards ensuring their students’ have the best experience possible and thus put in a significant amount of effort to providing support for those who need it. There are incredible teams such as the advice centre, the students’ union wellbeing team, and personal tutors who can be approached whenever necessary and can offer information, advice and guidance on everything related to university life.
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Group yoga to clear your mind
Information about your sexual health
Getting a relaxing massage
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HOW TO STUDY > PRODUCTIVELY! TWO-LIST STRATEGY Create a list of 25 goals you want to achieve this month. Now, in that list circle the 5 most important ones. These 5 will become your A list, the other 20 will become your B list. Now throw away list B. Although they are important to you, they are secondary priorities and just keep you from achieving your List A goals. Otherwise, according to Warren Buffet, you’ll end up with 20 half finished projects instead of 5 finished projects.
STUDY APPS
For those of you, like me, that do not have great self control, look at these apps! It starts off by naming this app that controls you from visiting distracting websites. We all spend too much time on youtube, 9gag, facebook, instagram and what not while we are studying. These apps will help you with studying by helping you focus, waking up, staying awake, be inspired, exercise. We dare you to try them!
GROWTH MINDSET This article explains how a change in mindset can help you in dealing with academic stress. Instead of thinking you are not smart enough, focus on the fact that you’re getting smarter by studying. Learning does not happen without challenges. Embrace them and think about them positively. Think about all the things you were able to do, instead of your failures.
STUDY TIPS Don’t need help with managing the work load, but just need help with how to study? Read this article! There are so many tips, there must be one that you could try. We’re especially a fan of number 3. Read through them all because there are some very interesting suggestions (like nr. 18) that should be tried!
EAT YOUR RESULTS MORE TIPS! If our overview (see page 12-13) of things to do to deal with academic stress and be more productive, read this article. It states 21 possible reasons for stress and how to potentially relieve them.
Here are some suggestions for types of food that could increase productivity. They’re high in vitamins, antioxidants, energy or stimulate helpful hormones. If you’re someone, like me, that eats a lot more during exam periods, it is worth it to check this articles & google some more! If you’re gonna eat more, make it useful!
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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 3
HOW TO BUY HAPPINESS
Kelly McGonigal talks about studies that have shown that considering stress as a helpful response, your body will respond in a healthier way. “If you can change your mind about stress, you can change how your body responds to stress.” She does not only talk about the psychology but also the physiological and chemical responses to stress. If you can’t decrease the level of stress you experience in vet school, this might be a useful tactic to adopt!
Shaw Achor mentions in this tedtalk that 90% of your happiness is determined by the way your brain processes the world, not by the world itself. He speeds through the importance of positive thinking in just 12:20 minutes. Supported by many others he states that happiness will improve productivity and happiness comes from positivity. We can recommend you to listen to this, but more importantly to remember this in daily life. Sit down, listen and watch.
“Take A Break”, “I Need A Vacation”, “I can’t wait for the weekend”. These are all thing you say or are said to you. We all know that it’s important to take time off to unwind. But, you need to take time off to become more productive and creative as well. If you need someone else convincing you of this, don’t skip this TedTalk!
THE PUZZLE OF MOTIVATION Dan Pink, who graduated at the bottom of his class in law school, explains how incentive and reward actually results in lesser result. Long story short: if you tell people that they will get a reward if they are the best, they will perform worse. Could this be the case for students in vet school? The more your professors stress you have to be the best and know everything, the less you’ll actually learn?
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
THE HAPPY SECRET TO BETTER WORK
THE POWER OF TIME OFF
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
HOW TO MAKE STRESS YOUR FRIEND
EREH KCILC
INTERESTING TEDTALKS
“If you think money can’t buy you happiness, you’re not spending it right” Many wellness experts, psychologists and articles mentions that volunteering and selflessness will make you happier and improve your wellness. This is a very broad statement, but Michael Norton actually supports this statement with his research. He studies the difference in level of self-reported happiness by spending money on yourself (selfish) and spending money on others (selfless). He found that people that spent money more socially, and spent money on others, are happier. Listen to this TedTalk to find out what Michael Norton did for this study and the results.
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TIPS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH Exercise
Change
Plan
Groups
Teach
Hobbies
Exercise is important to keep your body healthy but also your mind. Regular exercise will help you concentrate, make you more resilient to stress, improve your memory and much more! Find tips on how to exercise in our first journal!
