Joy: right. Usha: Okay, perfect. Welcome to Zelle. Welcome back to the Animal Aspirations Podcast. ⁓ Gizelle: No. Joy: A podcast sharing conversations with veterinary students, professionals and people working across animal related careers. start off, can you give us a bit of an introduction about yourself? ⁓ Gizelle: Okay. ⁓ my name is Giselle Martinez. I'm a third year BVM student. I'm originally from grew up in Houston, Texas, but originally from Los Angeles, California, in the States. Usha: Our goal is simple to educate, inspire, and diversify the veterinary profession. Joy: Today we're joined by Giselle to talk about her journey as a that student in the RVC. Usha: Nice. going kind of back to the beginning, what first sparked your interest in veterinary medicine? Let's get into it. Gizelle: ⁓ I like I feel like everyone, I've always loved animals. It's the only thing I ever saw myself doing. so it's just everything has led up to this. I grew up watching Animal Planet, I grew up like just like being with animals a lot. I grew up with a lot of animals. ⁓ so just it's just really all I ever saw myself doing. Joy: Thank you listening to the podcast. Usha: To learn more about animal aspirations and the work we do, visit animalaspirations.com. Joy: And don't forget to follow the podcast so you don't miss out on future episodes. Usha: Educate, inspire, diversify. Joy: Inspire Dynasty Usha: I think that was pretty good. That one like compared to our other ones has actually been pretty good. Joy: We do Yeah Usha: so have you had any experiences like like you said, this is what something you've been wanting to do for a while, but have you had any experiences that really confirmed that that Med was the right path? Gizelle: guess I a two week placement. I was of on the way, but ⁓ in undergrad I done a two week placement at a rescue center in Costa Rica. and that was what's wildlife and that was just because I've worked in clinics before and that was really great, like seeing the impact on people, but just when you take the people out of the factor and just seeing how much like just a small rescue with like one or two vets can do for so many like so much wildlife. Usha: Mm. Gizelle: I feel like that really solidified the fact that not only do I want to do this for the people, but it's truly about the animals. ⁓ so that really, really helped me and kind of the sort of the path that I want to take with my career. but I feel like that was a big moment for me. Usha: Yeah. Nice. Joy: In what ways do you think being a first generation student has influenced your academic journey so far? Gizelle: there's been a lot of hurdles, a lot of figuring stuff out for yourself. ⁓ not only with undergrad, but just the whole veterinary process. I'm the first to go to university, especially like a postgraduate degree like this. It's just it was a lot of figuring it out by myself, but also knowing that I have such a supportive family back home for me really, really helps, especially with being so far. I think it's Usha: Mm. Gizelle: It's been a blessing but also like kind of a curse at the same time 'cause it's just a lot of things that you don't really think about, that you just have to figure out yourself. You don't have like family to kind of reference back to. You're just knowing who ask what. It's just been difficult, but we're here. Usha: Yeah. And and how has your family ⁓ influenced your career aspirations and how did they react when you wanted to pursue vetmed? Gizelle: they've always known I've wanted to work with animals somehow. ⁓ said they're just glad I decided on something. but I think something that's influenced a lot is with being from ⁓ Hispanic Latino background, not a lot of people kind of are very educated on veterinary care or they kind of have that ⁓ disconnect to care by not, you know, having a a doctor who speaks their language or something. So that's something I really Usha: ⁓ yeah. Yeah. Gizelle: With working in practice, even just as a technician, something that really resonated with me is that, you know, sometimes I'd be the only person speaking Spanish on the floor. So I'd be the I'd be the one making those connections to clients. so that's something I really, really want to hold on to as as practic as a doctor, being able make those connections and hopefully be able to expand that care into different communities. Joy: Are there any particular resources or support systems that you use that were helpful for you? Gizelle: in general or Usha: I guess like I I was thinking specifically as a first generation student, were there any like specific supports or or resources that you were able to utilize? Gizelle: ⁓ I know in the US ⁓ a source that I was using kind of was the LVMA. It's the Latino Veterinary Medical Association. So they have a lot of kind of like mentors and just kind of that they were they were a resource, but it was a lot of kind of word of mouth through people in undergrad. ⁓ I mean I found out about the rvc through ⁓ someone was in a prevet society I was in, and they're the reason why I applied