speaker-0: Hi, welcome back to the Animal Aspirations Podcast.

speaker-1: A podcast sharing conversations with veterinary students, professionals, people working across animal related careers.

speaker-0: Our mission is simple, to educate, inspire, and diversify the veterinary field.

speaker-1: Today we are joined by Varshini and Ritu. We'll be discussing their journey into veterinary medicine and their background and aspirations and so on. So Varshini, can you introduce yourself, what year you're in and your journey to getting here.

speaker-0: So let's get into it.

speaker-2: Hello, thank you. I'm Varshini and I'm the president of animal aspirations this year and I'm in B.V. at the LBC. My journey was straight out of high school. So basically when I told people I want to do veterinary medicine, they were like, are you crazy? Because in India doing veterinary medicine is just crazy and people only do it if you don't get into human medicine or dentistry. And like even my family was like, why are you doing this? Why can't you do dermatology instead? It was like nowhere. But that was it. So convincing family, I think was a really difficult part of it, but then my parents are always really supportive, so that was good. ⁓ But then I feel like getting help for applications was really hard. And yeah, I think we'll get into that in a bit. But that is me.

speaker-1: and the leaf is a bit like this.

speaker-3: My name is Ritu and I'm in BVetMed 2. So my journey was, I didn't come straight out of high school. I did a degree previously at the RBC in bio-veterinary sciences because by the time I was applying to vet med, I was in the COVID cohort. So it kind of just disrupted my exams and I wasn't really sure what to do. So I kind of just did the biosciences degree and then I thought to myself, if I still want to apply again, I'll do all the work experience in application and I'll apply like as a... you know, passing with a degree, rather than my A-level qualifications. Yeah, I got into the RBC after that. I would say COVID was probably one of my biggest challenges because I wasn't able to do my exams or anything. So was just very like strange period of time, I think, for a lot of us. But yeah.

speaker-0: I know you said that that wasn't like something that was necessarily accepted. So what it is like drove you to pursue this kind of degree.

speaker-2: I think I was genuinely choosing between aerospace engineering and veterinary medicine or zoology in like, so I decided very late that I wanted to do this. I wasn't one of those people who always knew they wanted to do this. It was really late. But then I realized that I want a life that revolves around animals because it just makes me happy. And I've always done wildlife photography. Like being in the forest feels like home the most to me. And I think that's what like mainly drove me and also like My family has been into agriculture for like generations and I think I'm the 14th generation if I'm not wrong. I found that out from a book. So that, they, like my family originated this drought breed back in India, which is really, really good and like super adapted. And this was like so many centuries ago before any sort of breeding practices, artificial selectioning and like came into place. So I think that kind of drove me to it as well. Wow. Thank you. I found that out from a book.

speaker-0: That's really interesting.

speaker-1: Was there a moment for you that sparked your interest in veterinary medicine?

speaker-3: So I was born in Sri Lanka, I would say I was always like kind of surrounded by like wildlife and like forests and stuff. So that's always been there. And even when I moved to the UK, when I was quite young, I always like watched like David Attenborough, G60 with like Steve Batchel and all that. I always grew up with them and I would like nonstop watch them. So I always knew that I wanted to work with animals, but I just never knew what exactly. So my, you know, pets were like scientists, zoologists. And vet med was also one of my things. And I think it was only when I did my clinical stuff, in vet placements and stuff, did my work experience. think that's when I really knew I was like, okay, this is something that I wanted to go into in the future, which is quite nice.

speaker-0: So how did you guys end up like getting into that school? What was that process?

speaker-3: I would say it was, I think COVID, like I mentioned before, was a very difficult process for a lot of us. I think it was a quite hard process to get into. Like I didn't get into vet school first time. I'm very grateful that I could get in after I'd done my degree as well. But yeah, that was a strange but difficult time just doing UCAS applications, you know, more than once. like training mentally, I think. It just takes a lot out of you just to do that application in general. But at the end of the day, like I'm very grateful that I'm still in the position that I am, which is nice.

