Amber Chavez
For as long as she鈥檚 been in 性视界传媒, Amber Chavez鈥檚 April 29 birthday has fallen on final exam week.
But this year, her birthday falls on a day she鈥檚 been working toward her whole life鈥攈er last day of 性视界传媒 as a veterinary student in Mississippi 性视界传媒鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine before graduation.
She is about to become the first person in her family not only to graduate from college, but to have earned an advanced degree.
鈥淏ig things are happening that week,鈥 Chavez said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a little nervous but mostly excited.鈥
Born in Mobile, Alabama, to parents who both worked two jobs to support their family, Chavez knew the value of hard work from a young age.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have the work ethic I have if it wasn鈥檛 for them,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey wanted something better, for them and for me, and they did what had to be done.鈥
Her parents divorced when Chavez was 15, and her father struggled to support their household on his own. Chavez immediately dropped out of high 性视界传媒, and began working two jobs to help her family.
Eventually, things improved and Chavez was able to earn her GED certificate. She continued to work full time while attending community college and then enrolled at Mississippi 性视界传媒 for a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology.
Against the odds and after overcoming many obstacles, Chavez enrolled in veterinary 性视界传媒 shortly after her 28th birthday.
鈥淪ince I was a kid, I鈥檝e always said I wanted to go to veterinary 性视界传媒,鈥 Chavez said. 鈥淚 think when I dropped out of high 性视界传媒, my parents thought that it was never going to happen. When I told them I was going to make it happen, they were very supportive. They said, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e made it this far, why couldn鈥檛 you make it that far?鈥欌
Chavez鈥檚 time in veterinary 性视界传媒 has been difficult, not only academically, but also financially. With the long days she spent on campus, it was hard to work enough hours to pay her bills, even with student loans. At times, she lost both power and water, and could not afford to pay her cell phone bill.
Things were made worse when her father was diagnosed with lung cancer, and Chavez needed to support him. Fortunately, when she needed help the most, Chavez received an award from the Addie Scholarship Fund, a scholarship for fulltime College of Veterinary Medicine students with demonstrated financial need.
鈥淚f it wouldn鈥檛 have been for these scholarships, I probably would have been living in my car,鈥 Chavez said. 鈥淭hey really helped me make it through those tough times.鈥
As her father鈥檚 health improved, Chavez was faced with another struggle: her mother had a major stroke, and needed care. All the while, Chavez was on clinical rotation as a student and working as a veterinary technician at 性视界传媒鈥檚 Animal Health Center. Additionally, she took shifts at a fast food restaurant from midnight to 4 a.m.
Her work as a veterinary technician led Chavez to develop an interest in surgery, something she will pursue when she soon begins working at a Wisconsin general practice.
Chavez鈥檚 primary career goal is to have her own practice. She hopes to one day repay the generosity shown to her while a veterinary student by establishing a scholarship in the College of Veterinary Medicine for those like her.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to focus on learning as well as some of your peers do when you鈥檙e worried about where your next meal is going to come from or when the power is going to get cut off,鈥 Chavez said. 鈥淪omeone helped me, so I want to pay it forward.鈥