Ohio State Marion junior zoology major Morgan Margraf participated in a week-long journey to Victoria, Texas, last summer to experience firsthand the work being done in a pre-veterinary program as part of the university’s Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP).
Margraf, a native of Sycamore, Ohio, in Wyandot County, used her STEP experience to help more specifically determine her future career path.
“I was motivated to participate in this pre-vet program because I have been on the fence about whether I wanted to pursue the wildlife veterinarian path,” Margraf said.
“Being able to take part in a program where we get behind-the-scenes access at a zoo with wildlife is awesome,” she added. “Since STEP was so amazing as to fund my trip, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
Margraf shared that, considering the love she has had for animals her entire life, the trip provided a tremendous experience.
“My love for animals has always been a big part of my life. Since I could remember, I have loved every animal I come across. I find even the smallest and most different animals so intriguing,” she said.
She noted that her love of animals extends to those most people might find gross or disturbing.
“Snakes, for instance, are my absolute favorite,” Margraf said. “So much so that herpetology is one of the paths of zoology I am considering. I wish to care for animals to ensure that they have the best life possible.”
While in Texas, Margraf said she learned a lot from a veterinarian who served as the group’s professor for the week.
“He taught us a quick course that was a rundown of the basics of being a vet. We learned about proper handling, physical exams, diseases and illnesses, medicines, animal vertebrae groups, etc.,” she said.
“We got to be hands-on with a couple of things, like food prep and doing physical exams. All in all, it was quite an amazing experience, but I learned personally that I do not wish to become a vet. Being part of the animal care side of the animal field is definitely my path.”
Beyond the funding the program provided to explore the world, Margraf said the biggest impact was gaining insight into her future career choices in working with animals.
“STEP has also helped guide me along the path of really understanding what this trip did for me and why it was such an important part of my early career. Afterwards, STEP helped me reflect on what the trip really did for me. I learned that the vet path is not for me. My goal was to figure that out, and STEP made that happen,” she explained.
Margraf said her educational goal is to finish her bachelor’s degree in zoology before the five-year mark.
In terms of her career goals, she said, “I plan on finding a job in my field as soon as I complete my zoology degree. After that, it could possibly lead to more educational goals. For example, I am not sure if I want to go back to school to become a zoology professor. When I gain time working in the field, I will gain experience and decide if I want to go back to school to become a professor teaching what I love or not.”
“STEP has helped me realize gaining that experience is what’s going to help me reach goals and help me find exactly what it is I want to do with my life,” Margraf said.
