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boon
Posts: 1
| So I've been a member on here for several years and I'm just not sure where to turn and I really need some advice or something.
I've been in college a couple of years so far and my end goal was to do something medically with horses, either a Vet, or Vet tech something along those lines. However The longer I'm in college the more I hate it and the worse I've been doing.
My GPA is dropping by the semester and I just feel SOURED. But I can't just stop going to school and not do anything!
I mean proof is in the pudding you need a degree to make decent money in this day and age.
But I'm just SO burnt out. ( Or am I just being a lazy whiner??)
I love horses I enjoy working with them I have extensive knowledge with them and have worked with many vets over the years hence my decision several years ago to work towards being a vet or vet tech.
I still want to do something in the horse industry that is profitable and along my strengths, but I'm just not sure What, Where, How??
My brain feels like a big ball of a twisted mess, I'm so confused and distressed, and afraid of disappointing my family. And because of that my heart feels sad, and well basically depressed feeling, and just at such a loss.
I'm not really sure what im Looking for in this post but anything you want to say or add could help. | |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
 
| I agree with the above post to an extent. I was a bad enough student that if I had stopped going, I would never have gotten started again.
I started off straight out of highschool in a vet tech program. Three, count them, three weeks later, I knew it was BS for me! Not, not, not a good fit at all. I finished the semester because I had already dropped so much money on books and special classes. I fumbled through with a C- average, partied, messed up, fell asleep in class (literally!), had an attitude to my professors (shame on the 18 year old me), skipped class, and basically really shocked my parents. I had come through high school the third in my class, wth happened?
When I showed up in the office to change my major, I majorly (pun intended) had not ONE clue of what I wanted to do. The lady in charge of enrollment was busy for about 30 minutes, so I took a seat, and idly began thumbing through the list of available majors at the small CC I was at. One seemed to jump off the pages at me: Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management. Dirt, plants, water, gravity, wildlife, and livestock. That pretty much sums that puppy up.
I enrolled. I went to the first Rangeland Ecology class, and the first day, I was absolutely hooked, I got an A in every single Range class of my entire Bachelor's of Science major that I went on to take. I minored in Reclamation, and double majored at the University with Soil Chemistry. I thank God everyday for allowing me to wander in as a clueless teenager with a chip on her shoulder and fall into something that would allow me to continue with my love of horses, on my own terms.
I got a great paying job, and every single day I get to have my hands on my horses. Whether or not I get to compete, whether or not I ride that day, whether or not it's raining, snowing, or perfect out, I get to go out and put my hands on a horse. My horse.
I don't think I would make a very good hand at vet clinic, or as a vet, because the horses that would be brought to you would be under someone else's power. They wouldn't always do the things you know would be necessary to stop the pain, or the misery, you'd have to operate on horses that are obviously needing to put down for insurance purposes, and see horses that you would love to save but couldn't. People wouldn't always take your advice, and bring the miserable horse back to you again, and again, demanding that you fix it, but you couldn't help. I don't think I could hack it there, I think the people that are there are pretty tough cookies!!
I really think you should give yourself some slack, appreciate your own drive and efforts at school, and consider whether there is a new channel that you could investigate that would be a better fit for you, and still allow you to have an impact on horses lives for the better. A friend of mine is finishing her business degree, and is planning on attending some pretty amazing horse massage clinics, and is currently working in an equine hospital for practical experience to perhaps open her own rehab facility.
There are so many thousands of options out there, don't limit yourself and hold yourself over the coals anymore. Think outside the box! | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
 
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Same thing here. I always wanted to be a vet. Now that I'm older, I'm glad I didn't do it. I remember telling my dad, "I can't do this for eight years." And it turned out to be the best thing for me. For me, my horses are the kind of thing I don't want to turn into a job. I have spoken to trainers and vets who told me that, once you turn it into your job, it's just not as enjoyable. If you really love anatomy and the science involved with vet work, maybe. Otherwise, I would recommend you do something enjoyable that will allow you the time and money to enjoy riding, training, etc. In vet work, you won't have as much timed for your own horses and other jobs in the equine industry require a different mindset for it to be profitable. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 139
Location: Abbotsford B.C. Canada | Maybe you are not really deep down the persom who wants to deal with the hghly technical side of vet work or I think you would be naturally driven and keen to pursue it.
However, you love horses obviously have some talent for dealing with horses so try taking a course in joirnalism or marketting with the idea of having a look at the communications side of the horse business, or the overall horse business . Maybe your talents lie more in getting information to people and being with people so try some psychology courses and take a year to just think about what makes you happy.
I asked a professor of mine who was a vet why he got into research and teaching and he said after spaying about 1000 cats and dogs he was bored. My niece just graduated from vet school and she is finding it hard work, very physically demanding and positions are often only open in more remote rural practice areas . It also is dangerous so unless you feel this is the right path do not force yourself to try and fit someone else's expectations.
Go and talk to a writer with a horse magazine in your state. Talk to your local feed dealer. I sold feed for many years and it was very interesting and I learned a lot. Look up something like horse massage therapy and visit a person doing that .
Take some basic courses in agiculture like plant science and see if maybe rangemanagement would be something you would like that would get you involved with commercial ranching and keep your horse interests alive and well. There is a society for range management that I was in many years ago.
