Smiles -- Kalleigh Waters

September 12, 2012

Kalleigh Waters , AVC 2013, travelled to Nain as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of writing.

L-R: Kalleigh, Tricia, Alicia and Susan

     There we were, four AVC students, picked from a pool of candidates, and sent on a journey to the Canadian north.  Our mission was to deliver veterinary services to and experience the rich culture of Nain, Labrador.  As we set up our make-shift clinic in the local fire hall, the excitement in the air was palpable, and a growing enthusiasm was undeniably present in our voices.  After three years of lectures, labs, and exams, we were finally armed with the tools not only to put on our grown-up scrubs and act like veterinarians, but also to give back to a deserving community. That sort of power was both intimidating and energizing.

     After the buzz settled at the end of the clinic’s first day, though, I worried that our positive attitudes and smiles would fade as the long clinic days took their toll on our bodies. The remainder of the clinic days, however, remained productive and upbeat.  With our increasingly sore feet, puffy eyes, and fatigued brains, the smiles did not fade, and our laughter and dancing carried us through the week.  

The amount of encouragement, support, and respect I received from Alicia, Susan, and Tricia was truly overwhelming.  I could not have asked for a better team of classmates to work with.  The opportunity to take part in the Chinook Project, in itself, is incredibly rewarding and humbling. But the ability to share the experience with these amazing colleagues makes it genuinely unforgettable.

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