here, I that I would have never gotten here if it wasn't through that community that I had in undergrad. ⁓ but it was really just kind of through other peers that were in the same process of applying to that school really. Usha: do you think I know you mentioned to us before this interview that you come from a family of immigrants, so I was just wondering how you feel like that's shaped ⁓ who you are and how you want to practice medicine. Gizelle: So something I've realized ⁓ with working with my family and background is that sometimes we always weren't able to afford you know the the the gold package, the ideal thing of what you would want to do for your pets. and working with that, sometimes a lot of communities they can't offer that. They but they still care for their pets. It's just that's not a viable thing. ⁓ so working in an area in a low income area as well, working at a low cost clinic, that really helped me kind of want to be able to work better with your clients and I think it's called like the spectrum of care ⁓ where you can able to work with what you have and still be able to provide that for your clients without, you know, it not everyone has that money, not everyone has the ability to be able to afford the extensive care that some other people might be able to. ⁓ so that's something that I've really taken back or taken with me from coming from a family of immigrants because growing up, you know, we always couldn't afford to do everything for our pa like we loved our dogs, but sometimes it's just wasn't a reality for us. ⁓ and then just learning the different cultural relationships that one has with their with animals. ⁓ it can really range depending on where culture you come from. what culture you come from. so that was just a big just something interesting learning as well. Joy: So you mentioned you went through quite a lot of hurdles, but you managed to overcome them. So like what advice would you give to your younger self starting this journey? Gizelle: all the tiers will be okay, they'll be worth it. pretty just to that it's to ask questions, that it's okay to seem lost, to like try to find to outsource. I was a little hesitant to outsource because I just didn't even know where to start. and I found myself comparing myself to other peers. ⁓ with being a pre-vetinary student, it felt very competitive at times. Usha: Yeah. Gizelle: with you know how many hours you have, who you're working with, what your role is in an undergraduate ⁓ like position. so it was hard to it was imposter syndrome before even getting to school. ⁓ so it was really hard, it was really disheartening sometimes, and just the whole process of the application cycle, but just that, you know, it's gonna work out. If it didn't work that first cycle, it's gonna work it get like work out at some point. ⁓ yeah. Usha: Yeah. Yeah. I mean with that imposter syndrome, how do you kind of fight back against that mindset? Gizelle: just the fact that I'm here is I guess a statement in itself. And the fact that, you know, not much people in my background can be in this or are in this profession that like I ⁓ am of in that future generation. So it's kind of almost like a pride thing. Like I have to I have to follow through, I have to do this. you know, my family has sacrificed so much for me to be able to be here. I'm like Usha: Mm-hmm. Gizelle: It's too late, I'm already here. I've got to I I've got to f ⁓ follow this thing through. And so just kind of spite and wanting to follow through. Yeah. Usha: Yeah. Joy: So just kind of like backtracking a bit, can you tell us about your like that school application process from like start till now? Gizelle: Mm-hmm. I had completed my undergrad at Texas A&M University in a Bachelor's of Science in Zoology. ⁓ that was just the main part. It com it it r filled up most of the prerequisites for applying to that school. and I'd applied I got in on my first cycle, surprisingly, and I'd applied to three schools. and I applied mainly through the VMCAS which is the American like veterinary. Whatever and as well because I applied to Texas A and A&M's that school, they had a separate ⁓ application. So it was just a lot of applications and a lot of essays. I spent my whole summer doing them essentially. and then I only an interview for here. so I interviewed, went good, and then I got in. it was a very, very stressful time. but yeah. And no, anything else specifically? Usha: I guess was there anything about the that school application that was challenging or maybe even surprised you about the process? Gizelle: ⁓ I think specifically RVC's application was very surprising to me. It was very different compared to the other applications from the schools that I applied to. they very try to see beyond like the typical student of like, why do you want to be a that student? I remember their questions. I can't remember off the top of my head, but they were quite different questions, which I kind of it caught me off guard. was also kind of hard to know, like, okay, what did they want from this? What did they