Working toward career in animal care
Published 7:00 am Saturday, May 9, 2020
Poplarville Senior: Poplarville High School senior Lauren Tynes is one of 15 in-state students accepted to the Mississippi State University early entry veterinary program. Tynes said she was honored to be accepted into the program. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
Farm Life: Growing up on a farm has given Tynes a lot of experience caring for animals and helped make it clear that veterinary medicine is a career path she is interested in. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
A career in veterinary medicine is one step closer for Poplarville High School senior Lauren Tynes after she became one of 15 in-state students accepted into the Mississippi State University early entry veterinary program.
The program accepts 15 in-state students and 15 out-of-state students and holds a spot for them in MSU’s veterinary program. Tynes will be able to complete her undergraduate work in three years. Then, instead of applying and interviewing for a veterinary program, she will be able to begin graduate school at MSU.
She will have to maintain a 3.35 GPA, complete 14 credit hours per semester and complete 480 hours of work experience in veterinary medicine before she can go to veterinary school.
Tynes said she is honored to be part of the program and said the acceptance should make it easier for her to focus on her studies.
“I’ve lived on a farm ever since I was little and I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian,” she said.
On her family’s farm, Tynes works with goats, pigs, cows and the occasional horse. She enjoys helping her dad care for the animals, which can include vaccinating, calving or helping care for sick animals.
“Growing up on a farm isn’t always easy,” she said.
However, it has given her experience in giving shots and helped her understand when an animal seems sick. She especially enjoys helping with cow or goat births.
“You get to know each one of them,” said Tynes.
Tynes has also worked in two veterinary clinics: Poplarville Animal Clinic with Dr. Amanda Foxworth and Animal Care Clinic in Wiggins with Dr. Warren Martin.
In that capacity, Tynes would go to the Animal Care Clinic where she cleaned dog pens and fed animals before starting her school day. At the Poplarville Animal Clinic she was able to watch Dr. Foxworth perform surgeries and diagnose dogs.
Working with the veterinarians encouraged her and helped her understand that she could pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Tynes was worried about being able to handle situations like performing surgery on an animal, but then she was able to observe Dr. Foxworth as he stayed calm and collected during surgeries.
“It makes me realize that one day by working hard, I’ll be able to be that calm and collected too,” said Tynes.
