"I decided to become a student here because I felt at home. Having worked here, I already knew the faculty, the campus, and even some of my upperclassmen. I had a strong support system and knew I would be in great hands."
Felipe Martinez has a unique perspective as a first-year veterinary student at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Not only does he already have experience in the field, just over a month ago he was working at the Animal Health Institute as a Student Surgery Lab Technician. Below, Felipe describes his experience of starting at Midwestern as an employee before officially becoming a student.
How long did you work as a vet tech at Midwestern?
I was fortunate to work as a vet tech at Midwestern for a year. Before that, I spent seven years in a general practice. I actually applied to the vet program here for the Class of 2027, but I was feeling burnt out and ended up not interviewing. The following year, I was hired at Midwestern, and working here completely changed my outlook on myself and the profession. That’s when I decided to apply again, and I’m now part of the Class of 2028.
What was your favorite thing about working at MWU?
My favorite thing about working at MWU has to be the vibes. I’ve never felt so welcomed or like I truly belonged somewhere in my entire life. Growing up, I often had to hide my true self and act a certain way because of my sexuality. But at Midwestern, inclusivity is celebrated. I was able to be my true, flamboyant self, and my unique personality was embraced.
The students, staff, and faculty welcomed me with open arms, making me feel comfortable and at ease, which meant a lot since I’m a bit shy. Honestly, I remember thinking, “What’s the catch?” when I saw how nice everyone was.
What made you decide to become a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine?
I decided to become a student here because I felt at home. Having worked here, I already knew the faculty, the campus, and even some of my upperclassmen. I had a strong support system and knew I would be in great hands.
Who/what has influenced you to take the step towards furthering your education?
I’ve always struggled with “the voices in my head” telling me I’m not good enough or that I’m a failure. I used to just push through one day at a time. But then clients at work and even doctors I worked with started telling me how kind, smart, and empathetic I was. They would thank me for my hard work and for how gentle I was with their beloved animals.
Hearing those positive words when I had nothing but negative thoughts in my mind was incredibly uplifting. It finally made me start to think more highly of my skills and intelligence. So, I would say it was my previous clients, patients, and the people I worked with who influenced me to believe in myself and take this step.
What are you most excited about as you begin your journey as a student?
I am so excited to do surgeries! Having worked in the student surgery lab here, I had the chance to educate and teach students how to prep and recover the surgery patients. But now, I get to be the one doing the surgeries! I’m a pretty crafty guy, so I see surgery as an art. I’m going to do amazing and I can’t wait to start this journey with my new friends here at MWU.