Most student study in the same place, whether this is at the library, at home or at their favorite coffee place. When you're struggling to focus, it is a good idea to have a change of scenery. You can take a walk or study at a different location.
Do you know those days where you've got so much to do, that you actually get less done because it's all a chaos in your mind? Sit down, write down all your tasks and prioritize. Strike them off one by one. You'll be much more productive!
Studying with a group of people can really benefit you and improve your productivity. You'll learn from each other, go through the material quicker and they'll help you be disciplined by meeting at specific times and locations.
Studying involves a lot of reading and revising but usually does not include a more interactive method. A good way to test your knowledge and understanding is if you try to teach it to others. It'll also help you remember the material better.
Studying does not mean that you should give up on everything that you enjoy. On the contrary, make sure you make time for your hobbies and do the things you love. It'll be easier to concentrate the rest of the day if you do.
Relax
A person can only study so much. Give your body and your mind a break and relax. You can do this just by lying down, sleeping, watching a movie or something more active like mediation or breathing exercises.
Socialize
Spending time with friends and family will help you relax and possibly make you laugh. You'll be in a better mood overall if you've socialized. It's so much easier to focus if you're in a good mood, right?
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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 3
ACADEMIC STRESS Realistic
Set realistic goals for yourself. Nobody is a superhuman and setting your goals to high will only lead to frustration which will decrease your productivity. It'll also help you prioritize and determine which goals are important to you.
NO!
Following your realistic goals, you should know your limits and don't be afraid to say no! If you already had 101 things to do, and you classmate asks you to do some work, it's okay to say no! What you can't do, you can't do..
Why?
You often know when you're stressed, but do you know why? Spending some time thinking about why you're stressed might help you get rid of that stress. Some of your stress could come from putting unnecessary pressure on yourself
Puppies
Yes, puppies! Spending time with animals, especially puppies, has been shown to have a positive effect on your health and your mood. As a vet student, it's generally not hard to have access to animals, USE IT!
Positive
Positive thinking can really help manage your stress, which is addressed in some of the TedTalks on page 11. Thinking you're going to fail, will make you more likely to fail. Think more positive and be surprised by the change in your daily life..
Class..
Eat
Sleep
We're all guilty of skipping class, and sometimes you just need that extra time. However, if you skip class you could end up feeling guilty, feeling more stressed about catching up and lacking social contact with your classmates..
Some people eat more and some people eat less when they're busy studying all day. Whatever you do, make sure that you still eat balanced and eat enough calories. Your brain needs energy too! Look on page 10 to find suggestions for brain food!
Do we really have to tell you that sleeping is important? Yes? SLEEP IS IMPORTANT! Try to schedule a certain hours of sleep (preferably 8 hours/day) to prevent you from studying all night and becoming sleep deprived.
VET SCHOOL WITH CANCER By Jaclyn St. Croix - a member of SCOW & student at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine My first semester of veterinary school was proving to be my most challenging endeavor yet. After originally pursuing a career in business, I decided that what I really wanted to do was be a doctor of veterinary medicine. I had applied to Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine while finishing up my MBA at the same university. Once accepted, I was both ecstatic to be following my dreams and terrified to take on the rigorous curriculum. As a business student, I didn't have much experience with science courses. I had never even taken an anatomy class, and the first day of school I was jumping in head first, taking charge on our canine dissection. The course load of that semester was something I'd never experienced before. With 23 credit hours of class, two exams per week, plus more social activities than I thought possible, saying I was overwhelmed is an understatement. Half way through the semester, in October, I noticed I had lost a lot of weight. My
classmates were envious that I could fit into my high school clothes, and I just assumed it was the only positive side effect of all the stress. I also noticed a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck and wondered if I was getting sick, despite not feeling ill. After seeing the doctor and receiving inconclusive results from a fine needle aspirate, we scheduled surgery for a lymphadenectomy and biopsy. The doctors didn't seem too concerned, suggesting it may be cat scratch fever, considering I work with animals. My main concern at this point was finishing the semester strong and attending a long awaited a ski trip with my classmates. Because of this, I put off the surgery for a couple months. On December 27, 2016, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I had gone to the doctor’s office alone to get my stitches removed when the doctor broke the news to me as though it was a differential we had been considering all along.
