Mentors

Chase Crawford
Texas A&M University
Life As A Vet Student – Mentors

To me, a mentor is someone in your life who freely shares their experiences with you for no other reason than to help you realize your full potential. When we begin veterinary school (or life even), many of us are assigned arbitrary mentors who may or may not fit the above description. I have had several people in my life who would call themselves my mentors and then several people who deserve such a designation. I do not believe it is an effective use of time or words to describe what makes a mentor insufficient. Instead, one could measure themselves against the standard of a worthwhile mentor and make their own assessment.

When I was two years old, I met my best friend at a neighborhood pool. In addition to making a life-long friend, I became a part of his family. His father, who turned out to be a veterinary ophthalmologist has provided me with mentorship ever since. As a cub scout Dr. Swanson took our group of scouts to his clinic for a tour and even allowed some of us to see an enucleation. He never mentioned the possibility of my becoming a vet, but instead told me about his journey and all of the bumps in the road along the way.

My first veterinary job was with Dr. Swanson and I am sure I was worth about as much as the scrubs I was wearing in the beginning. While it was great to obtain a unique veterinary experience, I learned far more about customer service and the importance of treating people with the respect they deserve than I did about ophthalmology.  In fact, the most valuable lessons I learned from Dr. Swanson had nothing to do with veterinary medicine at all.

Dr. Swanson’s life-long commitments to community service and selfless giving have shaped every decision I make. Whether it was serving as leader of our scout troop, helping rebuild the neighborhood playground, or even allowing us to use his musical equipment for band practices, one could always count on his him. In addition to these examples which have influenced the person I am, Dr. Swanson’s professional endeavors including mission work to Native American Reservations and Honduras, free eye exams for service dogs, and leadership roles in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists are something I can only hope to someday emulate.

Right now you are either thinking: I wish I had a Dr. Swanson in my life, or you remember all of the great things your mentor has done for you.  If it is the former, I challenge you to become the mentor you always wanted. I guarantee you it will pay dividends. If you were lucky enough to have a great mentor, I sincerely hope that you share with someone else the gift of mentorship that you were able to receive.

A mentor’s work is never done.