4VM FEATURE
“I learned to lean on the support of others. There are going to be times when you feel like you can't do it, you're not smart enough, but just lean on those who love you and support you no matter what and just keep going.” 100 YEARS OF GRADUATES | COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
- ALICIA ROBINSON
THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE Story by MARGARET PREIGH The road to veterinary school is, by nature, dauntless and difficult. While many students are fortunate to gain entrance on their first attempt, some students face additional obstacles they must overcome in order to pursue their dream of becoming a veterinarian. Alicia Robinson, from Wills Point, Texas, applied three times before being accepted to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM). “It was really hard,” Robinson said. “There were a lot of times I thought about applying to nursing school, because that seemed like the easier thing to do. I told myself I was going to give myself four tries, and if it didn’t happen after the fourth time, it was probably time to do something else.” In the years between her undergraduate degree at A&M and acceptance into veterinary school, Robinson earned a master’s degree in biomedical sciences at A&M. She also used the time to focus on herself and her family, which was important along her path to eventual admission. “I had a lot of support from my husband and family. They kept telling me not to give up, but it was definitely hard; every rejection letter stung,” Robinson said, noting that her loved ones helped her overcome the disappointment. “But I learned to lean on the support of others,” she said. “There are going to be times when you feel like you can’t do it, you’re not smart enough, but just lean on those who love you and support you no matter what and just keep going.” Since entering the CVM, Robinson has continued to demonstrate her tenacity, serving two years as the CVM’s Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) delegate, liaising between the college and the association, serving on the board of directors for conferences, and being involved with legislative advocacy. Despite the perseverance required for Robinson’s
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admission, she strongly believes that her hard work paid off. After all, in May 2020, she will earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and, hopefully, find a job working in rural mixed animal medicine. “At the end of the day, I’m getting to do what I want to do, so yeah, it was definitely worth it, all those struggles,” she said. “I actually have my acceptance letter framed in my office so I can look at it every time I study.” Elizabeth Martin, from Allen, Texas, has also carried on
Alicia Robinson