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“SO WE GOT THE RESULTS FROM THE BIOPSY, AND IT IS HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA,” HE STATED. “OKAY,” I REPLIED. AFTER SOME SILENCE AND MY LACK OF AN UNCONTROLLABLE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE HE ADDED, “YOU DO REALIZE THIS IS A MALIGNANCY, RIGHT?” “YES.” It was at that moment I realized this was the beginning of dealing with a long list of people who would treat me like a child or question my intelligence. I didn't cry until I got home. I didn't even feel upset until I got home and had to tell my dad what happened. I made him tell my mom when she got home because saying the words “I have cancer” don't exactly roll off the tongue. My parents took it from there and scheduled an appointment with an oncologist. I didn't have time to think about it. I had just been accepted to attend the IVSA Symposium at NC State and was leaving in a few days. Whatever was growing inside my body could wait another week or two because I was not going to miss this event. The symposium was an incredible experience. After just a week of interacting with different veterinary students from around the world, I felt comfortable telling some of them what I was going through, before I even had a chance to tell everyone at home. I was able to go home with something to look forward to: the IVSA Congress that summer in Malaysia.
MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 3
When I arrived back in Baton Rouge, school had already started. I had to immediately dive right into my second semester of vet school and somehow figure out a way to beat cancer at the same time. I didn't think anything could be more difficult than vet school. Then I had to face vet school with cancer. In January alone, I had a PET scan and a bone marrow biopsy to determine the stage of my cancer, and I had a MediPort surgically inserted into my chest for chemotherapy. The tests showed that I had Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma, stage 2A, with tumors of the lymph nodes on both sides of my neck and a large mass around my heart in the mediastinum. My treatment plan consisted of eight rounds of ABVD chemotherapy and 17 sessions of radiation.
I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING COULD BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN VET SCHOOL ..... THEN I HAD TO FACE VET SCHOOL WITH CANCER On February 1, 2017, a Wednesday, I sat my for first chemo. The actual administration of the drugs wasn't as bad as I expected. The Diphenhydramine drip made my dizzy and nauseous, but the chemo drugs weren't too bad, and the entire process was over in about four hours. The next couple days the fatigue set in. My whole body felt heavy, my eyes were watering constantly, and I would burst into tears with no explanation. That weekend I realized that my mouth felt like acid. It was as though I could feel the chemo drugs excreting into my saliva, and nothing I ate could cover it up. Days seven through nine were one long migraine coupled with nausea. Then I felt okay! I had a few days to get things done before I had to go back on February 15 to start all over again.
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My faculty gave me the option to take time off from school. If I chose, I could have deferred a year and started back up in 2018. This wasn't an option for me. I had grown so close to my classmates the first semester, and I was a member of the class of 2020 through and through. The only thing I could think of that would be worse than sitting on my couch all day, debilitated by the side effects of chemo, was sitting on my couch all day, debilitated by the side effects of chemo with nothing else to think about. During the four or five days before every chemo that I wasn't sick, I would study and make up whichever exams I had missed the week before. My teachers were more than accommodating, letting me take exams late. I was severely neutropenic the majority of my treatment, so I was unable to attend bacteriology lab or large animal anatomy lab. I managed to study anatomy off of pictures, and I made up bacteriology during the summer.
my feelings. What I was going through was hard, but I was handling it and didn't need anyone's sympathy. Despite only knowing them for a few months, the bonds I formed with these women as they stood by me through cancer are ones that will stand the test of time. As close as I grew to some of my friends this past year, the weaknesses and superficiality of other friendships grew apparent. It was also difficult to meet new people, not knowing when or how to tell them I had cancer. Worrying about what I look like while in the middle of fighting cancer may seem frivolous, but as an independent single woman in my mid-twenties, my image is important to me. Two weeks after I started chemo, my hair started coming out in handfuls. It was so sudden, I think I lost 50% of my hair in one day. I never understood why cancer patients
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THEY DIDN'T TREAT ME DIFFERENTLY AND THAT THEY DIDN'T TIPTOE AROUND MY FEELINGS. There aren't many resources online that helped with my particular situation. Advice on how to get through chemo includes “try getting out of bed today and stay positive!” There was no advice on “how to pass an entire semester of vet school during chemo with never setting foot inside the classroom.” I was on my own for that one. I think what really got me through it were the friendships I made through vet school. They kept me in the loop about the drama going on in at school and didn't hesitate to complain about whatever was going on in their lives. It was very important to me that they didn't treat me differently and that they didn't tiptoe around
would shave their heads. I figured I would work with what I had and wear hats to cover the uneven spots. That mindset ended immediately when I took a shower and the hair would not stop coming out. I scrubbed and scrubbed, trying to remove all the loose hairs, but it was never ending. I cried for my mom to come remove the small mammal that had gathered at the side of the tub, and she helped me dry what was left on my head, as the hair dryer blew hair all over the bathroom. The next day I got a wig. The day after that, my dad shaved my head.
