Episode 57: "I don’t like being confused." Celestial Seraph, Nailah Smith

Summary 

In this episode of VetaHumanz Live, host Victory Knight interviews veterinary student Celestial Seraph about her experiences in veterinary school, including challenges faced, personal care during Ramadan, and balancing work with studies. Nailah shares insights on overcoming academic hurdles, maintaining well-being, and the importance of time management in a demanding educational environment.

Keywords  VetaHumanz, veterinary medicine, veterinary education, student challenges, personal care, work-life balance, veterinary student advice, Ramadan, self-care, veterinary career, veterinary school

Takeaways

• She plans to use spring break for studying and preparing for upcoming quizzes.
• Her biggest challenge has been understanding the grading in her A&I class.
• Nailah is proactive in seeking clarification from her instructors to improve her understanding.
• She is fasting for Ramadan, which impacts her eating and exercise routine.
• Despite the challenges, she is managing her health and academic responsibilities well.
• Nailah has secured a job in the ER, which she finds flexible and manageable.
• She emphasizes the importance of self-care and maintaining a balanced schedule.
• Nailah advises against overcommitting and emphasizes the need for personal time.
• She expresses gratitude for the support from her family and peers in managing her workload.

Chapters

00:00    Introduction to Veterinary Journey

01:38    Spring Break Plans and Academic Challenges

04:27    Personal Care and Ramadan Observance

07:07    Balancing Work and Study

08:56    Final Thoughts and Advice

Transcript

Victoria Menendez 

Hi, superheroes. I'm Victory Knight coming to you from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, League of VetaHumanz. I'll be your host on VetaHumanz Live today. And we'll be following the journey of our VetaHuman in Celestial Seraph So thank you for being on our show today. Of course. So kind of update us, how long have we been in vet college and how's it been going?

Nailah Smith 

you.

Nailah Smith 

even know what week we're on. I don't know. Maybe week 9 because I just did a VSAC reflection and it says weeks 8 through 9. So think week 9. So far so good I guess. I mean I'm excited like spring break yay!

Victoria Menendez 

Okay.

Victoria Menendez 

Okay, your spring break starts like pretty much today. Okay, so do you have any plans for spring break?

Nailah Smith 

Yeah, yeah. This spring break, will... Well, the goal at least for like today and tomorrow is to get as much like immuno, like not studying, but like making an anki for it. Like doing that or like doing my GI physio tasks. Like doing little itty bitty tasks or like quizzes and stuff that's like due later, but I just want to get it over with now.

so I can enjoy the rest of my spring break.

Victoria Menendez 

No, definitely a well-earned spring break as well. 

So I know you also said that it's been going pretty good, but do you say what was probably your biggest challenge these past weeks? And how have you overcome it?

Nailah Smith 

Yeah.

Yeah.

Nailah Smith 

My biggest challenge.

I would say my biggest challenge so far would actually like be my ANI class. and it probably sounds like weird because like a lot of students, at least from like what I've heard, they never really have a problem with ANI. My thing with ANI, it's like we have the quizzes, we have like our groups, this and that. And like getting my grades back for that, nice, easy, I get A's.

And I'm like, okay, great, I understand it. And then like the oral exam or the written exam comes along and then I do exactly what I thought I was doing right in the quizzes and like pathophysiology when you're like in the groups. And then when I get my grade back or my feedback back, it's apparently not.

what they're looking for and I just get confused because I'm like well my grades from the quizzes and my pathophysiology is when I explain it says otherwise because you know I'm saying like this is how it is and they're like yeah this is that's exactly how it works and then when I put on the exam apparently it's not so it's like it confuses me and that's like my biggest challenge. Overcoming that

It's very interesting because I'm not sure how I'm going to overcome it because the class itself is very subjective. It really depends on what coach instructor you have or who is grading the assignment because again, if someone says, yeah, that's exactly how this works. But then another veterinarian says, actually, it goes a little different from that. You know, it's different. And I guess it's like up to you to decide, you know, whether, whether you think it's right or not.

Nailah Smith

I am planning to the record of instructor literally after this session to talk about it because I don't like being confused. I need to know what the correct answer is. Like I know veterinary medicine isn't black and white all the time, but I need to like understand this information on what I'm doing wrong so can like pass this class.

Victoria Menendez 

No, and I think the way you're gonna tackle it is perfect, especially meeting with the professor, walking through the test and just clarifying what is the correct way, especially if there's different, how you're being taught, completely understandable. I think that's a great way to see it. So I'm glad that you're gonna meet with the professor today, so that's really good. That's good. So how would you say your personal care has been going? I know we're going through breaks, so now we get to recoup a little bit.

Nailah Smith 

Mm-hmm.

Nailah Smith 

Mira.

