My story

From the moment I became a student representative, I found myself immersed in opportunities that helped shape both my professional interests and my confidence. One of the highlights was attending the London Vet Show — an experience I simply wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t taken on the ambassador role. There, I was able to speak with fellow veterinary professionals about products like Hydracare and, importantly, connect with the Purina team to explore the many career paths my veterinary degree could lead to.

Running university events, such as nutrition workshops and sign-up drives for resources like the VetCenter, has been equally rewarding. Reaching different year groups and seeing how relevant and applicable nutrition training is to real clinical practice has been incredibly motivating. These experiences also pushed me to grow in unexpected ways — from planning events to promoting them on platforms like Instagram — skills I now feel much more confident in.

One of the most fulfilling aspects has been seeing the impact on other students. Many attendees shared how much they enjoyed the interactive workshop format and valued having the chance to ask practical questions about pet nutrition. Resources such as the Purina Institute Clinical Nutrition Handbook sparked a lot of interest; students appreciated its clear, simple layout and told me it made finding reliable answers on clinical nutrition easier — something they believed would be helpful when they enter practice.

The resources available through this programme have genuinely prepared me for the realities of clinical work. I not only feel more confident knowing where and how to find support, but I also have a deeper understanding of how different diets work — not just which diet to recommend, but why. That insight has been one of the most valuable parts of my experience so far, and it’s something I know will stay with me throughout my veterinary career.