Finding Purpose Through Diversity in Veterinary Medicine

April 28, 2026

By: Jazmin Gonzalez
Veterinary Student, Class of 2027
College of Veterinary Medicine
Washington State University

My name is Jazmin Gonzalez, and I am a veterinary student here at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine (Class of 2027).

It is common to hear of veterinary students who have had a passion for it since they were little. I have always loved animals, but I didn’t always want to be a veterinarian. At first, I wanted to be a professional dancer. Most of my upbringing was spent in a ballet studio, while the remainder of the time was spent wading through creeks catching frogs and snakes. I remember the day I found an injured bird and was so frustrated and heartbroken that I didn’t know how to help it. At that moment, I realized that caring for animals was where my passion lay. I pivoted my career ambitions and haven’t looked back since.

Outside of my career endeavors, I spend my time exploring nature and making art. I love camping, hiking, and birdwatching. When it comes to art, I love to knit, crochet, paint, play my cello, and, of course, dance (these days that’s mostly in the kitchen while I cook!).

As a Latina woman with mixed ethnicity, diversity is an important theme in my life. I get to celebrate diversity every single day in my career. Since being in vet school, I have gotten hands‑on experience with over 20 different species. I serve as Vice President of our college’s Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife (ZEW) Club. One of my favorite parts of working with this club is helping to get students comfortable working with animals they’ve never worked with before. I plan on going into a mixed‑animal general practice and providing compassionate medical care for any animal that can fit through my clinic door (and if they can’t, I’ll come to them!). Diversity is the root of veterinary medicine.

Diversity within the medicine I practice is what I enjoy most. Learning to understand each of my patients’ unique stories is what drives me. I found belonging in that, as well as in learning the unique stories of my colleagues. It helped me recognize that our diversity is what brings us together, not just by nationality or ethnicity, but by all the unique paths that each of us has taken to get to where we are.

My advice for anyone who is interested in pursuing veterinary medicine: there is no one “right” way to pursue this career. I repeat: diversity is the root of veterinary medicine. Everyone’s path is unique. Embrace it! Vet school admissions are not looking for “perfect,” one‑dimensional applicants. They want to hear your unique story and why you are passionate about what you do. Secondly, vet school is rigorous. Compassion fatigue is huge in this field. Find healthy ways to manage stress and avoid neglecting your other passions. Find ways to do these activities throughout the week to recharge. Last and most importantly, find what motivates you to become a veterinarian and always keep it at the forefront. There will be challenging times when you question why you are doing this, but remember your “why” in these moments to find strength. No matter what, lead with your story.