Tomorrow!

This whole summer I was really doing a fairly good job not thinking about what was right around the corner.  But it's the night of Wednesday, August 4th...and in less than 12 hours I will be sitting in the classrooms of NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine beginning orientation.  Holy crap!

Probably not a surprise to say that I'm getting excited and nervous and antsy and scared all at once - wish it was here right now because sleep won't be coming tonight!

Getting to this point, where I've moved, signed my life away in loans, and am ready for another four years (and then some?) years of education has been lifelong.  For those of you who know me, you know that this has been either at the forefront of my brain or percolating on some back burner for a long, long, long time.  For those of you who don't, becoming a veterinarian, and completing the schooling to get there, has been more than a dream, more than a goal, and more than an ambition.

It has completely defined my life. 

And when it wasn't a certainty that I was going to be accepted - back in calculus or organic chemistry or even this past November when I was waiting for word on my applications - I tried to ignore the fact that literally everything I did was with the intention and hope of becoming a veterinarian.  My first (and only) high school job was at a veterinary clinic to gain experience.  I went to the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Agricultural Sciences to gain experience and insight.  I attended Penn State for both a broad and thorough agriculture education.  I crammed classes for two majors into four years and finished a thesis, joined clubs, and took leadership opportunities because of the benefits they would bring to my application and understanding of the field.  Summers were spent working to gain experience, and I took a year break from school to work in clinical medicine.  This was done with the hope that my application would then be strong enough to allow me to attend a more affordable out-of-state school.

Talk about putting all of your eggs in one basket.  I had a vague back-up plan of taking the MCAT and applying to medical school or maybe getting a master's in public health, but neither were very well thought-out.  Vet school was the goal, and my academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences were all tailored with that in mind.  So I guess it's a good thing I made it here!

Anyway, knowing that nearly every conscious choice and decision I've made has finally, finally paid off and that I'm finally, finally starting this all-important chapter of my life is so exciting.  And so terrifying.  I've wanted this for as long as I can remember, and now, about to begin this journey tomorrow morning, I am taking a deep breath and hoping that it's the right choice for me after all.

Our schedule for tomorrow runs from 8 am until 5 pm and includes lots of talks from academic affairs, professors, counseling, etc. along with some financial aid stuff and photo-taking.  There are also a few blocks of "large and small group activities" in the mix; I'm suspicious they might be ice-breakers, which I mostly hate.  But hopefully it'll be a good chance to meet the other 79 students in my class.  We continue orientation again on Friday, have our White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, and finish up on Monday.  Classes start in a week on next Wednesday!

In other news, my apartment is neat and clean and ready for two visitors this weekend.  The fantastic guy in my life is flying here tomorrow evening, and my mom is arriving sometime on Friday; mom is my coat presenter for the ceremony.  My apartment is kinda teeny (1 bedroom with no defined dining room), so it'll be close quarters for a couple of days.  I'm so excited to be able to relax and enjoy some company before the chaos really starts.

Think I'm going to curl up with a book and cup of tea and try to relax tonight.  10 hours until I climb in the car and start my first drive to school! :)