Animal and Food Sciences Department Alumna

Why did you decide to come to Texas Tech University?

Nearly all of my elementary and high school education was experienced living abroad in Kuwait, Indonesia and Thailand. Growing up overseas, I was able to experience numerous endangered animal rescue centers around the world. Fortunately, I discovered my passion to be a veterinarian at a fairly young age. After graduating high school from the International School of Bangkok, I decided to pursue an undergraduate degree from an American university.  I was excited to learn that Texas Tech had an amazing animal science program that would provide excellent preparation to enter a veterinary medicine program.  Luckily, Texas Tech is also reasonably close to my parent's home in Arlington, Texas.

Describe your educational experience in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences?

After three years of living in a large city like Bangkok, Thailand, moving to Lubbock to obtain my Animal Science degree was definitely an adjustment. I believe it was the educational experience at Texas Tech Animal Science Department that allowed me to become a competitive applicant to Vet School. With my specific interest in exotic wildlife, primarily elephants, most of my animal experience came from volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries. The variety of courses offered in Tech's Animal Science Department included incredible courses focusing on animal production. This provided a broader background of knowledge, allowing me to stand out among applicants to University College Dublin's Veterinary Program that that only accepted 40 graduate students. While I have only been in Ireland for a month, I have repeatedly utilized the knowledge I gained from the Animal Science Department in my current courses. The curriculum, the hands-on learning in production courses, and the valuable advice from professors helped prepare me for Vet School. For example, my favorite part about my undergraduate degree was the production courses, as it allowed me to apply what I learned in classrooms to the labs at the New Deal Farm and Equine Center. The most enjoyable class was Horse Production with Dr. Riccitelli and Dr. Neary. This course covered a broad range of material on horses including: obtaining vital signs, vaccinations, disease, clinical signs, reproduction, and foaling. The professors were always willing to stay after class to review any material or practice handling; especially for students that were interested in pursuing veterinarian medicine. I am so thankful for the education received at Texas Tech as I would not be here in Ireland without it.

What is your advice to potential students interested in this field of study?

For someone that loves animals, the study of veterinary medicine is an incredible journey. There will be stressful times, but the rewarding and exciting experiences will always outweigh the hard time. Do not let failure, whether it's a lower GPA or a rejection letter, hinder you from your dream to pursue this field of study. Veterinary medicine is a very a stressful field and will test how far you are willing to push yourself. The most important thing is to understand how to deal with failure. It is what you do after failure that creates character and enables success.  As Randy Pausch wrote in his book, The Last Lecture, “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough”. I never gave up. I am certain the hard work and stress of completing my undergraduate degree was completely worth it. I am loving every minute of this new adventure in the Vet School at University College Dublin. The curriculum is challenging with a lot of work but it is an amazing opportunity at the same time. If you are interested in a career in veterinary medicine, it is very competitive. Don't limit yourself to only American universities, as there are numerous programs overseas that are also accredited in the USA and around the world. 

What was your favorite part of Texas Tech?

I decided to go to Texas Tech for the Animal Science Department and to finally be able to live in the United States again. Not only did I get that experience, but I grew to love the spirit and tradition that students and alumni have for Texas Tech. Until moving to Tech, I had never attended a football game or tailgate before. Therefore, game days quickly became one of my favorite parts of Texas Tech! The pride and love the student body has for their school is incredible and awe inspiring. Watching Texas Tech football games in a different time zone in Ireland, isn't as exciting as standing in the student section. However, listening to the fans chant “Raider Power” from the TV during the Texas Tech vs. TCU game this last weekend gave me goosebumps and is the perfect example of Tech spirit. I am and will always be proud to be a Red Raider. Wreck ‘Em Tech!


For more information about the Department of Animal and Food Sciences' undergraduate degree plans, please contact Kayla Rathmann atkayla.rathmann@ttu.edu.