Making Life Better
Pre-vet student takes detours, but stays on course
Michelle's Student Profile
Name: Michelle Zaccagnino
Graduate: May 2007
Major: Biological Science
Michelle Zaccagnino always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up. Now 29 and married, she’s just four years shy of her goal.
A biological sciences major on the UGA campus in Griffin, Michelle is a 1996 graduate of Forest Park High School. After attending Georgia State University for two years, she was lured away to Texas by a job offer.
"I was working at the Atlanta airport and American Trans Air offered me a lead customer service agent position in Dallas," she said. Michelle worked in Texas for two years while her then-boyfriend Chris was stationed in Korea. Chris is a military police bomb dog handler.
The couple married in October 2002 and made their first home in Italy. There Michelle refocused on her education and enrolled in the University of Georgia's distance learning program.
After two years in Italy, the Zaccagnino's returned to Georgia when Chris was moved to Ft. Benning, just outside Columbus.
Michelle tried returning to Georgia State, but soon found herself hating the drive into Atlanta. "I got so sick of sitting in traffic for up to three hours in the evenings when I was headed home to Henry County," she said. "I even missed class sometimes when there was a wreck. I’d have to leave two hours early to get to class on time."
Ironically, her long commute was what lead her to the UGA campus in Griffin. "I was sitting in traffic and looked up and saw a billboard advertising the classes," she said.
Now Michelle is just a few months away from graduating with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences. Looking back over the experience, Michelle says her favorite class at the Griffin Campus was genetics and her favorite instructor was Tracie Jenkins who teaches the genetics course. "I've taken Dr. Jenkins' classes for two semesters and she's great," Michelle said. "She’s very hard, but when you leave her class, there's no question whether you know the material. She makes sure you know it and that you'll retain it."
Unlike the large 100- to 200-student classes she was accustomed to, Michelle enjoyed attending classes with 30 other students. "At Georgia State I didn't know anyone in my classes," she said. "Here, I know everyone and we even study together."
In addition to her coursework, Michelle works at two Griffin veterinary clinics to earn internship credits and invaluable experience. At Southside Animal Hospital she learns about small animal medicine and at Fulton Equine Clinic she learns about large animal medicine.
Under the guidance of her veterinarian mentors, Michelle helps with anesthesia, draws blood and administers vaccines. The oddest thing she's seen so far was a customer who brought in a wharf rat to be neutered. So far she has earned 200 of the 300 hours of experience required of students who want to enroll in vet school.
Michelle has applied for entrance at the UGA vet school and is eagerly awaiting their response. "I've wanted to be a vet since I was a little girl, but until that happens I'll just keep learning through my internship," she said. "I may not get paid, but I get to play with the puppies."
Michelle is set to graduate from UGA Griffin campus in May 2007.