speaker-2: For me, from getting help for like veterinary applications, no one was really aware of how to guide me or how to like help me through the process because no one had ever, the career counselors in the school or like my parents, they had no idea about veterinary medicine, especially in the UK. getting help for that was a bit hard and I had to go to organizations like MedicMind and stuff for like help because I had no idea what to expect except what was on the internet. And I feel like two years ago, that was much lesser than compared to now.

speaker-1: So it sounds like you had a bit of a challenging journey, both of you. Would you say there's any highlights of your journey so far?

speaker-3: It might not be the best highlight, I think one of my lower highlights was getting rejected for the first time. Cause I feel like that is something that really kind of like puts everything into place. Like, you know, you're not always going to be, not always going to be getting a place at a different university. Like I know when I got rejected from other universities, I was like, God, this is happening, you know? So yeah, I think that's like a highlight, but also another highlight is getting an offer from a university cause it really like puts into perspective everything, like all the hard work that you put into. And it's kind of like, you know, you're seeing the result of your hard work. That's over. couple years such as work experience, applications, getting the help you need, like you said, you know, like all that kind of like pays off in the end. So think one of my advice would just be like to not give up and just like keep pursuing it if you want it, I think.

speaker-2: What exactly?

speaker-0: did you do to, I guess, continue and support yourself when you did get rejected that first time?

speaker-3: Um, so when I got rejected that first time, it was definitely like a little bit of a blow cause I was like, okay, I have no idea what to do, I think the hardest part was probably not, I mean, it was probably getting over the fact that like, you know, it was COVID and a lot of things were going wrong rather than just myself. So I think that was probably the hardest part to like deal with. Cause it's like a lot of the times I'd be like, Oh no, it's like my fault that I didn't get in. could have like done a little bit more work, but at the end of the day, like, you know, COVID really like messed up a lot of things and applications wise for a lot of people. Um, and I think that was probably one of the most challenging parts. about applications was like just, you know, making sure you're okay. I think one of the things that kept me going was really like, I still kept on watching like videos about different things and I still kept on being like inspired and like I would think about maybe different careers. was like, ⁓ maybe vet med isn't for me. But then just like the thought of doing anything else was just there. Like I don't think I could be in like a position where like I couldn't be in a job that I like disliked. ⁓ so that's one of the things that just kept me going was like, I just have to like go, you know, like I just have to get through it basically is what I thought to myself.

speaker-2: For me, feel like because I did it so suddenly and like everything was so rushed and only when I ended up in Singapore for my interviews, it actually started like feeling real and I messed up my RBC interviews, my opening and I did one on the other ones. So I got waitlisted for a while and then only May ended I hear about this. So until I came to Camden campus in September, it didn't hit me. And I came here and I'm like, I'm in a new country. And then my parents left in like two days and I was like, That was, I don't know how to explain the feeling. I'm sure like you guys can understand that. But that's when it like properly hit me and I was like, okay, I'm doing this. I'm here now. But yeah, I think that was like the highlight of getting here and like being all alone in a new country, figuring out life as an 18 year old and also doing vet med, which is a hard degree.

speaker-0: Yeah. And I you kind of mentioned some tools that you use to help you with applications and what were those again? Were there any other tools that you use to kind of help with that process?

speaker-2: I remember talking to a few people from uni just to ⁓ be like, how is the process like? But that's pretty much all I did. then for like interview help just to know how the interview even happens because I never heard of what an MMI meant before. So I had to like ask, I had went to this organization called Medic Mind. They do like sort of like tutoring, but like just to say like, this is how an MMI works basically. And just like tools to go over it.

speaker-1: For people who aren't aware, what's un-worsperatables to you and why is it important?

speaker-3: So, Aspirations was kind of like founded like seven, six years ago now. So I think the organization back then, they kind of like realized that there wasn't, it wasn't like a very diverse place and there wasn't a lot of people who looked like them. And I think that's one of the reasons why it started. And I think one of the reasons that I joined is that, you know, when I came in here in 2021 at the RBC, it wasn't as diverse, but I don't think the goal of Animal Aspirations was to make this university more diverse. I think the goal was more inspiring younger generations and telling them that. there are these careers that exist and when we put ourselves out there and do workshops with them, they can look up to us and think, oh, there's someone else that looks similar to me and I can also go into this career because if they can do it, then I can do it. And I think that's the whole goal of it. And I think that's one of the reasons why I wrote this year to.

