Something has got to give...

So this semester has had its ups and definitely has had its downs for me.

First the positives...

I have a mango tree in my yard! I have been able to pick so many that I not only eat or cut up and freeze for myself, but I have given them away to lots of people who love mangos as much as I do. Can't wait for the next mango season and to take advantage of this awesome tree again :)

Josh Project is thriving! A member of RUSVM's admin team helped me draft a letter that was sent not too long ago to the officials who oversee St. Kitts customs/duty in order to hopefully receive an exemption from duty/taxes on "Josh Kits" shipped directly here. Staying hopeful that they contact me with good news soon, if not I do have one more plan of action to make this come true. Thanks to the class reps, one of my co-chairs, the professors that volunteered for the semesters, and all those that made coin/bill donations, we had the most successful coin fundraiser in the history of RUSVM's Josh Project! 7th Semester (Pink semester) took the entire event and was able to recruit Dr. St. Jean to their cause. He will be dressing up as Zorro for an entire day this semester at some point. We also sold 97 fleeces and made quite a profit from the fleece sale...I'm very happy with this. The trick will be bringing most of these back with me in suitcases and having a very good speech prepared about JP should I get caught by customs at the airport! My other co-chair and I will soon begin recruiting professors/staff members for the Professor/Staff Cook Off and get all those details ironed out in time for the event (will be held mid July). Next semester we will have frisbees at the cook off to utilize as plates (more stable then flimsy paper plates and are re-usable for future cook offs, etc.)!

I put my deposit down to go to African via Wildlife Vets in April of 2013 ($1300 USD deposit...still owe $2000 USD...flight cost is approx. ~$2700 USD). The whole trip and experience definitely are coming with a big price tag...I'm hoping to receive aid from SCAVMA via my PDF (professional development fund) points that I've accumulated since I started in Vet Prep, fundraise with a handful of others going on the trip, and put all birthday/Christmas present money from my family towards this to help with the cost. I was way too busy during undergrad between being a full-time student as well as supporting myself financially (usually working ~2 jobs) to take advantage of the awesome study abroad opportunities, so when I came here, I knew going to Africa was something I would find a way to do.

I did a necropsy this semester and reported on it with a group of classmates. This was such a cool experience. This was for my Pathology class...my favorite class this semester because it makes you put so much of the knowledge you have already acquired to use (ie. parasitology, anatomy, physiology, etc.).

Still going strong in my relationship and loving every bit of it. It feels amazing to have met someone as driven as myself in life and also someone that wants to be there and work through it all...someone that loves every aspect of who I am. If I hadn't come to RUSVM, we would never had met each other...definitely grateful for this.

"If you want something to last, you treat it differently... You shield and protect it... You never abuse it... You don't expose it to the elements... You don't make it common or ordinary... If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new... It becomes special because you made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by"

And now for the part or this semester that has taken its toll on me...

As much as I have enjoyed serving as class rep for my class, it has been overwhelmingly time consuming for me this semester. It has been a great experience being the voice of my class, guiding them to answers, and playing a huge role in the success of our fundraising events...however, I am at the point of exhaustion and have decided that I am stepping down from the role. Just like any leadership role, I have been praised for my hard work by my classmates, and I have been criticized along the way. I'm thankful for all the experiences that the role has thrown my way. I was definitely lucky to have had such a great partner in crime this semester that acted as an amazing class rep as well. However, it is now time for me to refocus...to refocus on myself, my happiness, and my academics. I struggled with the decision to let go of my responsibilities and role because I have really poured myself into it. But after a much needed meeting with a professor to seek out advice, it was very clear what I needed to do.

After four semesters of hard work, I'm definitely looking forward to letting go of the responsibilities and passing the torch to another capable individual as well as what I'll be able to accomplish with the time that I will have available from this decision.

Feeling lighter and refreshed already...