TGIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

TGIF!!! I mean TGIS!! (works for the other two days) :P

I just wanted to write a quickly post; as I know you were all anxious to read more about what I have to say :) Unfortunately this next week and a bit is exam week; so it will be quite difficult for me to post anything on a regular basis or to at least describe all of my trials and tribulations over the last year. 

As I was thinking to myself about that thought; I had a side-thought (which tends to occur quite often with that brain of mine); which was just a general thought about the people I have met or have come to known while being on this island. 

 

I have to say that there have been many ups and downs over this last year and a half; some great people have come into my life and some other great people have sadly left us.  Not as the way you may be thinking originally but if you have read my previous posts you will understand the hardships that we as students incurred while being and living on this island.  Unfortunately this island is sometimes too much for some people and I think that more than anything is what gets people.  This school is amazing for giving us all the opportunity to be here but it is a harsh master as well in that there is very little leniency in regards to failure.  Fail one class you get a warning, you fail another class the following semester or you fail two classes in one semester and you are out.  I can understand the strictness employed by the school due to the over-whelming amount of students they accept but I do not think the school takes into account the effect this island has on all of us.  It irritates me so much to know and see good people that would have made GREAT veterinarians leave this island due to unfortunate circumstances that the school did not deem important enough to allow them a second change.  Threatened on a daily basis by a member of the local community? Sorry not good enough.  An error in prescription that resulted in excessive mood swings and anxiety attacks? Sorry not good enough.  Failing a class by one percentage point after going into the final with an 86 because you were sick all morning with a migraine? Nope, not good enough.  I know some of you disagree and that is okay, but this is my opinion.  What is even more frustrating is that the people that got kicked out were good, hard working people who would have made a difference in this world as a veterinarian.  Yet some of the people I see throwing their education and money away on a weekly or daily basis get to stay because they get a fake ass note from their doctor saying they have ADD and voila! Welcome back to Ross U.  Obviously the school is not aware of this situation and I would not ever expect them to encompass that into their process of re-acceptance.   I do personally believe that should definitely take into consideration what it took for most of us to come down here and how much time, money and effort we invest to move to a new country to try and achieve our goal of becoming veterinarians.  Plus now that Ross University is corporately owned by DeVry Incorporated; I doubt the process will ever change or become more empathetic to the obstacles we faced to come down here and continually face on a daily basis.

As for myself; I agree with one of my reader’s comments (thank you Judy for sharing your thoughts) in that I should describe my situation to you a little more.  Unfortunately like I said finals are just around the corner; so I am doing my best to deal with school; while dealing with problems back home; while dealing with ways to try and stay in school here.  I was planning on giving you; my reads more detailed insight into my life and tribulations I have encountered over the next couple of posts.  Considering her questions were quite valid questions and I am sure there are others asking the same thing.  So to respond to her questions………………..

Grants: I have searched left and right in regards to grants; the ones available are either for US residents or minorities.  Which unfortunately I am none of those.

3^rd party service (ie: personal loan; student loans or companies that lend money out to students): unfortunately some of them will not give money to a school situated in the Caribbean and the others demand a US co-signor with the credit to back me as it more of a personal loan than anything. 

My own backing system back home; I am tapped out.  I have a $115,000 student line of credit (maximum a Canadian bank will give for a veterinary student) and mom took out a personal loan of $25,000 to help me.  So  unfortunately she can no longer help me anymore as well.

As for the “plan”; it is difficult for me describe my plan.  As I am not entirely sure how much I need; it is an ever evolving situation that is constantly shifting.  If I get no help from anyone (including family + banks back home); then I need at least $20,000 to pay next semester, and this is not including the rest of this semester that I have not paid as of yet.  Which is another $10,000.  So around $30,000US to raise enough funds to be able to pay for my last semester on the island.  Then that leaves my last year of clinical year; which I am not planning on trying to raise money for but if people so want to donate my cause; then I would forever be grateful; as it would save me from having to stop my school for whatever period of time to be able to raise the money to be able to pay my clinical year.   So at the moment; it stands at $30,000us or if I need to break out down to the bare essentials; which would just cover tuition fees; then that would be around $25,000.   I am hoping to get some more help from back home and so if that occurs; obviously that amount would drop.   I figured if someone was truly serious in helping to that degree they would ask those more finite questions; such as how much I pay per month for food, gas, rent…etc.  I suppose it would be of a benefit for someone in my situation just to divulge everything and avoid having someone take that step which would involve contacting me to get the information first; rather than just choosing to make random donation in the moment.

As for currently salary; well I am a vet student; so technically it is Zero.  Although I am employed by the school as a TA (Teaching Assistant) for Vet Prep Physio (like intro course before starting vet school) & for Physio I.  I also tutor all three physiologies and from time to time will help out if I can.  So even though it sounds nice; the amount of money I make from the school barely makes a dent in anything and at the moment it is probably the only thing allowing me to eat or pay for my gas to get to school on a weekly basis.  I just made my last payment on my electric and internet bills; but as for the December payments……..*shrugs*; I am hoping I get lucky between now and the end of December.

As for how animals affect me and what is my life story as to why I want to be a vet.  I think that is explained relatively well in my previous blog posts for those who are curious about my life before I came to this island and for the first 4mths on this island.  Just on that quick read you can see how animals affect me and what I am willing to do for them.  I am an active member of many clubs, I was part of the Sea Turtle Conservation Project as well as part of the Bat Conservation project on this island.  Any more details will come as I blog, I thank you for your comments; but it would have been the longest blog post ever if I would have discussed all those things in one sitting.  One things about humans in this day and age (and I do not mean to offend); but we have SHORT attention spans and many people would not have been willing or able to read more than a 1000word essay about my plight.  So I thought a short intro was better than a long drawn out story.  So……………………………..more to come :)

 To all Rossies come and gone; to anyone who randomly comes across this blog, I wish you all the best and that you continue to follow your dream despite whatever detours or roadblocks appear to stop you, for without effort there is no success.

Much Love!

Jonathan =)