
25/06/2025
Today I had a student ride along who reminded me how powerful early curiosity and intentionality can be.
Sheâs just finishing high school and already thinking ahead, not only about becoming a wildlife vet, but about curating a broad range of experiences to get there. Thatâs how you do it: by exploring the field, asking questions, and learning what you love (and what you donât) before youâre deep in the trenches. I didnât figure this out until I started shadowing vets in college. My career now is nothing I even imagined when I was her age. I wish I had started earlier!
I actually did a YouTube video recently about what makes a great ride-along, and this student checked every box:
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Showed up on time
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Brought thoughtful questions
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Stayed engaged the entire time
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Wanted to learn, not just observe
If youâre mentoring or shadowing, or thinking about it, I hope this encourages you. These early steps matter. They build the foundation for a career that fits you.
Tell me about a great student youâve worked with, or drop your advice for students in the comments! đ
Check out my video here: https://youtu.be/bT2_ejUb-fE?feature=shared