Growing Up on a Farm: Where It All Began
I’m Chaylee, a fourth-year Veterinary student from Donegal, currently studying abroad in Poland. I grew up on a farm where animals were part of my everyday life — feeding lambs before school, checking on sick animals, and helping every stray that wandered by. That life shaped me long before I ever knew what veterinary medicine was.
You Don’t Need a Farming Background to Become a Vet
That said, you definitely don’t need to come from a farming background to become a vet. Passion, commitment, and resilience matter far more than background. Everyone’s journey into this profession looks different, and that’s one of the things that makes it so special.
Why So Many Irish Vet Students Study in Poland
When it came time for college, I quickly realised that pursuing a career in veterinary medicine in Ireland was near impossible. With only one veterinary school at the time and a very limited number of places, many capable and deserving students don’t get the opportunity to study at home.
That’s why so many Irish students like myself choose to study in Poland each year — the programmes are excellent and allow us to continue working towards the career we dream of.
The Reality of Vet School: Harder Than I Expected
I won’t sugarcoat it — vet school is HARD. The workload, the pressure, and the constant expectations can be overwhelming. Some days feel like simply surviving as opposed to thriving.
Truth be told, I hated the first couple of years of vet school. I struggled more than I expected, questioned myself constantly, and there were times I wondered if I’d made the right choice at all. But I’ve learned to keep looking ahead. Despite how tough it’s been, this is the only path I can see myself on.
Finding Balance Outside the Lecture Hall
Outside of college, I try to keep some balance where I can, staying active, playing football and holding onto pieces of myself that exist outside of lectures and exams.
I wouldn’t classify myself as a content creator — I never set out to be one as such — but this year I do want to show more of the reality behind studying veterinary medicine. Not the polished version that we see most of the time online, just the honest one; quietly struggling, learning as we go and doing our best behind the scenes.
Sharing small snippets of my life online this far has already led to meeting so many new people, making connections, and working with brands like Happy Threads in a very natural way.
Being Yourself in a Tough, Hands-On Profession
I've always been a girly girl at heart, and that hasn't changed even in large-animal practice, where women often face extra scrutiny.
Cute scrubs matter to me because feeling like myself helps me stay grounded and confident. Happy Threads scrubs let me bring a little personality to a tough, hands-on job. They aren’t just comfy — they breathe, resist animal hair, and actually survive the real-life chaos that comes with veterinary medicine.
A Real, Honest Veterinary Journey
My journey hasn’t been easy or glamorous — most days it isn’t. But it’s real. And if sharing it helps even one person feel understood, reassured, or less alone, then it’s worth telling.