speaker-2: Yeah, I think it's to give encouragement and motivation for prospective students. And not just encouragement, but also, like Ritu said, the belief that they can do it. I think access and exposure is one thing, but also believing in yourself to get into that school is a whole other thing. In terms of making the university more diverse, because we were started five and a half, six years ago, like this year and beginning of last year, there were some students in RBC who came up to me and said the first exposure they ever had to... anything animal related was to animal aspirations. And that was like a full circle moment because after five, six years now, we're seeing all the impact of what the previous teams did a few years ago, which was amazing.

speaker-0: think there are some misconceptions there are about people who feel like they maybe don't belong in this field?

speaker-3: think one of the biggest things that we've talked about before in workshops is I think there's a couple of cultural beliefs about veterinary medicine. And I know you talked about it with your parents, like, know, growing up in India, it's just like, would you do veterinary medicine when you can do medicine and law and other big things? And I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions that people need to kind of like get over. And I think I think that's a hard hurdle to get over for different, you know, for different people, different families and their beliefs. But I think exposure to them and like seeing what work we do and explaining to them that, you know, like these sorts of things are important and there's so many different things you can do with animals, not just vet med, you know, like bioventery sciences, vet nursing, like these are all open to them. ⁓ but I think one of the things that we like to do is break down that belief that it's just vet med and it's like a lower subject than anything else, whereas, you know, it is like on par with everything else. And we're trying to like break down those cultural beliefs from different people, think, which is nice.

speaker-2: And another thing I think just to add on to this is how people view animals itself in different countries, not just the carrier, but like animals itself. Say in like India, some animals are sacred and we worship them. But also there are many parts of the country where they're like animals are animals. So then in the UK, for example, like the pets are part of the family and then literally like another child to them. So I think that really impacts the way the society views a profession or anybody who's working with animals at all. And that's what. We were also trying to change.

speaker-1: That's really interesting. Why do you think widening participation matters specifically in veterinary, like the profession? I know you've much more different people. Why do you think widening participation is so important?

speaker-2: Especially in veterinary medicine, just like again to link it to like the cultural perspectives and the societal views. Even in a city as diverse as London, you can see that there is like a gap and if you go to like certain parts of London, the exposure, access or anything that the students get to certain carriers is very less compared to like other parts of the city. And we're trying to like bridge the gap between the universities and the students or like the profession of the students itself because It's not fair just because you look like something or speak like something or you live in a certain area doesn't mean you have any less rights to a degree or a profession.

speaker-3: Yeah. ⁓ I agree with that as well. Like I think one the things is like the UK is like such a diverse space, like, you know, I think older careers in the profession should like kind of reflect that and, know, like the beliefs that we have, which is good. And, know, like getting to letting them know that these careers do exist and they can also, they can also do it. Like I mentioned before, like it's quite inspiring for younger kids when people go up to workshops and do them. They can be like, there's like someone who's like also Brown and doing vet med, like, know, that means I can also do it, you know, which is I think the best part about it. Nice.

speaker-0: Yeah, it's really inspiring to actually hear some of those stories and, you know, participate in that firsthand. Outside of animal aspirations, do you feel like the industry itself is becoming more progressive and like expanding diversity?

speaker-2: It depends on where and like when in the situation, but as a whole I think it is especially like in vet school compared to when I joined in 2023 to now I can see like a massive increase in like visible diversity at least and Even when you like go into workshops I feel like when I started with animal aspirations the students used to be so clueless and now they at least have an idea of what it is but in the profession as a whole it's still not very diverse and another thing I've realized is that Students face microaggression and stuff, not just from their colleagues, but also from their clients, which is kind of the most heartbreaking part of it because colleagues, you can influence their thoughts and talk to them and make them aware. Clients, there's only so much you can do. Exactly. At the end of the day, the patient's life still matters, but if the client is being so rude to you, what do you do? Right. Yeah.

