Anna Cosgriff
What are you doing now?
After graduating from university, I moved back home to Ballarat and started working full time as a small animal veterinarian. Outside of work I do ballet and contemporary dancing and love spending time with my partner Josh, family, friends and pets.
How do you reflect on your time at St Martin’s?
I am so grateful for my time at St Martin’s. It really was a home away from home and I often think back on all of the memories I made there. It was such a special chapter of my life, and I made many lifelong connections. It was so much more than just a place to stay whilst studying, and I will always be thankful for my Marties family during that time and beyond. I really do miss it so much!
Was there anything you learned as an RA that helped you as you stepped into your career?
My role as RA helped grow my confidence, and I think that has had a big impact on who I am today. The role gave me a bigger voice and experience in leadership, and I think those skills translate in my career now in terms of advocating for my patients and taking a leading role as a veterinarian, especially in emergency situations.
What were the highlights of your time at College?
When I think back on my favourite things about Marties, it really was just the day-to-day life of being at college. Finishing class and coming home to spend time with the other residents. I also have very fond memories of orientation week, which I was lucky enough to do three times (once as a first year and twice as an RA). It was such a fun filled week. I loved all of the Marties events throughout the year, particularly SWAC dinners, trivia, multicultural night, games nights, and Saints Ball.
What advice would you have for young up-and-coming vets?
Take and enjoy every opportunity at uni! The vet course is a challenging but very enjoyable and rewarding experience. Do the best you can to keep up with your studies during the semester but make sure to take the time to look after yourself and enjoy all that the university experience has to offer. A huge percentage of what you need to do and know as a vet is learned on the job through experience in the field. I am learning every single day, and it is okay to not know it all.
Anything else that would add warmth and depth to your story - e.g. what do you love about being a vet, what's something you don't like about being a vet?
Being a vet is definitely a challenging career for many reasons, but it is also very rewarding. Every day there is something new to learn and experience, and you really never know what is going to walk through the door! I love the rewarding feeling of diagnosing and treating an animal, and watching them either go home from hospital or come back for a revisit feeling so much better and happier. There are many times however where cases do not go this way, and that can be one of the most challenging aspects of the career.