Meet Sofia Andrews, a senior at Lebanon High School. Through her internship at All Animals Veterinary Clinic, Sofia is gaining valuable hands-on experience as she explores potential career paths. Outside of her internship, she’s actively involved in Lebanon High School Ambassadors, serves as a Co-Editor for Cedar’s Yearbook, and participates in Student Council. Sofia has also played school and club volleyball in the past. She plans to attend Indiana University-Bloomington next year, where she hopes to explore her academic interests before choosing a major.
Transcript:
Sofia: My name is Sofia Andrews, and I’m a senior at Lebanon High School. The reason I decided to do my internship at the All Animals Vet Clinic is that I’ve always had an interest in animals ever since I was little. I’ve always wanted to nurse injured animals back to health, I’ve always loved taking care of my pets, and it’s definitely something I’d like to pursue after high school and into college.
Dr. Morgan Darling: What we look for in an intern is someone who is interested in medicine, particularly veterinary medicine, but a lot of medicine can be applied across a bunch of fields. We look for someone who is willing to learn, willing to help, and someone who isn’t afraid to jump in and learn hands-on, like on the job.
Sofia: This experience has definitely helped me decide what I want to do after high school. I definitely enjoy this type of career pathway. It’s a lot of fun and something I’ve always enjoyed doing. I love helping animals, and it’s definitely a passion of mine. If I do decide to pursue something else, I’d like it to be similar to this pathway, because it’s something I love to do, and it’s a lot of fun.
Sofia: In a vet’s office, there are many different roles, such as sedating different types of patients, checking them in, and making sure they are prepared for any procedure they are about to undergo. I’ve never shadowed an actual surgery, but I’ve been there to help prep the patients, administer vaccines, and I’ve also assisted with euthanasia. I understand the different processes to help the patients and what to do afterward. I also know what to do if a patient were to freak out after a vaccine and how to ensure everyone’s safety during these procedures.
Dr. Morgan Darling: What we hope our interns get out of this is an introduction to veterinary medicine—everything involved, a wide variety of procedures, and the different types of animals we work with. We see both large and small animals, so interns get a feel for everything that veterinary medicine encompasses.
Dr. Morgan Darling: Sofia has been a great help, especially when we’re running behind. She’s able to assist us with holding animals and perform various procedures, whether it’s surgery or administering vaccines. She also helps with maintenance tasks, whether it’s laundry or sterilizing equipment. She has truly done an amazing job as an all-around helper, making sure our appointments run smoothly for the day.
Sofia: My favorite kind of animal is definitely a turtle. As I’ve grown up, if I ever found a turtle on the side of the road or in my yard, I would always take it home, take care of it, and then later release it. I just love turtles—they’re definitely my spirit animals.
Sofia: I would definitely say that if you want to be an intern at a vet’s office, do it because you enjoy working with animals and aren’t afraid of needles or seeing the more difficult side of animal care. It can be a bit of a dark field, but it’s also a lot of fun. Do it because you’re genuinely interested in pursuing this field in the future, not just because you think it will be fun. In general, when choosing any internship, pick something you are passionate about and want to pursue after high school. If you choose something you’re not interested in, you won’t learn anything or gain valuable experience. If you’re interested in animals and caring for them, I definitely recommend an internship at a vet’s office.
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