Anna Houck

Theodore Roosevelt quotes, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Throughout the years, I have lived to reach my full potential and strive for the goals that I have set for myself. I believe that one of the most important parts of reaching my goals is attending college and earning a degree. Many people pass up the opportunity that college offers, but it is a step in the right direction. Hard work, grit, and dedication have been among the most important key factors in my eighteen years of life. I hope to carry these key factors out in the future in order to help me earn the greatest prize that life offers, just as Roosevelt stated.
Indeed, I am one of four children who were born and raised to work hard for what they earn. My mother and father both went to college to earn degrees and went on to be successful in the workplace. They always made sure to be the best examples to their children that they could possibly be. My father recently entered into the teaching profession after spending twenty-five plus years in the manufacturing industry. He believed that it would be an opportunity to give back to this future generation of engineers. On the other hand, my mother has been in the teaching profession for twenty-one years as a high school math teacher. She is very passionate about ensuring that her students have the math skills needed to become college and career ready, as well as learning many important life skills such as perseverance and striving for continuous growth. Simultaneously, they are able to manage a small farm operation including beef cattle, corn, tobacco, and hay production. My three siblings and I have spent numerous hours tearing down and rebuilding fence rows, harvesting vegetables from the garden, working cattle, mowing, weedeating, hauling firewood, and putting up square bales. These day-to-day tasks have been some of the most rewarding skills that my parents have taught me and my siblings in order to instill a sense of work ethic and responsibility in us.
Furthermore, I am involved in many extracurricular activities including church, basketball, cross country, and track. I have been passionate about competing in athletics ever since I was a child. Competitiveness is one particular characteristic that defines me. I always strive to be the best athlete, as well as person, that I can be. Dedication is also a key factor that plays an important role in my involvement in athletics. Jeanette Jenkins quoted, “You get out what you put in. If you want more, give more.” The competitiveness and dedication that I have gained from competing in sports will do nothing but benefit me as I am working towards my college major.
To emphasize, the major that I am interested in pursuing is pre-veterinary medicine. Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted to become a veterinarian. I have had exposure to large and small animals through my experience on the farm and competing in livestock judging with FFA and Hawkins county 4-H. In 2022, I was able to compete in the regional FFA livestock judging competition and win overall individual. My livestock judging team and I were very lucky to have competed in the state FFA and 4-H competitions as well. I am very passionate about the care and well-being of animals, and I am very interested in learning more about their anatomy and behaviors. The previously explained skill set has helped me to find my niche, and, in order to do so, I am planning to attend college to accomplish my goals.
In conclusion, I strive to pursue the title of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, DVM. I realize that I still have a long road ahead of me before I can achieve this goal. Working towards this degree is a lot easier said than done, but I know that I have been equipped with many important key factors that will be necessary for my success. However, I have a strong support system with loving and encouraging parents who will settle for nothing less than my best effort. I know that my work ethic and dedication will ensure that my goals come to fruition.