Zoo keeper turned vet - Why not?

Written by Kelsey Yates, an animal keeper for zoos and aquariums in the United States. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oregon State University in 2015 and will become a student in Oregon State University’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2024. It is completely fine to not know where you are going, no matter your age

I have not always wanted to be a veterinarian. It almost feels embarrassing for me to type that out because it seems that many veterinarians have known their path since they were children. I always had a different answer for whoever would ask me, “So what do you want to be when you grow up, Kelsey?” I owe my varied responses to my encouraging parents, who granted me the opportunity to pursue every interest of mine, no matter what it happened to be. However, when it came down to it, I was just as indecisive about what my future career might be at my high school graduation as I was on my first day of kindergarten. Moments of clarity may come in ways that you least expect- always be open I chose to pursue a Biology degree because of its breadth, thinking that I could always get a Master’s degree in a more specific subject down the road. Fast forward to my senior year: I still had no clue! However, I had narrowed down what I did not want to do for a career. Physics, field work, and microbiology did not fascinate me; the latter surprised me. I knew that a large interest of mine was the ocean, so I contemplated a focus in Marine Biology. Like any confused student who is changing their major randomly, I googled, “careers you can get with a marine biology degree.” I found that ‘Aquarist’ was on that list. A fish zookeeper. Almost like a movie, that same day I happened to meet someone who knew an Aquarist from the Oregon Coast Aquarium and I met her for a job shadow. I was hooked! I had found a job that combined all my interests at the time. I had finally found my path. You do not have to stay on your chosen path if you feel pulled in another direction Since that day, I have learned the husbandry for a variety of species as a zookeeper; from sharks and octopus, to tortoises and tarantulas, and many species in between. Working as an animal keeper these past 5 years has been incredibly rewarding for me. I learned that I have strengths in public speaking and public education - I seriously LOVE talking to people about animals. I have so much passion for my work that my coworkers know if I am late to a meeting, I likely got caught up talking with a visitor on my way through a gallery. I learned that I have a passion for animal health and welfare. Finally, I learned that medicine is what interests me the most.

Sometimes the most painful experiences give clarity and push you in the right direction In the positions I have held as a keeper, all have allowed me to work with animals that are under veterinary care and treatment. I have had the opportunity to assist with medical cases from signs of disease, to diagnosis, treatment, and back to health again. On the other side, I have suffered the emotional pain that comes with caring for animals in decline because of diseases that I do not understand. As a zookeeper, I loved being able to take care of animals, but when an animal would get sick, I felt powerless in helping them. I felt like I only had part of the story in the grand scope of animal care. I was missing the animal medicine chapter.

Always investigate your musings- Do not ignore a budding passion Luckily I have also had the opportunity to work with some influential veterinarians along the way, both in zoos and aquariums as well as clinicians who have pushed me in one way or another towards the field of veterinary medicine. At one point I had a second job as a part-time veterinary assistant at an exotics clinic. Being in an environment that was focused completely on animal medicine was so eye-opening for me that eventually I quit my animal keeping job in order to work at that clinic full time. 2 summers later I applied to veterinary school. I will be attending Oregon State University in the fall as a member of the class of 2024 and I could not be more excited and grateful to be on this journey at last.

Identify your motivation and allow it to drive you on your journey Even though it took me longer than most to realize my life’s purpose as a veterinarian, I do not regret my journey one bit. Every twist and turn that I have taken along the way has allowed me to develop the confidence I needed to pursue a veterinary degree. I encourage anyone who is considering a change in their career path, whether it be in the field of veterinary medicine or beyond, to embrace your journey. You might feel that you are behind, (I know I do) but just remember that this unpredictable path you are on is your life. Every experience is building to something incredible, even if it seems like it is taking a while to reach the destination. Never stop investigating, questioning, and reevaluating what motivates you to move forward, and embrace the emotions and realizations that come your way. Thank you to the animal keeping field for 5 incredible years full of memories that I will have for a lifetime. To all the animals I have had the privilege to care for and to all the animals who I have loved and lost, the motivation for my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine career is owed to you. I hope that I make you proud.