want me to say? ⁓ but I thought that was kind of refreshing as well as the interview process, some of the Usha: Yeah. Gizelle: That Lego question. That Lego question really got to me. ⁓ so that was really interesting. and then just in general with the applications, with the essays, just Usha: yeah, that Lego question was. Gizelle: They at its principle, they all kind of ask the same thing. So just kind of trying to adjust for that as well, but also making it sound good but not repetitive. And so that was just ⁓ I feel like a lot of as many other people probably did, a big bulk of my stress was coming from the essays. so that was just a big thing. Usha: Mm-hmm. Joy: What's been the most rewarding part of your veterinary education so far? Gizelle: I guess honestly third year, because I think because we're already getting into the clinical, the diseases and stuff, ⁓ that's been really great. ⁓ finding a good community here has been really, really helpful with being so far away from home. but just the content, despite how much it it's but it's it's really, you know, it's the whole point of why we're here. so it's been really interesting learning everything. and just the opportunities that I've been finding here at the R V C I mean through animal aspirations and so many other things. Usha: Yeah, ⁓ and I guess what's a typical day looking like for you? Gizelle: I get here usually pretty early because I live far away. So I'm usually on campus by eight every morning. so it forces me yeah, it forces to do some work, which I prefer to on campus. so that way I can separate work and home because I like to have home as a safe space. so I do work before class, and then, you know, lectures, anything that's going on. but I'm usually I like to my time in class and on campus. I Joy: Hello. Usha: Nice. Mm, mm-hmm. Gizelle: I found I don't know if it's because just getting used to undergrad, but I found mys that I learn better in lecture. ⁓ if not I spend three times as long trying to watch everything back. so I'm very much like my brain works. I have to sit and lecture. but it's just yeah, trying to catch up with everything. And then I go home and I just relax usually. Usha: Yeah. Nice. Joy: So, that school can be quite intense. So, what strategies helped you your wellbeing and to avoid burnout? Gizelle: I guess the big thing like what I've previously said is kind of separating school from home. ⁓ I usually never s I have a really nice desk. I never use it honestly. ⁓ because I try to like just keep that separate, kind of like a work life balance if that makes sense. And then also making time for friends. ⁓ even if we're just studying together, that I feel like that really, really helps for me, especially leading up to exams. ⁓ we'll quiz each other, we'll go over things together, that really helps me. And just taking the time for yourself, especially on the R and R weeks, ⁓ the the breaks that we have, know, doing some work but also taking that time for yourself 'cause the burnout can be can be really hard. and just not taking it too seriously but also locking in when you have to. ⁓ Usha: Yeah, and I know you mentioned that ⁓ I mean a member of Animal Aspirations, but are do you participate in any other extracurricular Do participate in any other extracurriculars while you're here at that school? Gizelle: Yeah, ⁓ I'm currently one of the officers for the Latino Hispanic Society, which we recently just started. that's been really great, it's been really fun. It's been something that we felt while Latino is already a generally underrepresented community in the veterinary field, it's it feels even more out here in London, which makes sense. It's not a big population in general. but we've been kind of forming that little community for ourselves. animal aspirations, I'm joining SAVMA next year. I'm joining the Neurological Society next year. so that's just a lot go a lot going on right now. Yeah. but I don't know. That's pretty much it, yeah. Usha: Nice. Yeah. Joy: like you're keeping busy. So mentioned it's quite important to have like a community and especially like your Hispanic societies for example. ⁓ So why do think diverse representation in veterinary medicine ⁓ matters to you why is it so important? Gizelle: Yeah. Usha: Yeah. Gizelle: I think the fact of seeing you know, if you go anywhere you see someone who looks like you, it gives that comfort, it gives that level of understanding. and ⁓ growing when we went to the vets, like I never saw a that who looked like me. so that was just a big thing that I'd wanna, you know, change and help also like through stuff like animal aspirations, it's such an important thing, you know, like letting future generations know that you can't this is an option for you. This is something that Usha: ⁓ Gizelle: can make space that you can make space for yourself in this community, in this field, I think is just really important to be seen and just know that that you can pave your way through it. Usha: how do you feel like maintaining those communities here has your school experience? Gizelle: