Resiliency In Veterinary Education

Standing up when you fell as a child, getting back on the horse that threw you off, answering the question right after you missed it on the first quiz, overcoming heartbreak, and learning from the difficult mistakes you made in your teens are all examples of resiliency. Resiliency evolves with us, and looks different at every stage of life, but no matter the application, resiliency, the ability to overcome challenges, is necessary to succeed.

When faced with a challenge, it is easy to fold under the pressure, but taking the more difficult path is often more rewarding. I firmly believe that the best lessons are the ones that do not come easy. The errors that we make leave a lasting impression on our hearts, and in an attempt to avoid the desolate feeling of failing again, we must adapt the way we live. Effectively, we teach ourselves a better way. I intentionally use some vague language because I think resiliency
Veterinary school students, myself included, are used to being in the top of their class, but when all of the best students are in the same room, someone cannot be the best student anymore. This will be an emotional process to work through, but being tenacious and resilient will increase focus and lead to success. The ability to overcome mistakes is vital in the academic setting, especially when exams and grades come frequently. It is unwise to dwell for weeks on a bad grade. Instead, the resilient student will take that failure as a reminder to study harder or differently, ask for help, and keep their focus moving forward. In the end, the people with the best grades, the people for whom learning comes easily, will graduate, but they may never learn how to move forward after a devastating loss. Therefore, I think resiliency is possibly more important than being the smartest in the