Joni Dalley

The most memorable experience that I have had during my first two years here at WSU is one that most would probably not expect. During the first semester of my second year (one that is notorious for its rigor and difficulty), I had a personal health crisis that was quite scary, unexpected, and debilitating. This rendered me unable to attend a large exam, classes, and labs for over a week. I remember being terrified that this would be the end for me, that I would never be able to achieve my lifelong dream because of this unexpected obstacle. I have always been one who struggles to ask for help however, once I finally got the courage to do so, I was shocked at how understanding and supportive the staff at the college was. They went out of their way to ensure that I would return to good health, make up the material I had missed, and continue on the path that I had worked so very hard to get to. I will never forget the compassion and kindness of so many of the incredible staff members at WSU.

I love living in Pullman because of the small-town feel. Both my husband and I were raised in small towns with only a couple thousand residents, and it’s places like this where we feel most comfortable and at home. When deciding where to go to veterinary school, many of the schools I had considered were in large cities. That is one of the many reasons why WSU was the perfect option for me and my family. I have come to love Pullman more than I ever could have imagined. The people here are very friendly, with a great mixture of local families and young college students. There are countless wonderful local businesses to eat, study, and shop at, and the opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Palouse are endless.

The hands-on opportunities at WSU are endless. To start, you will be enrolled in at least two classes each semester that have hands-on labs including everything from learning how to run a fecal float, to identifying plants, to looking at histology under the microscope. Next, there is the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which is always open for students to go in and observe, and sometimes assist, in many different procedures as well as several employment opportunities. Clubs are an excellent way to get involved, for example, I am in the small ruminant club, and we have opportunities to go out and help local producers on their farms almost every weekend. There is a club for almost every interest in veterinary medicine and almost all of them have opportunities for wet labs and hands-on experiences.