My name is Elisa Marten, I’m nineteen, and this year I started studying at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. I’ve only just begun, but I already feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Anatomy lectures aren’t easy, and the Latin terms get confusing, but when we first visited the teaching clinic, I knew all the effort would be worth it.

I’ve always loved animals. As a child, I used to bring home anyone who needed help—injured pigeons, stray kittens, even a hedgehog once. My parents resisted at first, but eventually they gave up. Now I live with them in a house outside the city, and we’ve basically built our own little mini-zoo.

The most unusual member of it is a domestic goose named Gustav. He came to us as a tiny gosling a few years ago. Now he’s grown into a large, confident goose who believes he’s in charge of the entire yard. He carefully monitors everything, loudly complains about unexpected visitors, and absolutely loves attention. But when I sit on the porch to rest, he sometimes settles down next to me and quietly “talks” in his own way—it’s surprisingly sweet.

I also have two Border Collies, Nora and Tai. They’re incredibly smart and energetic, so we train and go for long walks every day. I practice commands and a bit of agility with them. Sometimes I feel like they understand me better than people do. After long days filled with notes and medical terms, they simply lie next to me, and the stress slowly fades away.

Studying takes a lot of time and effort. On weekends, I work part-time as an assistant at a small veterinary clinic. I help during appointments, learn how to properly handle animals, and observe the veterinarians at work. Some cases are difficult, and not every story has a happy ending, but I’m sure I chose the right path.

In my free time, I’d also love to learn how to play Howrse—I’ve always loved horses and anything related to them. I’d be happy to receive tips and would gladly add everyone as friends