I friend of mine says anything involving horses and cattle has got to be fun for sure. You are young and since we live a lot longer you have plenty of time to try some different course and explore some things that involve horses from physiology, horse psychology, try a Perreli training course , agriculuture related courses, saddle fitting, farrier, sales of horse stuff, managing sales of horse stuff, or whatever eventually makes you happy. I have been fortunate to do a job I like in agriculture with lots of horse and cattle work in the feed industry and feel blessed . Retired now except for doing horse nutrition work 1 day a week for my old company.
Spend a day with some people doing horses things you may not have looked at . Not everyone "has to be" a vet . It is a calling.
Ps I am still rtiding, not rich but ok!
You should also talk to your friends and family a lot. Tell them what you are thinking and maybe that will help you organise your thoughts a bit. Talk to your vet , your minister, your feed dealer, your saddle fitter and chiropracter. Spend a day with them. You may need a mentor!
I wish you well in this quest,
It is sometimes not clear what to do but keep at it and a pathway will eventually be opened to you. Coastal Rider.
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I am in the same boat. Well, I have been going to school for business. I was a FANTASTIC student in highschool. In college? I loathe it. I don't like most of the professors I've had. My grades have been bad...I even failed a class. I have a good job that I like but the hours are just awful. I just switched my degree to Computer Information Systems. I like computers and am pretty good with them so hopefully this will be a better fit. | |
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 boon
Posts: 2
| I went through this as well. I always wanted to be a vet and went straight to college after high school. I joined a college rodeo team and moved away from home. IT.WAS.AWESOME. After spending a year at college and making less than spectacular grades, my parents cut the funding and moved me back home.
I got a job working as a veterinary assistant and decided to start school to get my vet tech license. I wanted to be there an my grades were showing it.
After two semesters we had a big disagreement in our practice and one of the doctors (the doctor I worked with) decided to sell out to the other and leave the practice to retire. I was devastated as it happened very suddenly.
Shortly after we hired a string of not so great doctors to work with. I also had a horse get very sick(osteomyelitis in P3's in both front feet??? Freak thing, never determined the cause) and after spending a month at a local Vet School, two surgeries and finally resolving the infection he came home.
My life became pure hell. I woke up at 4:30 every morning and spent an hour and a half doctoring the horse before rushing off to work with a RUDE, UNGRATEFUL doctor. I spent 10-12 hours at work depending on what we had going on, only to return home and spend a few more hours doctoring the horse again. (he was on antibiotics, and had surgeries on both front feet had to be soaked & rewrapped twice a day to keep them clean, & was on 24/7 stall rest)
I literally got so burnt out that it made me realize I DID NOT want to spend the rest of my life in veterinary medicine. I genuinely love animals and medicine is very interesting for me but I never got away from it, and it made me hate it. (not to mention the grueling hours, super physical work, and not so stellar pay)
Fast forward a year and I now have my Real Estate License, something I never, ever imagined myself doing. I miss working with animals occasionally, but the amount of time I get to spend with my own animals certainly makes up for it. I was never a big fan of college, which was a major perk to me for this career since you don't have to have a degree.
Real estate isn't for everyone, but my point is there are plenty of rewarding careers out there that can give you time to keep your hobbies up as well.
I always thought I wanted to work with animals the rest of my life, it turns out I would really prefer to simply enjoy them instead!
Right now I'm just getting into the swing of things in RE, but later I hope to specialize in Farms & rural properties so I can use some of my AG/Equine expertise. I have I say I am much happier now, then I ever was in vet medicine. Best of luck to you!! 
Edited by snthompson11 2014-12-19 1:26 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Take a deep breath.
Part of the college experience is figuring out who YOU are - without parents, family, etc pushing you. If you are SO burnt out, take a step back. Maybe only take a class next semester. Try an internship in the field that interests you? That way you won't be doing "nothing" but re-evaluating your plans and desires.
I went to College thinking Vet School all the way ... figured out I LOVED research science so much more! Animals, check. Science, check. Doing something that matters, check. Job Opportunity and advancement, check. I encourage you to make a list. Sit down and be honest in what sparks ya. I realize horses are part of that - so, look into marketing? Ag business and marketing can set ya up for that end. Rangeland management is another great one - outdoors, plants, dirt, livestock, etc .... Do you have an advisor or professor you look up to that you might schedule a meeting with and ask for some help and guidance?
It is completly ok to be a little lost and unsure in college. Be patient with yourself and look and LOTS of different options. Good Luck! You can do it!! | |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Take a semester off. Go to SAMS and buy the largest box of Ramen noodles that you can find. Only eat Ramen noodles that whole semester you are off. If that doesn't inspire you to kick it in gear and finish, nothing will. Good luck. | |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | LRQHS - 2014-12-19 2:27 PM Take a semester off. Go to SAMS and buy the largest box of Ramen noodles that you can find. Only eat Ramen noodles that whole semester you are off. If that doesn't inspire you to kick it in gear and finish, nothing will. Good luck.
^THIS
Either that, or get into the trades. They are always looking for women, and you will make enough money to be able to afford your horse habit.
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