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Student Spotlight: Rayne Johnson
Johnson during her AVMA externship in Washington, DC,
where she discovered a passion for policy.
Is there Life After Rejection?
For veterinary medical student Rayne Johnson, the answer is a resounding yes!
It’s not easy to schedule an interview with Rayne Johnson. “One of my patients is getting a liver biopsy this morning and the time slot is dependent on the results from a test that is pending this morning,” she writes when an interview needs rescheduling.
Such is the life of a busy clinician and fourth-year veterinary medical student - but it almost wasn’t so.
Aspiring veterinary students often become totally focused on getting into veterinary medical school, says Rayne, and she was no exception. There was just one problem - she didn’t get accepted and was put on a wait list without much hope of admission.
What was her reaction? “It hurt,” she says. For a while, she was devastated, but then she “decided that rejection from veterinary school was not what defined me.”
She used the next year to take some time off, get out of her “comfort zone,” and travel to Ecuador and Peru. She also worked for two veterinary hospitals, engaged in some soul searching, and re-evaluated whether being a veterinarian was what she really wanted to do. It was.
During her time off, she realized that she might want to take veterinary medicine in a different direction than the traditional small or large animal practice, even though she wasn't sure exactly how.
The next year she applied again, with an application that reflected her experience and broadened perspective. This time, she was admitted to Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. “It took a lot of guts to reapply, but I’m glad I did,” she says. She's not really sure why she was admitted one year and not the other but, at Purdue, she found a supportive community of friends, faculty, and mentors and also discovered a passion for governmental advocacy. As a fourth-year student, she was one of 10 students nationwide chosen to participate in governmental relations externships through American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). While in Washington, DC, she met with congressional representatives and learned how to lobby for veterinary issues, explained legislation from a veterinary perspective, and participated in policy-related meetings and events, including meeting with the AAVMC. In fact, after she gets more clinical experience, she plans to return to DC. “I fell in love with the DC scene and I believe that I can be a voice for veterinarians and the animals and people that they serve.”
Without a doubt, not getting into veterinary medical school on her first try was a tough experience, but now she’s thriving.
What’s her advice for those who, like her, might find that their dream is deferred? “There’s absolutely no shame in being rejected,” she says. “If you know that veterinary medicine is what you really want to do, you can improve upon your application, work on your interview skills, or do what you need to do to improve your chances. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and direction from those who can provide guidance (admissions officers, for example), and those who have already been through the process."
She also recommends taking the time to research various veterinary programs because each school features unique styles and programs. “Focus on finding the best fit for you.”
And finally, she says that whether you get into veterinary school or not, you should build a network of mentors and teachers who can provide support as you embark on your career.
“Stay open to opportunities,” she says,” because you may find some that you never expected.”
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