speaker-0: ⁓ while you're trying to help.

speaker-1: That's great to hear, thank you. So like gathering all that you've said, what would you say to your younger self? Like what piece of advice would you say would you have wished you had?

speaker-3: younger. I think just like I would just like you know just keep pushing don't give up and keep going forward because I think I just just like to have the motto like everything happens for a reason and everything will work out and I think when I was younger like I didn't really believe that because I would never have known like this is my path that's going through so being right now in second year vet med just like you know my younger self would be like I'm okay I made it so I think just putting that belief being like you can do it just don't give up and like keep pushing forward and it'll come to you I think that's one of the things I would say. Tell my younger self.

speaker-2: I think something I would say is don't imagine a certain path or something for yourself and don't make it and only follow that. Seize every opportunity that comes your way and you never know where you're actually going to end up and at the end of it, it's going to be worth it. Sometimes if you put an effort in every step of the way.

speaker-1: really inspiring. If you could tell a student starting the degree, one piece of advice, like a first year, what would you say? Not even just for veterinary medicine, like five veterinary scientists or nurse, what would you say?

speaker-3: I would say just like get involved out there and I think you meet a lot of different types of people and I think it's always like a trial and error that you know you'll meet different types of people you'll get along with some and you won't get along with some and that's like completely okay but yeah I would just say like you know do a lot of things like put yourself out there you know like get out of the box because like you never know what's going to happen because like you know like I would have never met like Varsha if it wasn't for some of the societies and animal aspirations but I never met like a couple of my close friends if I didn't get out there So yeah, I would just say like try different things like do different things and like enjoy yourself while you're at it, I think

speaker-2: Sort of the same thing. That was really sweet. That was so sweet. Thank you. But like literally just like talk to people and like I said just take every opportunity because it will like take you somewhere you never expected to and it is hard to survive in this profession but at the end of the day it is gonna be worth it.

speaker-0: Okay, I think we have some like rapid-fire questions for you guys. Yeah, no, don't be scared. Just be fun. Okay, okay surgery or consulting?

speaker-2: We're scared!

speaker-3: surgery.

speaker-1: early mornings or late hour of vision.

speaker-2: Late Nigerian

speaker-0: Lectures or Practicals?

speaker-3: Thanks.

speaker-1: The big one, dog's or pats?

speaker-2: Dogs for sure! I'm gonna get them.

speaker-3: I'm gonna get in the middle, I'm gonna go in the middle I think. I don't think I can decide between dogs and

speaker-1: You've gotta give us

speaker-0: Okay, so music or podcasts. ⁓

speaker-3: Obviously, okay

speaker-2: 21 right ⁓

speaker-1: Year one bitmet or year three or year two in your case.

speaker-2: It's not your doofus-

speaker-3: Not you too, sure yeah. You won, Batman.

speaker-2: You're too.

speaker-0: Okay, awesome. Confidence or resilience? What matters?

speaker-3: I think resilience leads to confidence. ⁓

speaker-2: ⁓ my god, Resonance.

speaker-1: What's your dream animal?

speaker-3: I think know what you're but do think gonna say elephant? was gonna say elephant. Elephant. Okay, I'm not. I think elephant I would want to work with.

speaker-2: A whale shark. I'm really close with

speaker-0: city practice or rural.

speaker-2: through practice.

speaker-1: Small animal farm, quiet or exotic?

speaker-2: Or as in like wildlife, it's not that kind.

speaker-3: I think I'm going to have to like maybe go with next. I feel like I'll decide in future,

speaker-0: And what is one word that you use to describe animal aspiration?

speaker-3: inspiring.

speaker-1: Well, thank you for listening to the podcast and thank you guys for joining. Thank you.

speaker-3: Thank you for having us. ⁓

speaker-0: If you guys want to learn more about animal aspirations, please head to our website at animalaspirations.com.

speaker-1: ⁓ And don't forget to follow the podcast for more episodes so you don't miss out on anything.

speaker-0: educate.

speaker-2: Inspire, embrace.