Personal Statement for RISE to Excellence Program
By: Kacie Boden
Beginning back in the year 2003, I received my first horse as a Christmas present from
my parents. This was an amazing day, it was a major surprise. The next morning when I went
to feed, I found my horse lame. Apparently the previous owners had given her pain killers prior
to selling and hauling her. I consulted with the local veterinarian and was able to gain a
treatment plan. The veterinarian’s tests were sent to Colorado State University and came back
as severe arthritis. Every day I would treat “Dallas” for her arthritis and eventually had to sale
her. This experience taught me patience and also compassion for another living creature that
was otherwise helpless without my care. From this I begin to think, why not become a
veterinarian? Throughout my academic career, I have had a persistent passion for the
biological sciences and exploring the discovery of new things.
Realizing my passion for veterinary medicine, I began to dig deeper. I began working
for different veterinary clinics specializing in equine and small animal medicine, and ranches. I
owned more horses participating in team roping and breakaway roping. I also owned goats,
cats and chickens. From this I learned how to take care of these different animals and also
learned more about them as far as how they function, how they think, their instincts, and much
more. This experience gave me a concrete idea that I did want to pursue veterinary medicine
and that was exactly what I was going to do. Preparing myself for veterinary school has been
challenging.
As a first generation student I have had many hurdles to overcome. First thing is that no
member of my family has gone straight to college pursuing their bachelor’s degree immediately
after finishing high school. Discovering the resources available to me in college was somewhat
difficult however I learned how to communicate quite well in order for me to utilize my
resources. Once I began college, financial aid was difficult for me to obtain. For me to pay for
college as well as living expenses, working full-time was my only option. This hurt my GPA by
not allowing me the proper amount of time to study. My parents were unable to pay for my
college; at most they bought my books. The New Mexico Lottery Scholarship helped
tremendously, paying for my tuition for my past four years of school between San Juan College
and New Mexico State University. One of the main obstacles that I have had to overcome is the
vast amount of negativity from my peers. When I tell people that I am going to be a
veterinarian one day and that I am pursuing my major in Animal Science, they respond with
“Animal science, that’s nice, but why veterinary? Veterinary school is harder to get into than
medical school, why don’t you pursue medical school instead?” When I would hear this, a part
of me would feel rejected and ill trusted. However, they were words of encouragement as well.
Hearing that they didn’t believe in me and that they believed I couldn’t follow my dreams,
made me push harder to obtain my goals.
Back in high school, I was the founding president for the Bloomfield High School FFA
Chapter. Bring back the chapter after twenty years of dormancy was a challenge but was
rewarding in the end. I learned how to create, manage and grow an organization, create a
network needed to accomplish goals and how to be a successful leader. During my time as
president, two years, I was able to partake in many different volunteer activities. We organized
an animal fair for the local preschool, cleaned up BLM land and the Fantasy of Lights event.
During my senior year I helped to organize an effort where we raised three-thousand dollars for
the Hurricane Katrina Victims and then were matched by Lowe’s Home Improvement. After
graduating high school I took classes full-time at San Juan College. While there I was inducted
as a founding life-time member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. The next
year I was elected as the president for the 2009-2010 year. This was an amazing experience
where I learned leadership skills and gained a network that has helped me tremendously.
A few years ago I began taking science specific courses such as genetics, microbiology
and organic chemistry. These classes sparked my interest in research. I began working in the
lab with Dr. Eric Miller as a research assistant. This experience has really helped me pin-point
my interests in veterinary medicine; that I want to pursue a DVM/PhD dual degree. By
participating in the RISE to Excellence Program, I will be able to heighten my skills and better
prepare myself for veterinary school. As an animal science major, I would be able to add more
diversity to the RISE program, as well as an intriguing personality with a fervid desire to explore
new things and open as many doors as possible. Completion of this program would exalt my
chances of getting accepted into the DVM/PhD program at Colorado State University. As a
veterinarian/PhD I would be able to provide a much needed service to the United State of
America. The government has labeled the large shortage of food animal veterinarians as a
public health emergency. With the knowledge and skills that I will gain from the RISE program
and veterinary school I will be able to serve the food animal industry tremendously.