Nailah Smith 

Yeah, yeah. I think it's still going great. I mean, like great as it can be because technically it's Ramadan. So I'm fasting. So I can't really get into the nitty gritty aspect of like food and stuff because religiously I'm not allowed to eat or drink water. But when it's time to break fast, I do be eating healthy. Like I do make sure I drink all my water that I know I couldn't drink before. And this week it was

uh, sinigang, so it's like a Philippine dish where it like a lot of greens, broth, veggies, like all of that stuff in there. So if anything, I just like weighed myself yesterday and I'm actually like a couple pounds underweight, which explained why I was like really hungry to be in with. Uh, so it's like, it's going good. It's going a little bit too good because now I need to like get back to my regular weight. But, um, eating wise, it's like fine. I'm doing well with.

Victoria Menendez 

Mm-hmm.

Nailah Smith 

Ramadan being considered, exercising, like going to the gym, still happening, and sleep. This week, I will admit, has been tough because we had two quizzes and two exams. But I don't be sleeping anyway. No, I'm just kidding. I still am able to manage. And so far, the feedback that I've gotten from those same like quizzes and exams.

Victoria Menendez 

Hmm.

Nailah Smith 

I mean, I did very well, so, and I made sure to like get as much sleep as I could so it didn't affect my grade, you know, for those quizzes and exams. So, I think it's been okay. And I mean, I'm gonna hibernate anyway this spring break.

Victoria Menendez 

As you should, I'm glad that, you know, considering everything, it's going pretty well. then correct me if I'm mistaken, but in April we find out, right, about the belt.

Nailah Smith 

so technically I have it. I have the red belt. It's just physically not with me because I had to test in Iowa and well, my coach did give me the option. He was like, Hey, do want me to ship it over to you or are you going to like come up to Iowa? Because we have our banquet thing that's happening actually at the end of this month. So March 29th.

Yeah, and he's gonna just present it to me at Banquet. And I was like, well, I'm coming up anyway. So instead of sending the money to ship it to me, I'm just gonna drive up there and you can just hand it over.

Victoria Menendez 

exciting congratulations and it'll also be nice you could do like you can also participate in the banquet and kind of get it all presented to you that's really nice that's that's

Nailah Smith 

Thank you.

Nailah Smith 

Yeah, I'm literally going to treat it as like a weekend. I'm just, no studying that weekend. Like it's just, it's just for me and my friends and I'm going to relax.

Victoria Menendez 

100 % agree. I'm so glad. I'm so glad for you. Well, that's so good And what would you say is your like next goal for next month?

Nailah Smith 

Mm-hmm.

Nailah Smith 

Next goal for next month. Well, I would say Hold on I'm thinking Gosh I literally had one in it. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um so I got my ER jobs cuz I remember I don't did I mention it? Yeah

Victoria Menendez 

No it's a noise.

Victoria Menendez 

Yes! You what's up,

Nailah Smith 

Yeah, so it's solidified now, kind of, but I have the position. It's just like now rearranging my schedule. So now my plan, at least for like next month and all like after that would be like making sure I like balance my self-care. So like going to the gym and eating and sleeping right with studying and then also managing to have this job. I don't think it's gonna be too bad.

Victoria Menendez 

Mm-hmm.

Nailah Smith 

Because according to the contract, think if I read it correctly, because I kind of skimmed it, you have to work at least three shifts in a month. And I was like, that sounds pretty flexible as a veterinary student. So don't think it's going to be too bad. But my goal is, because I'm very schedule oriented, I make sure I have everything set up so I can pass my classes, still be an effective ER worker.

and still have time for me.

Victoria Menendez 

I love it. I'm glad. Congrats again. know you were trying to, I know it was kind of like in the air, it was like still trying to figure it out. So I'm glad that you're able to like now work on your schedule and kind of set that now in stone because I know that was something you did mention last podcast. That's so good. Well, I'm glad. I wanted to say, did you have anything else you want to share with the audience today, words or like experiences of inspiration?

Nailah Smith 

Mm-hmm.

Nailah Smith 

Yeah.

Nailah Smith

Excuse me. I would say definitely don't bite more than you can chew. I probably already said it. Because sometimes even with like all this stuff that's like you know going on in my life, sometimes I sit down and I'm like am I just doing too much for like a first-year student because I really don't want to like get consumed with this position, that position.

balancing how much time I'm gonna have to study and go to the gym and blah, So, you know, I have been talking to my family about it and they're like, I don't think you're biting more than you can chew. Like, you know, so just be mindful, like be aware of it. Cause you don't want to be like, I want to do this, do this. And then the next thing know, you don't have any time for yourself. So just being aware.

Victoria Menendez 

Yes, that is so, that's very true. Cause sometimes you're going to get caught up and you start, like you're just so excited for different opportunities. then sometimes, definitely time managing, how you have already planned that definitely does help to get, making sure you take time for yourself and everything. Well, thank you so much for being here today. You can learn more about the other League of VetaHumanz at VetaHumanz.org. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, like, and share with your friends. And remember use your powers for good.

Nailah Smith 

You

Nailah Smith

Thank you for having me.