The newspaper industry has taken a hit in recent years and sometimes it’s as though I’m walking a tightrope – trying to remain balanced in a business whose future is up in the air.
There’s a feeling that, at any moment, I could be the next journalist to tumble to the ground.
And then what?
Because of this uncertainty, I began considering a “back-up” plan. After researching various options and considering things I’m passionate about, earlier this year I enrolled in the Veterinary Assistant Program at Gavilan. It’s not a two-year technician program (something I considered in high school before choosing another path), but rather a condensed, fast-track, “here-are-the-basics-of-what-you-need-to-know” program.
Having earned a couple of degrees when I was younger, I never imagined I’d step back into a classroom in order to investigate a potentially necessary career change.
I admit, I was terrified.
Would my older – and hopefully wiser – brain absorb new information? Would I be able to put 100 percent into my position at the newspaper every day, while taking the class and studying? On top of that, the program required an internship – how would I work, go to school and intern at a veterinary clinic, and keep what’s left of my sanity?
It didn’t really matter because I nervously jumped in with gusto and enthusiasm. If I was going to pay for this with my time and money, I was determined to learn everything I possibly could and be excited about every task that was asked of me – even when that included expressing a dog’s anal glands.
My nerves eased when I saw that there were only seven of us in class – myself, Jessica, Charles, Angela, Renae, Barb and Kassie. With so few students, I realized our animated instructor, Desiree, a vet tech at Gilroy Veterinary Hospital, would likely be able to offer individual advice if I began to feel overwhelmed.
Since that first class, it’s been a whirlwind of dogs and cats, with each student bringing his or her own pets to be used for demonstrations, including my own terrier-mix, Pumpkin. Although an old, independent girl who’s set in her ways (just like her owner), Pumpkin got along with most of the dogs in class. There were only a few growls and snaps among the various animals as they learned each other’s boundaries.
Fortunately, there were no growls between the students. As a group, we took “field trips” to Gilroy Vet Hospital to see how things are done and practiced everything from nail trims and deep ear cleanings, to giving “vaccinations” to thawed chickens.
And with the help of my friend and fellow columnist Dr. Pete Keesling, I secured an internship and observation hours with Live Oak Veterinary Hospital in Morgan Hill, where many of his former staff members now work.
I was welcomed by the veterinarians and their technicians, and although I wasn’t allowed to do much hands-on training due to liability issues, it was an incredibly educational and eye-opening experience.
Techs don’t just take your dog or cat’s temperature and give vaccinations. Behind the scenes, they patiently comb through and pick fleas from coats in need of some TLC – without being asked. They clean the floor and your elderly dog’s fur when his bowels let loose during a blood draw – often without you even knowing. And random personalities join together to work as one cohesive unit during emergencies, like I witnessed during a likely-fatal dog attack wound.
Through the course and the internship, I’ve packed my brain with seemingly endless lists of medical terms, learned about various surgical procedures (and found that my stomach is stronger than I think) and realized that it’s not uncommon for even an experienced vet technician to shed tears following the euthanization of an animal once its owners have left.
The final exam, which consists of both a written test and demonstration of skills, is Saturday. If I pass with an 80 percent or above, I’ll become a certified veterinary assistant. Although I’m proud that I grabbed hold with both hands and gave it everything I have, I’m also a little sad.
I am, first and foremost, a journalist. I’ve given all I have to the industry for 15 years and will continue to because I love newspapers – I love the writing, the production and printing process. It’s as if journalists and other newspaper staff belong to a secret club that no one else really understands or fully appreciates.
But it saddens me that newspapers are in such a state that I felt the need to find a back-up option, just in case someday I end up falling off the tightrope. If that day ever comes, hopefully this program and internship – and learning alongside my fellow students – have given me the opportunity to land steadily on my feet.
Just like a cat.
