How much can a single summer change the course of your career? As I walked into Bennett Creek Animal Hospital on my first day, I had no idea that the next few weeks would redefine my understanding of animal care and challenge my abilities in ways I could have never expected.
My name is Samantha Schweizer and I am a current student at the University of Maryland. I am receiving a certificate in Agriculture Business Management and a Bachelor's in Animal Science. This past summer I had the opportunity to work at Bennett Creek Animal Hospital as a kennel technician. As an aspiring veterinarian, this internship allowed me to gain exposure and experience that is necessary for veterinary school. As a kennel technician, my responsibility was taking care of the animals who came into the clinic for boarding. I completed many different tasks during the day which included walking and feeding the boarders, cleaning runs, bathing dogs, folding laundry, and overall maintenance of the animals. One of my favorite tasks was feeding the dogs. Each dog had a specific diet which sometimes included oral medications. I enjoyed preparing each of their food bowls and learning about all the different medications they took. I have always loved animals, especially dogs, and I truly enjoyed going to work every day and forming connections with both the animals and my coworkers.
Aside from my daily tasks with the boarding animals, I was also able to assist the veterinary technicians as well as observe surgeries. Assisting the technicians ranged from placing catheters and drawing blood to preparing dogs for surgical procedures. I was also able to assist with running tests which included urinary and blood tests. One of the most unique cases I was able to observe was a German Shepherd who had a five-pound mass removed from their spleen in a procedure which was called a splenectomy. In the surgical suite, I was able to assist the doctor with their scrub-in and record vitals during the procedure. Working at Bennett Creek and having the opportunity to observe these surgical procedures only helped to further develop my passion for becoming a veterinarian.
My time at Bennett Creek taught me not only about my future career but also about myself. This summer I gained the skill of self-assurance in my abilities. Facing various challenges, I learned to overcome them on my own, which strengthened my belief in handling difficult tasks independently without the need for reassurance.
