Thursday, May 10, 2012

I need to stay true to why I'm going into this field

Here I am going to school and trying to maintain my sanity with work as well. While I'm not thrilled about my job at Panera, I am glad to say that I have a job, at least. With all that I've dealt with in the restaurant business, this may not be the absolute worst job I've had within the industry, however, it makes me crave a job within my field of study.
As I went to the interview on Friday and did the shadowing on Monday, I felt confident that this was where I wanted to be. As I went through the shadowing process, I was able to see just how well I'd adapt and how busy this location was for myself being an undergraduate at this point. I won't lie, I felt overwhelmed at first because there are some aspects I had not gone over just yet through my program, and I am just now beginning to touch on those topics. So, needless to say I felt a bit under educated and uncertain on some portions of what this specific location had to bring.
While going over the expectations and payment information, I felt as though I was reliving what I was dealing with when I lost my angel, Harley. I know business is business, but with a dying animal (of any kind) the emergency fee to bring them in, without a doctor even examining them was $150. In addition to that the exam is $45 and then the treatment is of course additional to that. So needless to say, it's a money hungry office which does not accept payment plans, checks, or America Express. When I was being shown how things run in the reception area, my trainer explained to me that "We don't inform them of any other place that may be able to help them because we want them to come here so that we can get the money, not other clinics." This is a statement that bothers me because I was on the other end in January with Harley. I was running out of options and was uncertain of my options until my neighbor informed me of the vet she went to when Tyson was ill, and even though that vet clinic was not open, they left information on their voicemail explaining what other options there were within the area since they were not opened. Had I not been informed of this information, I would have lost my beautiful girl in my home and she would have suffered for a longer period of time.
As I stated when I first began studying Veterinary Medicine, I want to be in this field to help animals of all sizes, in an area that is non-profit, or very close to that. I have been accepted into a training process through the Humane Society in Columbus which I begin on the 24th of this month which will allow me to gain experience hands on for the field of Veterinary Medicine. So, with the volunteering that follows this training class, I feel I'll grow more confidence than I do have right now. Plus, with the non-profit organization it'll allow me to be a part of the field that I initially wanted to be a part of. Additionally, this may allow me to become a part of their team with how well I perform. I'm also able to get trained in the field more in the way of not feeling thrown into something that I may or may not fail at w/out repercussions.
If I were to be hired at the place I shadowed a couple of days ago, I have a 90 day probationary period that within any moment they have the opportunity to fire me without any notice, without any understood reason. I don't feel I want to throw Panera away for something that I'm not 110% about just to lose a job and have no other job to turn to.
When I get into the field and am confident about my capabilities, I want to do it for the right reasons, not out of anger due to my lack of love for my current job. I want to do it because I feel that my ability to save a life is because I waited on my education to be complete. And, as I stated earlier, I don't want to be in a field that I love to strictly make money and con people into spending their money at my clinic instead of being able to take care of what they need to immediately w/out all of the money included immediately. Like I said, if someone was selfish and didn't allow me to have the last moments I had with Harley, she would have suffered even more and to me, I would never have changed the last moments I had with her. The ignorance of some veterinary clinics and seeing it first hand, makes my heart hurt for those who are experiencing what I did, feeling useless, and beyond emotional because of lack of funds in this economically dysfunctional world.
In my eyes, you need to help and if you lose business for it, you can go to bed with a better conscious knowing that you helped someone who may have been able to save their pet. I would not be able to sleep at night knowing that there was a dying animal on the other line and all I could say is "We have $150 emergency fee, and a $45 examination fee, and then the costs for treatment vary on what we feel it could be, and the tests being ran could run even more from there." and leave it at that. There is no chance I would want to just claim it's the only choice they had because honestly, I know it is not the ONLY option.
I need to stay true to why I got into this field of study, and I need to stick it out with where I am until I feel confident in my studies before entering the field, which'll allow me to find a vet clinic that I WANT to be a part of. Harley IS my inspiration, and I've got to stick to that not just jump when something comes at me.
I Love You Harley Quinn! You're always and forever in my heart. I'll forever be thankful for what you've shown me!  

3 comments:

  1. Good for you for sticking to your guns and what you know is right! I'm so excited for you about starting that kIck ass training program on the 24th!!! I kept thinking and thinking about what you said about most clinics being all for profit (and greed) and realized- us humans are treated the same way! It's all about keeping other good options hush hush so a certain doctor can reap the rewards. Sigh. Val you are so cool. You are sticking to your dreams and I just know you're going to get so much out of this. You are exactly where you have been destined to be! : )

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  2. try rascal unit! And yeah, veterinary care is expensive, that's why I always encouraged frequent flyers to get the pet insurance. You'll find the right place :)

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  3. Thank you ladies.
    Megan, I am going to inquire to them soon. I remembered that you had suggested that once before and it can't hurt to try and get myself acclimated there with them knowing who I am. :)
    Dawn, I <3 you!

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