it's made it a lot better. I struggled a bit the first year, kind of second year, but I feel like this year it's been it's helped me tremendously. ⁓ it's 'cause at first my life was essentially just kind of school and class at that point, but it's just kind of been able to expand beyond that, which has really, really helped my well being and like mental health. ⁓ so I've just found that to be super helpful, especially helps with the home sick ⁓ homesickness. just it feels like I'm back home sometimes. So it's been really great. Joy: So just like transitioning onto like social media, believe you've got an Instagram page. So motivated you to start documenting your veterinary journey online? Gizelle: Yes. think just seeing kind of what the realities of that school is like. I mean, there's so many accounts now, but you know, I would have appreciated something like that as a pre-vet student and and just kind of seeing like, you know, that school isn't your whole life when you're in that school or kind of like what you like what the day looks like or what you can do aside from school. and just also that representation as well, like seeing, you know, a student who would look like me or like is into the same things as me as well. Usha: That's cool. Yeah. Gizelle: just kind of how that would look like going into the field and everything. and just because it's fun too, you can make a lot of it's a really great networking thing as well. Like I've met a lot of other that students throughout the world, some here in the UK, some wherever. ⁓ Companies reach out sometimes. So it's like freebies are nice too sometimes. But it's just something fun to do. ⁓ I like to document my whole life. So I was like I might well make a separate thing to just ⁓ go into Usha: Were you ever about posting content? Gizelle: Yeah, I think it's it's embarrassing sometimes, but I kinda had to look past the I had to get past it. ⁓ like if I'm like, okay, I wanna record something and I'm like, this is really cringy, but I wanna do it. but it's just f it's just for funsies. ⁓ and then also like the comparison as well. Like, like I don't have as much followers, I don't have like whatever. ⁓ but it it doesn't matter. It's just for fun, like, you know, it's just it's Usha: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Gizelle: It's very educating as well. Like there's so many other like professionals, like big big figures in the field that have platforms and it's like, you know, you can engage with them. You can like it's it's really, really cool. I found so many placements through social media. Like I have a like for future potential placements, I found so many through there. So it's actually a really great resource. even if you don't make your own content, the act of just engaging with content like that, it's like it's it's a gold mine, honestly. Usha: Yeah. Yeah. Gizelle: ⁓ but yeah, just getting pa past the f like the cr the mental cringe of it and then just like, Okay, it's fine, it's fine, it's whatever. ⁓ thank you, thank you. Usha: Right. Joy: What kind of Usha: I think your content's so cool. Joy: What kind of content have you enjoyed creating the most? Gizelle: Mm, I like making the little vlogs. I think they're kind of fun. They're little f they're they're funny. and then just kind of like what like current things that I'm doing, I always like to post it's a little hard to post certain things because of the school's rules of what can be posted online, so I always try to keep that ⁓ in mind. but just kind of like fun practicals that we do, just kind of like silly things. ⁓ and I also try to I'm trying to do more ⁓ of life outside of school, ⁓ but it's just school is just a big thing right now. yeah, just kind of the day in the life stuff. Usha: Nice. How has how do you think that your presence online has evolved since when you first started? Gizelle: ⁓ I've kind of found my my voice, I guess, a little more through it. Like at first it was just like, come study with me and like 'cause it that was all I was doing essentially in first year. but now it's like I feel a little more comfortable. I kinda have an idea after making my own stuff as well as like seeing what other creators are doing. so I think I've gone a little more comfortable into the groove. I had a I had one video that went really viral, so I'm really trying to piggyback off of that. But yeah. Joy: Do you think social media can help diversify the profession? Gizelle: I think it can. I love seeing like other communities represented on like social media and stuff. So it's really refreshing seeing that, you know, we're out there. ⁓ and then going into these super these like really awesome positions, like getting into internships and residencies and like being like professors at like universities. ⁓ so it's really interesting seeing that because you can only see stuff at your university, but this opens the whole world to like all other you know, countries and academic institutions and stuff. So I think it's a really, really big, ⁓ big and upcoming thing to help with