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ON THE OTHER HAND, IF I SHOWED UP LOOKING “TOO HEALTHY” I WOULD HEAR WHISPERS OF GETTING SPECIAL TREATMENT AND HELP ON EXAMS. I was able to play around with my style to boost my confidence. I had friends visit me from out of state for Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and I wore purple wigs. I braided my long blonde wig and threw on my high school prom dress for my school’s Aesculapian Ball. Whenever I felt up to it I would get dress to the nines and go out with my friends at night. However, I felt like a fraud when anyone would compliment me because I felt like Cinderella. I was playing dress up at night , but my reality was in the daytime, lying in a machine for a scan, bald and exposed, completely vulnerable as a young technician would patronized me, calling me honeybun every two sentences. It didn't matter how many times my friends told me I was strong and beautiful; I felt like I had been robbed of my femininity. Dressing for school, the days I was able to make it, was also a challenge. If I showed up how I looked on a daily basis, in just my hat and sweats, I was met with sympathy and stares. On the other hand, if I showed up looking “too healthy” I would hear whispers of getting special treatment and help on exams.
I finished the semester strong, and my GPA didn't reflect that I had cancer. I finished up treatment and was able to meet up with my IVSA family in Malaysia as planned. It was a liberating experience because it was there that I first took my hat/wig off in public. My hair was just starting to grow back, and it was simply too hot. My roommate thought I was just haute couture and a stranger thought I was a model. I never put a wig on again after that trip. I have been in remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma since July 2017, and I have my next PET scan at the end of this year to see if I am still cancer free... Going through cancer treatment during vet school has changed my perspective on life. I am a huge advocate of mind over matter and that your perception is your reality. I was absolutely miserable during the majority of this past year, but I chose to radiate positivity.
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If I pretended I was fine, I actually felt better. That's not to say I don't still face adversity. I am dealing with the long term side effects of cancer treatment such as fatigue, depression, “chemo-brain,” and the crippling fear of a relapse or secondary cancer. I also still struggle with my image. It's hard to go out and feel confident when someone calls you sir because you have short hair.
MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 3
I GET DONE WHAT I NEED TO GET DONE AND SPEND MY SPARE TIME LIVING MY LIFE TO THE FULLEST.
But the fact is, I know that I am strong, I know that I am beautiful, and I know that I can handle whatever life throws my way. Second year of veterinary school is just as challenging as the first, but I don't find myself stressing out like I did last year. It's not that I don't find school difficult, but I'm not going to waste my energy on negativity while I'm not studying. I get done what I need to get done and spend my spare time living my life to the fullest. I've been heavily involved with IVSA this past year, and it's become a defining characteristic of mine. I serve on the Standing Committee on Wellness for IVSA and will be traveling to both South Africa and Poland for the symposium and congress. I prefer to be recognized as the “IVSA girl” than the “girl that had cancer.” Getting cancer was the worst thing that has ever happened to me, but going through it has made me a better person and will hopefully transform me into a more well rounded veterinarian.
I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE OF MIND OVER MATTER AND THAT YOUR PERCEPTION IS YOUR REALITY.
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Growth and Strength Come Only Through Continuous Effort and Struggle - Napoleon Hill
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Lara Scherer
Does your university and/or your teachers in vet school encourage you to take part in extracurricular activities? Our university in total does support us in extracurricular activities, but only after asking for support several times. I think there is still room for improvement and I wish they would encourage especially first and second year students to take part in extracurricular activities. The recommendation for extracurricular activities comes more from individual professors and it varies from professor to professor what they recommend. Do you think you spend enough time on your personal life? For some parts of my personal life I spend enough time, for others not. I am still travelling a lot (visiting IVSA events but also backpacking or visiting friends abroad) and I have my cute little Whippet who definitely helps me to remember to go out in nature and get some time for myself But my boyfriend is definitely having a hard time with me. He is incredibly supportive and I would not have warm food most days if he wouldn´t cook for us or if he would have not bought us food ☺
IVSA Committe Coordinator 2017-2018 studies in Vienna, Austria
WE FEEL BAD WHEN WE DON´T STUDY OR WHEN WE DON´T GO TO LECTURES. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SET TIMES DURING THE WEEK THAT ARE ONLY FOR THINGS YOU DO FOR YOURSELF.
