White Coat Ceremony

Tonight the SGU School of Veterinary Medicine had the Fall Class of 2015 White Coat Ceremony. It is basically a ceremony to welcome all of the incoming students to the veterinary profession and recognize all of the hard work they have done to get to this point.

There are speakers from the school and our keynote speaker was from the AVMA. During the last part of the ceremony, we each go on stage and are presented with our white coats. We then read a professional commitment:

"Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will conduct my studies conscientiously, with dignity and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept my responsibility to assist my colleagues to achieve our mutual goals.

I acknowledge my obligation to adhere to the University's Honor Code and to conduct myself with integrity and in an ethical manner at all times.
I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

It is a privilege to have been given the opportunity to become a veterinarian. I will be ever conscious of that privilege and never abuse it."

(SGU Mace)

After the ceremony, we went to a delicious reception. The food was really good, and you all should be very proud because I tried several very sketchy looking foods (and yes I did like most of them!). Keeping with the theme of being poor students, we all stocked up on leftovers to take home with us : D Yay for lunch tomorrow!

 

 

Tonight was a really nice reminder of why I'm here. I've been so caught up in the hectic orientation and then rushing into classes and feeling lost that it's been hard to really enjoy veterinary school. The island is lovely. The school is wonderful. My classmates are awesome. The coursework will get better with time. I have worked so hard to get here and although the next four years are going to be insanely difficult, they are also going to be a lot of fun and I am going to really enjoy learning veterinary material. I am definitely glad to be here and wouldn't trade it for the world!