diversity in the field. Usha: Do you have ⁓ like aspiring that? vets also like reach out to you on social media and what have those conversations been like? Gizelle: I've had some, yeah. ⁓ through I spoke for my previous I was an officer for Veterinarians Without Borders at A&M and so I've had I spoke there kind of about my process of getting into R V C. And so I've had a few people ⁓ from A&M reach out to me, kind of talking about asking about experience at rvc kind of what my past experience was, like what I what internships I've done, and then just reaching out like, I like your and stuff. So that's been really fun. ⁓ kind of engaging with people like that. Joy: through documenting your journey? Like have you learned anything particularly about yourself Gizelle: ⁓ I've learned that I can treat it almost as a creative outlet. I in theory I'd love to be creative. I'm not, I'm a really bad drawer. I'm trying writing, I can't. But stuff on like j digital things is really good. Like I like doing digital scrapbooks, kind of like that. And this is almost a a creative outlet for me. So it's almost it's some stress because I'm like, I can't I need to make content, but also like a stress reliever because I'm like, ooh, I'm editing silly little videos and stuff. ⁓ so it's it's it's been good like that. Usha: Anyway ⁓ what advice would you give to students who want to pursue content creation? Gizelle: Just go for it. It's gonna feel so embarrassing at first and you're gonna be like, my god, I hate being perceived. But just go for it. Like it's fun, like it's can get inspiration from other people, just follow trends, and then you can kind of follow like see your own voice. And it's actually a really great tool if you can kind of get past that initial nervousness of it. but just getting I think that's the big thing that I struggle with still sometimes is getting packed past that little mental hurdle. but just go for it. It's fun. And if it Doesn't go through, then it's fine. Joy: If someone discovers your page today, what message do you hope they leave with? Gizelle: That vet school can be fun. That it is fun. And that you know, it's not the end of the world if goes on. ⁓ just that there's no one experience. Everyone has their own experience with, you a postgraduate degree like this, or just a general degree like this. and that, you know, everyone has their own lived experience with it. And this is mine. Usha: Mm-hmm. Awesome. transitioning here to kind of what you would like to do in the future. Is there an area of VetMed that's interesting you most at the moment? Gizelle: ⁓ I'm between ⁓ I really like neurology. I've kind of discovered that throughout pet school that I've really been interested in that. I'm doing my RP two project on something related to neur neurology and I'm gonna be part of the neurology society next year. so that's something new that I've discovered. and I also really like wildlife medicine. I have experienced I've done a few internships with it. I loved wildlife as a kid. I really like primates and bats. So that's kind of something the two big things ⁓ between. finding I guess a middle ground might be a little hard with it, but it's just they're two passions that I'd love to be able to somehow fit together. Usha: I mean neuro and wildlife, that would be an insane gig. Like that would be really cool. Gizelle: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But those are what's calling to me. I don't really see myself anymore staying in general practice. ⁓ I think I it's just I don't see that myself doing that anymore. So something. One those two. Usha: Mm-hmm. Joy: Are you hoping to keep up with social media when you're a practicing vet Gizelle: Yeah, I'd hope so. my platform's been growing a little bit recently. ⁓ I'm hoping to kind of keep that momentum if possible. If wherever I'm working with is okay with it, I'd like to continue on with it because I'd like to s I'd like for people to see that progression from student to, you know, practicing veterinarian. and just the content will be very different. ⁓ 'cause it'll be, you know, my day to day life as a doctor. ⁓ but I think it'd be really, really cool. Usha: ⁓ and what are you looking forward to most right now? Gizelle: ⁓ going home in the summer, getting past getting past the exams, ⁓ going home for a bit. this has been ⁓ usually go home every break and this has been I didn't go in this past Easter break, so this has been the longest I've gone not being home, so I'm already feeling the homesickness. ⁓ so just being home with my family, ⁓ starting EMS and going back to a clinic that I worked at before. ⁓ even though I have that previous relationship with them going now as Usha: Nice. Gizelle: an EMS placement. I'm hoping and with the knowledge I've gained this year, I'm really excited to kind of see that manifest and see what I can do. Usha: Does that make you nervous, like going back to somewhere you've been before? Like, do you feel like they're gonna have different expectations for you? Gizelle: Yes, I'm really I'm really nervous about that. I I'm in close contact with the vet techs and the doctor from that old clinic. I feel like they're ⁓ will allow me to do a lot of things, which is also is exciting but also very intimidating. Because what do you mean I might be able to spay or like do a castrate this summer? Like what do you mean? That feels insane. 