i have found my calling

I love my major and my future profession. Speech-Language Pathology is a lot of work but I really think it is a perfect fit for me. I love interacting with people, I love language (written and spoken), I love the fact that I will be an expert in something...because lets face it...i am a little bit bossy...this profession will give me a good excuse to be bossy all the time. However, at times I have wondered if I was missing another, more rewarding calling.

At 4 I got my first dog, Barkley, a beautiful golden retriever and began dreaming of someday being a vet. We were inseparable until he passed away in a house fire when I was 10. 6 mths later, I got my second dog Banjo, another golden. At the same time I was working for various animal shelters around town as well as volunteering at a local horse barn, in exchange they would allow me to ride the horses every so often. At 12 my mom finally began paying for riding lessons...but my passion wasn't rodeos or barrel racing...I just loved being around the animals.

At 13 I started highschool and joined my local FFA chapter. Mostly because it just gave me another opportunity to be closer to animals. I raised rabbits all 4 years I was in highschool and made sure that after the stock show and auction my animals were bought as pets...and not slaughtered (as most were). My senior year in highschool, I was part of an independent study mentorship program in which I studied animal behavior by working and studying horses and their social interactions, 10 hrs a week for 6 months. It was one of the most rewarding educational experiences I have ever been a part of.

As I applied for colleges my senior year in highschool I tried to decide, at 18, what I wanted to do with my life. I choose the University of Texas only because I couldn't decide, and they offered me a sizeable journalism scholarship. My dream of being a vet was trumped by the need for money for college. I had only been in Austin for 2 months when my family called to tell me my Banjo had passed away. I was devastated and no one seemed to understand. I began volunteering at the Austin-SPCA and as things in my personal life seemed to be falling all around me it was one of the few things that brought me any joy while I lived in Austin.

I left Austin 2 yrs later, moved to San Marcos and finally got another dog. The love of my life, Blitz. A spunky little dachshund that I take with me just about everywhere (except school). Well, tying this all in, clearly animals have always been a deep love of mine. Being around them in therapeutic for me. And for other people as well.

I read this article and decided, this is most definitely what I need to be doing for the rest of my life.