Changing Career Paths
Veterinary medicine wasn’t Arianna Boyll’s first career choice. During her first year in undergraduate school, she pursued a journalism degree down in the Sunshine State.
“I’ve always been an animal lover ever since I was a little kid, like everyone else,” Boyll said. “But in high school and when I was exploring career paths, I always told myself I wasn’t good at math and science and things like that, so I kind of steered away from the medical field.”
But that mindset didn’t prevent her from eventually discovering her passion.
Boyll took on a job at PetSmart as a groomer to make money while in school. There, she learned that she loved animals and wanted to help them in a wider capacity. So, she looked at the required classes to get accepted into veterinary school.
“I was like, ‘I’ll just take biology and chemistry,’” Boyll said. “‘I’ll see what happens. If I fail them, then we’ll continue with journalism.’ But I surprised myself, and I told myself, ‘You can do this.’”
She continued pushing herself outside academia, working at a small animal walk-in-only clinic that was a “high volume, low cost, very chaotic but great experience,” according to Boyll. She also interned at a wildlife preserve for two years, working with bison, wolves, and foxes while completing equine work.
‘Jack of All Trades’
For Boyll, the desire to help animals includes nearly all of them. She is going into mixed animal medicine — a combination of small and large animal medicine.
“I’m doing mixed animal medicine because I love small and large, and I just love the idea of being a jack of all trades in an area and taking care of whatever you bring to me,” Boyll said.
Boyll said she doesn’t know what her life would look like if it weren’t for the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Unlike other schools, the curriculum here allows students to gain “a little bit of experience in everything.” Other schools might make students choose a specific path and stick to it, according to Boyll.
Several opportunities opened for Boyll as she became a part of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the Production Medicine Club, and the Student American Veterinary Medical Association.
“(I got) exposure to everything and the resources or opportunities to explore those interests,” Boyll said. “I became involved in (AAEP) because I was interested in horses, so I had that avenue because I was exposed to equine during (my) first year and second year.”
Sweet Home Indiana
Boyll is eastward-bound following graduation, returning to her home state of Indiana to work at a mixed animal clinic in Terre Haute. But before moving forward with her career, Boyll is treasuring her remaining time in the college with the six-week professional development period.
Working with a faculty adviser, each Illinois veterinary student individualizes their studies during the six weeks before graduation to pursue their unique interests. Boyll chose multiple equine rotations, business management, and a farm course, among others.
‘Do It’
Becoming a veterinarian wasn’t a conventional path for Boyll, and just because she didn’t have as much experience working with large animals, it didn’t prevent her from wanting to work with both small and large animals.
“I would tell (my first-year self) that ‘You can do anything you put your mind to,’” Boyll said. “I think it’s just important to go out of your way to get experience in the things you’re interested in. So I would tell myself, ‘You can do it.’”
She has a similar recommendation for those considering veterinary school.
“I truly believe people can do anything they put their mind to,” Boyll said. “It’s hard work, but if you’re willing to work hard and work with people and you want to have an awesome career working with animals, then I think you’re cut out for it … If you want to do it, then do it.”
If it weren’t for her embracing those exact words — “do it” — all those years ago when she was studying journalism in college, she might never have had the courage to alter her path and pursue her calling as a veterinarian.
By Chloe Barbarise
