Is my career interest wrong?
I am a first year veterinary student.
My interest is in feline health. I hope to make advances in feline health, both in disease treatment/ prevention as well as overall treatment of cats in a clinical setting as well as at home. There are already steps in the right direction being made, but I feel more research is needed to drive the concept home for many people.
However, whenever the words “feline health” leave my lips to answer where I currently want my career to go I am met with a reaction someone would give a toddler who says they want to go to space. It’s demeaning, and I won’t lie in saying that my feelings have been hurt. This isn’t just the reaction from other students, but faculty as well. Even my advisor made a poor joke about it in front of other students. It’s not large animal or equine, but it’s my passion. Am I wrong to want to pursue this path?
Disclaimer: I am fully aware that my interest may change in the coming years. I expect it, even, and that’s okay. But in this moment where this is my world? It’s very hurtful.
TL/DR: I’m questioning my choice to pursue feline health because of the negative reactions I’ve received from expressing it. Am I wrong for wanting to do this?
Edit:
To save myself from the desire to respond to everyone individually, I’m going to do this instead. Thank you to everyone for the encouragement and insight because I truly have been down since the conversation with my advisor. I will hold onto my passion, and I will try to better the way I present what I want to do. I hope I can find my people in this new place 🫶
There is probably bias in the people I tell since majority of students are interested in mix/ large/ or equine. I don’t mean that in a negative way either! Just that interests lean heavily one way in my class. It’s worth mentioning as well that this is a new school of which we’re the first class, so unfortunately I don’t have any upperclassmen to lean on/ learn from and no clubs are established yet! I will look into the FelineVMA and discussing with our organization faculty about it. Again, thank you to everyone! I had a good cry reading the responses.