'Cause I know people who in fourth year who were doing their first castrates in the summer and I was like, ⁓ that's gonna be this summer. Usha: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Gizelle: So there's there's really good potential, hopefully, which is intimidating, but that's the whole point. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Usha: Yeah. But I mean exciting too, right? Yeah. Joy: Have you done like a lot of networking and has that led to any opportunities for you? Gizelle: ⁓ yeah, I through Animal Ospirations, I was able to go to the EDI conference that the rcvs did. or that conference like a networking thing. I did it with our president and some other past members. That was a really, really awesome opportunity to get to be able to go to. and I'm I think it's for sure, but I'm gonna be able to go to BVA live next week ⁓ to represent I think it was Affinity Network. Usha: Nice. Gizelle: it's another like diversity focused thing in veterinary medicine. so being able to go to such a big veterinary conference, I'm really excited to go to that. and just so many other opportunities are those the two off the top of my head. Yeah. Usha: What were those conferences like? Like what did you do while you were there? Gizelle: At the or EDI one, ⁓ there was a lot of different workshops as well as different speakers in the field. So I think ⁓ B VEDS was there, B V E D S. ⁓ so they're like the one of the big like diversity organizations. They had a BVA, think like LGBT organization as well. And they kind of kind of just talked about how different ways that you can be accommodating in practice, like one of the Usha: Mm-hmm. Gizelle: workshops we had was how you have a deaf patient with a with ⁓ with a guide dog how you could accommodate them for that in practice because that's something that you'd think of but it was really like accommodating for disabilities, accommodating just in the workforce. ⁓ so that was really interesting, even just as a student. ⁓ it was very insightful. And then we just kind of had to speak about our experiences. I believe there of them for B VEDs, she's writing a book Usha: Mm. Gizelle: about the of being like a minority in the veterinary field. And there's whole panel on students. I think they've reached out to Animal Aspirations about it. but ⁓ meeting her really cool. yeah. Usha: Sweet. I think we just have a few rapid fire questions for you now. so let's go. So anatomy or Gizelle: Anatomy. Joy: your most used app on your phone? Gizelle: TikTok. Ha ha. Usha: What is one study hack that you swear by? Gizelle: ⁓ my god, what's it called? The Flashcard app. ⁓ my god, I forgot what it's called. Usha: Like Quizlet or Gizelle: What the No Anki, there we go. I forgot it. Anki and using an Anki remote. It helps. Joy: Thank you. Usha: Okay. ⁓ group study or solo study? Gizelle: Solo then group. Like I like to do my condense and then group study, but I need both. Joy: early bird or procrastinator? Gizelle: procrastinator Usha: city or rural practice? Gizelle: City, for sure. Joy: morning lectures or afternoon practicals. Gizelle: Morning lectures 'cause then I can go home. Usha: are you someone who watches lectures at normal speed or two times speed? If you have to re-watch. Gizelle: I do one point five 'cause two is a little too fast for me. Like I can't keep up with the subtitles, so I one point five. Joy: on what's harder, content creation or vet school? Gizelle: Ooh. I'd honestly put them equal. guess that's cool, but content creating is a little hard. ⁓ Usha: Yeah. Joy: Bye. Usha: Yeah. Joy: man Usha: ⁓ can you describe your vet school experience in three words? Gizelle: Community Hmm, let's see. It's a good question. I'm trying to think of like good representative things. Hmm. I'm blanking. I'm blanking on it. Mm. Joy: you Usha: Yeah. Gizelle: I have two. Community stress and animals. I don't know. I can't really think of it. It's not great, but yeah. Community stress and animals. Usha: Awesome. Joy: Perfect. Well, that's a wrap. Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast, Giselle. Usha: Perfect. Gizelle: Of course. Mm-hmm. Of course, thanks for having me guys. Usha: Absolutely. I think before we go you should plug your Instagram your Gizelle: My is future Dr. Martinez. I think it's future.dr.martinez. I also have a TikTok. I'm trying to get ⁓ I'm trying to expand that as well. But my main platform is on Instagram. Yeah, like and ⁓ Usha: Ha ha ha. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thank you so much. Yes. Yes. my gosh. Well thank you so, so much. It was a pleasure having you on. ⁓ course. Gizelle: Course. Thanks for having me guys. Joy: Thank you so much. a lovely rest of your day. ⁓ Gizelle: All right, thank you.