After obtaining my DVM I hope to apply my skills toward areas of public need in the United States by joining the Army Veterinary Corps or working in a rural livestock area that requires veterinary services through the USDA. In the Army, I can make a big impact through small actions that benefit the entire country. There are a variety of tasks to perform such as basic veterinary service, food safety and public health jobs. As a rural vet I can have close relationships with producers and have a huge impact on their lives and successes. After three years I would be well established in both tracks and also almost done with the programs. Upon completion, I would like to further my education, perhaps specializing in equine lameness and rehabilitation or animal food safety. This would allow me to join a focused equine practice or continue working for the government in the FDA, USDA, APHIS, or even Congress as an industry representative. However, if none of this were to ever happen, I would deal with agricultural training and extension. I would prefer to work in an area with public visibility or legislature to ensure the animal industry is not misrepresented by various animal rights groups. North Carolina is a booming equestrian state, made evident by the number of educational facilities and institutions. The equine industry is an important part of North Carolina's economy, and the 4-H program is also one of the largest in the nation. Over the years there has been a massive influx of horsemen into the state from all over the country and the number of shows has been increasing. Additionally, the North Carolina State Fair Horse Show is one of the largest all-breed shows... center of paper... children I helped with their lessons every week. I vividly remember the first girl I worked with, Ginny. She was about 6 years old with curly blonde hair, bright blue eyes and an amazing smile. Ginny had autism and needed a lot of manual labor, but she seemed to really love coming every week. After my first ten week session I asked to be placed with her again, but she stopped coming for three years. I finally got to work with her again my senior year and cried when I saw how much her motor and social skills had improved. During my four years volunteering at Reins of Life, I worked with nearly a dozen children with a variety of disorders and disabilities, and they all taught me a lot about compassion, patience, and hard work. Honestly, the work with the horses was on the back burner. Instead I worked on my flaws while I was able to see the beauty in every human being.