CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It’s 6:30 a.m. on a summer Thursday, and my day has already begun.
While many people are just waking up, our Chicago Village Bus team is coordinating with students traveling from Chicago to ensure they arrive safely at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. The Chicago Village Bus Program brings 50 high school students and new graduates from the Little Village neighborhood to the Urbana campus twice a year, once to the VetMed Open House and once in the summer..
The program does more than introduce students to veterinary medicine: It creates opportunities, builds confidence and shows young people from diverse backgrounds that they belong in higher education. I am grateful to have played a small role in that journey.
By the time I arrive on campus around 9 a.m., volunteers are putting the finishing touches on welcome materials, presentations and activity stations. Soon, a wave of new students will enter the halls of the college, stepping onto a university campus and discovering the world of veterinary medicine for the very first time.
When the bus arrives at 10:30 a.m., we excitedly greet students as they step off. Some students are quiet as they take in their surroundings, whereas others cannot wait to step foot inside a school of veterinary medicine. Since this is the first time many of these students have visited a university campus, witnessing their reactions inspires our team to make the experience as memorable as possible for them.
After a brief welcome presentation, we split into three groups and begin exploring important aspects of veterinary medicine. Throughout the day, I guide my group through the Clinical Skills Lab, Anatomy Lab and Wildlife Ambassador Program, watching their curiosity and engagement grow with each experience.
In the Clinical Skills Lab, students practice bandaging prosthetic animal limbs while learning from Dr. Doreen Vaughn about how veterinarians use bandages to protect wounds, prevent animals from interfering with injuries and stabilize broken bones and joints. It is often the first time many students have experienced a hands-on veterinary skill, and they quickly discover that veterinary medicine requires both knowledge and creativity.
The Anatomy Lab sparks another level of curiosity. Students compare skulls from different species, discovering how an animal’s teeth provide clues about its diet, behavior and lifestyle. As they examine organ systems, they begin connecting their existing knowledge of animals with the complex anatomy and physiology that sustain life.
For many students, the highlight of the day is meeting our wildlife ambassadors. Seeing their curiosity shift into pure excitement as they photograph our snakes, owls and opossums is truly wonderful. They ask thoughtful questions about wildlife medicine, conservation and animal care while examining preserved wings, feet and skulls. It is rewarding to watch them realize how many different paths exist within veterinary medicine.
One of my favorite parts of volunteering is witnessing the transformation that takes place throughout the day. Students who begin the morning hesitant and reserved gradually become more confident. By the afternoon, they are raising their hands, asking insightful questions and sharing what they have learned with one another. Seeing that growth reinforces how powerful early exposure to science and higher education can be.
The experience is especially meaningful to me because I am a first-generation college student. Growing up, I rarely saw people with backgrounds similar to mine pursuing higher education or careers in veterinary medicine. I often wished I had examples of people who showed me that these opportunities were possible.
Now, I have the privilege of being that example for someone else.
As I walk alongside these students throughout the day, I cannot help but see a younger version of myself in many of them. They are curious, excited and wondering what the future might hold. I hope they see themselves reflected in our Chicago Village Bus team and realize that they belong in spaces like this. Whether they choose veterinary medicine or another career, I want them to leave knowing that college is attainable and that their goals are worth pursuing.
As the day comes to a close, we take a walk through the Main Quad, gather for a group photo at the Illini Union and enjoy popsicles before the buses head back to Chicago. Watching the students leave, with many smiling, waving and talking excitedly about their favorite activities, I cannot help but wonder how this experience may shape their future.
