So I was out for dinner with some friends over Thanksgiving break, and we were all talking about how the semester has been for us so far. I mentioned that I completed my transfer paperwork to change my major to Vet Tech, and that I’d be starting classes the next semester. My friend perked up and said "I love animals and I really think I’d be good at vet tech! Should I do it?" And having known this friend for years, there are an assortment of reasons as to why I think they shouldn’t. The main one being: they cannot stand the idea of coming into contact with things like blood, feces, urine, etc. And when I say can’t stand I mean they start screaming and crying, have to put what they’re doing down IMMEDIATELY to wash up.
That’s not inherently a bad thing! But that doesn’t really synergize too well with a career where you have to shove your whole arm up a cows anus. Even if you’re doing companion animals, they still require you to learn farm animals, and even practice on farm animals during school.
When I pointed this out (in a much less graphic fashion because we were eating and I’m not absolutely insane) all of my friends started saying that I was so mean for crushing her dreams. And the friend who asked is also upset at me for saying that.
I’m confused that they’re mad at me, not for pointing out that it can get gruesome while we were EATING, but they’re mad at me for "crushing a lifelong dream"
What I said when they asked was "well its certainly not a career choice for those with a weak stomach, you will come in contact with gross situations."
So AITA for crushing my friends lifelong dream by telling them about vet tech?
NTA .She seized on it as a possible career when you mentioned it at dinner? Doesn’t sound like a “lifelong dream”, more like a “passing fancy.”
Bingo! If the friend truly wanted to be a vet tech, the conversation would had been about difficulty in course work, internships, colleges, and cost.
Even if it WAS a lifelong dream. One single person mentioning the gross and gruel of the job and the potential compatability issue would have literally ZERO affect on someone if it was truly their dream and goal theyve had their whole life. They would be obviously aware of all it takes if it was truly a goal in life. And they would be able to say theyre aware of the potentials. But falling apart at the slightest resistance? Homie has no integrity.
Don’t you understand? Her life didn’t really start until she considered the possibility of becoming a vet tech! Those 10 seconds when she considered becoming a vet tech were the first 10 seconds when she truly felt alive. In that way, it was a lifelong dream.
/s
how does a random query at dinner about something she had obviously not considered hard enough to apply for become “a lifelong dream”?? Not sure how you worded it o maybe it came across more harshly than intended, but “I don’t think it’s for you, actually” is far from an AH stance. NTA. (Your friends sound a bit OTT.)
A friend of mine from high school wanted to be a vet tech. She applied for an OJT program and was sent to observe at a local clinic to see if the job was really for her. First day, they had to euthanize a kitten.
She did not end up becoming a vet tech.
NTA. Better for them to know early!
I thought I wanted to be a vet when I was younger (like, 8-10 years old young) because I loved being around and working with animals. That later changed to working in a zoo, but for the same reasons.
Then I realized 1. I’m not the greatest at anything but basic math and 2. There was absolutely no way I could ever put an animal down for any reason (even so-called “good” ones like quality of life). That nixed that career path….
As I grew older, I had to add a third reason: I can’t stand bodily fluids anymore or getting my hands dirty. I don’t even like cleaning up after my own animals and I have to like, psych myself up to do it. Horrible.
I wanted to be a vet when I was a kid. My mum talked me out of doing it. For a long time I was pissed that I let her do that, but in the end I probably would have hated the job.
Insight, an SBS program in Australia did a whole story on what it’s like to be a vet, fresh grads earn minimum wage and spend days euthanising healthy animals that can’t find homes in pounds, they are abused by people who think they’re “just in it for the money”, there’s high suicide rates. One vet was even saying that a human client choked her in the surgery because of the treatment costs.
NTA. Your friends should be able to take the truth when asking for it. If I met a 5 yr old who wanted to be the king of chocolate, I’d agree and wish them luck. But if my adult friend with claustrophobia wants to be an underwater welder, I’m going to shoot it down. We need to be able to hear that we’ve made a poor choice in our thinking and the friends we have chosen are the right people to do that.
NTA My best friend was a vet tech and burned out after five years. She went to school to become a lab tech, processing laboratory tests for veterinary clinics. She said that it significantly changed her life for the better. Dealing with pet parents and their emotions and money issues was too much for her in the long run.
You’re NTA
>My friend perked up and said “I love animals and I really think I’d be good at vet tech! Should I do it?”
>but they’re mad at me for “crushing a lifelong dream”
Seriously? You made a comment about your major, she wondered if she would be a fit for it, asked your opinion… and you “crushed a lifelong dream” when you said you didn’t think she was a good fit?
What a short lifelong dream that sounds like it occurred over about 2 minutes.
Are your friends always this ridiculously theatrical?
Crushed her dreams that she dreamt up 10 seconds ago
If someone who hates math and details asks my opinion on being a chemist I’ll tell them there are better ideas. If you can’t handle poop and pee and blood, vet tech, nurse etc are poor choices. It’s like someone who hates public speaking wanting to be a trial lawyer. They asked. You answered. Nta.
NTA. Vet tech here, and yes, arm up the cow’s southern end is just the beginning. Everyone wants “to be a vet and help all the cute puppies and kitties” until you realize how hard the work is, how long the school/training is, and how insane the emotional rollercoaster is.
Wait til she has to saw the head off a dog or cat and ship it out for rabies testing.
Or pluck the maggots out of a Chow-Chow’s infected and bleeding flanks while the dog is doing its best to rip her face off (and the owner is too busy posting selfies online to even pay attention to the matted fur and clumping fecal matter that caused the injury in the first place).
Or pull a dislocated limb back into place.
It’s not for the faint of heart and if she’s SO offended by you “crushing her dreams” then she’s gonna need a much thicker skin for when a grieving client is screaming at her “YOU KILLED MY BABY” when a surgery goes wrong.