Elaine Watson: It's Been Too Long

It has been way too long since I have written a post on here. So much has happened. For starters...I actually am now currently in my 2nd semester of school here at RUSVM. My 1st semester was very successful and this semester is coming to an end in just a couple of weeks. I have my last week of classes next week and then the week after that is finals week.

So what have I been up to?? I was class rep as well as a continued member of RUSVM's Josh Project during my first semester. That all went really well and it was an overall fun and successful semester.

Outside of all of that and the workload of veterinary school, I was caught off guard by a very amazing guy. Completely swept me off my feet and he continues to make me feel amazing. I definitely wasn't expecting to have such an amazing guy enter my life....wouldn't have it any other way :)

I was able to meet his family over our December break. They are amazing folks and I can definitely understand how he turned out to be who he is today. He was able to take a road trip with me all the way from Pennsylvania and meet my family in Cincinnati, OH. Everyone gave him the stamp of approval...lol. Long story short...this was a great break and so many amazing memories were made from this short get away from "the rock".

As far as 2nd semester...This semester had its bumps, but I'm doing just fine. I am not one to post about the petty drama, but it was definitely present at the beginning of the semester. Luckily, I have an amazing boyfriend and family and friends that were there for advice and support. Didn't let others impede my journey and reason for being here.

Now onto the important stuff :)

I was asked at the beginning of this semester to step up as chairperson of Josh Project and I gladly accepted. I have successfully hosted both the fundraisers that Josh Project holds each semester (Coin Fundraiser and the Professor/Staff Cook Off). I have also done my part in getting the organizations name and the amazing community service that it provides more publicly known. Here is the article that the school wrote about Josh Project and my role. Our coin fundraiser received a lot of publicity amongst the RUSVM community. Red Semester (my semester) won the coin fundraiser and supporting and aiding us in this achievement was Dr. Allen Reich who has been with the school for 20+ years. He willingly dressed as Ace Ventura for an entire day in honor of my semester's win. Here is the photo of his outfit versus Ace Ventura...I think we did a good job! The Professor/Staff Cook Off was soooooo much fun! We had such an amazing turnout and I had so much fun with the help of my co-chair, Avery, making the cook books that compiled all the participant's recipes. Can't wait for next semester's!

I have a lot of really awesome ideas for Josh Project. The organization was founded about 2-3 years ago here at RUSVM and it has really developed some strong roots. My personal goal for Josh Project is to see it expand (ie. more community awareness and involvement) as well as work with the St. Kitts government to enable easier ways of bringing Josh Kits to the pediatric ward of the Joseph N. France General Hospital. I am completely confident that under my care, Josh Project will accomplish these goals especially with the help of certain amazing individuals in the RUSVM community that are working with me to see everything through.

I was class representative this semester and even attempted to take my role in our SCAVMA to the next level. I had many amazing friends cheering me on from the sidelines and pushing me to pursue a larger role so I decided to run for President. Unfortunately I was not elected to this position; however, I am not one to get hung up on such things and I am very quick to move on when something doesn't work out and find another avenue or opportunity (definitely pride myself on my resilience in such situations). I most definitely was proud of myself and the work that I put into chasing after this personal goal. I went after this opportunity and gave it my all. I have really enjoyed my role in SCAVMA and saw this election as an opportunity to do more in our student government. Even though my attempt was unsuccessful, I saw this defeat as a blessing in disguise. I know my classmates appreciate the work that I put in each semester to keep everyone on track and the liaison work that I do between administration/professors and my class. So in the words of Napoleon Hill: "Your big opportunity may be right where you are now." I enjoy being my class' representative and am definitely looking forward to serving them for another semester (was reelected as one of our two 3rd semester class representatives for next semester).

So that is this semester in a nut shell!! I really have been busting my butt to stay afloat this semester. And my efforts are paying off! Every day I think about my animal science advisor during my undergraduate years at Ohio State (Ana Hill...she was such an amazing advisor!) and how she mentioned every once in a while that they easy part of veterinary school is getting in...at the time, I scuffed at this idea because I was working so relentlessly to get into OSU's Veterinary School...but now it all makes sense! Hahaha! Luckily I am as stubborn as they come (thanks to some good ol' family genes...love my Lowers genes) and I refuse to let any course stand between myself and this career.

So here we are at the end of another semester...where you give it one last push. You increase your intake of caffeine, live off unhealthy snacks (skittles, etc.), sit your butt in a chair for days upon days, and pound all the important material of the semester back inside your skull for one last hoorah. I feel like it is fitting for the following quote: "And may the odds be ever in your favor..."

Just some pictures that represent the fun that I had over the time that's past since my last post...