Was doing well in school important for you? It always was! I always defined myself by my grades and it was really hard for me that my grades are not as good any more as they were during high school. But I started to gain experience rather than good grades
Have you ever felt, depressed or unhappy? It was during highschool. I had some close friends that suffered from depression and they definitely involved me into their thoughts and problems as well. I would not say I was depressed, but there were definitely days were I was unhappy.
I AM DEFINITELY STRESSED BEFORE EVERY MAJOR EXAM EVEN THOUGH I NEVER FAILED IN ONE. THERE IS ALWAYS THIS FEAR OF NOT PASSING AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO BECOME A VET, OR HAVING TO REPEAT THE YEAR IN VETSCHOOL....
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Antonia Braus
Does your boss/clinic encourage you to take part in extracurricular activities? At my current workspace, yes, and I changed jobs for exactly this reason. Previously, I worked at an equine clinic, which doesn’t allow for a good work/life balance. Now, at Tieraerzte ohne Grenzen e.V., we receive a lot of encouragement, have many workshops and roundtables. For example, next week I am flying to Brussels for a training which is paid for. Our boss is is very encouraging and I know that they have offered a lot of support to colleagues in the past.
Did you ever think about your level of stress?
I did think a lot about my stress. Night shifts are really tough and I started to show physical signs of stress. I got tinnitus and frequent migraines. At the time, I did pilates and took pain killers to cope. Later, I changed my career path.
Have you ever felt unhappy? Why?
Vets Without Borders (VSF) Lecturer on Animal Health
Do you think you spend enough time on your personal life? Now in this job, yes. Before at the clinic, it was really hard. Perhaps guilt, too, that was big for me. You feel guilt for yourself, for your patients, for the owners. I know I felt guilty when I had been out the night before, gotten too little sleep and then had the responsibility of treating an animal. I also think that many people in this field have very idealistic values, which takes away from their personal time
MONEY, PERSONAL LIFE… I FELT SO UNFREE WHEN I COMPARED MYSELF TO FRIENDS STUDYING LITERATURE OR HISTORY FOR EXAMPLE. THERE’S LITTLE FREEDOM AS A VET STUDENT; YOU ARE TIED.
Stress, I had no perspective into the vet field and didn’t feel like I fitted in.
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Jordon Egan
Does your university and/or your teachers in vet school encourage you to take part in extracurricular activities? Yes, we are encouraged to have social aspects to look forward to and have a healthy work/life balance. We are encouraged to try a variety of activities. Some are completely free - the RVC Sports and Wellbeing Centre has a rockclimbing wall.
DURING EXAM PERIODS AND RESEARCH PROJECT DEADLINES, HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISE USUALLY GO OUT THE WINDOW. Do you feel ready for life as a vet? I feel my veterinary school and involvement with IVSA help prepare me for life as a veterinarian. Also, the extra 2 years of time at my vet school has given me more time to explore and prepare also. This is why if people inadvertently need to repeat a year, there is always added benefit to having more time on your side.
IVSA Secretary General 2017-2018 studies in London, UK
Is doing well in school important to you? Yes, doing well in vet school is important to me but achieving the best is not. I recognise that I do sacrifice a lot of time at vet school and I have to be careful to not put myself under too much pressure ‘to be the best’ as then I will lose a great deal of happiness.
Do you think about your levels of stress? Stress levels regularly are high during vet school, I try and use mindfulness to make myself more aware of my stress levels. Low levels of stress are useful to motivate you to be productive but too much stress is detrimental. In periods of very high stress, productivity wanes as it’s harder to think clearly and prioritise tasks.
How do you relieve stress? Boxing! My favourite stress relief is going to a boxing fitness class. Boxing or kickboxing with a boxing bag or pads is the most effective stress-buster and anxiety-release I have found.
JORDON HAD TOO MANY EXTRACURRICULAIR ACTIVITIES TO BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE HERE