Veterinary college grad overcomes adversity on the road to new career
Switching careers after more than a decade was a daunting undertaking for Melissa Walsh.
Her career change from social work to veterinary medicine involved four years of classes, labs, clinical rotations — and more.
"As an older student, I was … basically everyone's mom, age-wise," Walsh told CBC Mainstreet host Steve Bruce.
"There was a little hesitation, but at the same time it sounded like a great adventure and I wanted to try it."
Jumping back into a rigorous educational environment after not being in school for many years was challenging, Walsh said. But academics weren't the only thing she had to overcome.
Walsh faced a series of serious health issues that affected her life in significant ways.
"There were definitely moments I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish the program, but there [were] also moments I wasn't sure I was going to make it… to live," she said.
Walsh graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College earlier this month.
Show of resilience
During her second year in the program, Walsh broke her ankle and foot.
She said she spent about nine months on a scooter trying to participate in anatomy labs and other classes.
In her fourth year, Walsh developed an intestinal infection which led to other complications.
"Because I got sick, I couldn't take my normal medications, and I ended up getting blood clots in my lungs," she said, adding that one of her lungs collapsed.
Walsh said that resulted in her having to drop a rotation because she physically could not get out of bed.
After meeting with the dean, Walsh said she was able to rebuild her schedule and take on rotations that were not as physically challenging.
"I think I was more worried a lot of the time about school," she said. "But the school was like, 'No, your health is more important.'"
'I try and find the good'
The experience of completing a challenging degree amid physical health issues took a mental toll, Walsh said.
"It was hard. It was really hard," she said. "But I guess I would just say… it's kind of just my personality. I'm just a fighter, I guess."
Even in moments where it wasn't easy, Walsh said she looked on the bright side.
"I try and always have a positive outlook, so I try and find the good," she said.
"It was kind of hard to find it at that point, but the school was amazing and my classmates were amazing and we persevered."
With her background in social work, Walsh said she's learned how to take care of herself.
"Having a healthy mindset is what can help you get through these things," she said, noting that she also has a good support system to lean on.
Having now earned her degree, Walsh said she feels mostly joy.
"I think over the last four years, I've definitely grown in confidence," she said.
"I used to be a complete wallflower. Like, you wouldn't even know I was there. And now I'm … talking on the radio."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Drone flown ‘dangerously close' to rescue helicopter in Squamish
Search and rescue volunteers in Squamish say a drone came close to interfering with their efforts to get an injured hiker to safety on May 31, 2025. (Image credit: Facebook/ssarteam) Squamish Search and Rescue is reminding people that flying drones in provincial parks is prohibited, after a close call during a rescue this weekend. Volunteers were called to First Peak in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park Saturday to assist an injured hiker, according to a social media post. 'Given the steep terrain, several members were flown in with the support of Blackcomb Helicopters, and the subject was long line evacuated,' the Facebook post said. 'During the rescue, a drone was flown dangerously close to our team and the helicopter—between loads. It only moved after being signaled to leave the area.' The province only allows drones to be operated in its parks with explicit permission – which is rarely granted. 'Drone use causes noise pollution, disturbs wildlife, and can invade the privacy of other park users. It may also disrupt emergency activities, putting wildlife, park visitors, and B.C. Parks staff at significant additional risk,' according to the BC Parks website. 'Operating drones without permission is strictly illegal in all BC Parks. We appreciate drones may be useful in resource management and scientific studies, but we rarely grant permission for drone use.' Operating a drone is also illegal in national parks and near active wildfires. Flying a drone in a restricted area can result in a fine of up to $25,000 and up to 18 months in jail. People who fly drones in a manner that interferes with wildfire fighting efforts in B.C. can face fines of up to $100,000.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Cooler weekend weather aids firefighting efforts across northern, central Alberta
A wildfire on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range in Alberta in May 2025. A drop in termperatures and rain have helped firefighters battling wildfires in forested aeras of northern and central Alberta this weekend. The number of wildfires burning in Alberta on Sunday afternoon, 51, remains unchanged from the day before, with 26 of them classified as out of control, 22 as under control and three as being held. According to the Alberta government's wildfire status website, half of the province's out-of-control wildfires are in the Slave Lake Forest Area, with nine of them a part of the Red Earth East complex. The province has had 486 wildfires this year that have burned 473,355 hectares as of Sunday afternoon. More than 700,000 hectares of land in Alberta burned in 2024. Wildfires of note Red Earth East complex Several communities in the Slave Lake Forest Area have been evacuated due to wildfires burning there, including Loon Lake, Peerless Lake, Trout Lake, Chipewyan Lake and Red Earth Creek. The province said Sunday cooler weather in the area has helped firefighters and fires have grown minimally, and that the weather forecast is favourable. The complex in the northeastern portion of the Slave Lake Forest Area has burned close to 200,000 hectares between four of its major wildfires, including one near Chipewyan Lakes (132,167 hectares) and one near Red Earth Creek and Loon Lake First Nation (39,744 hectares). Caribou Lake An out-of-control wildfire in northeastern Alberta that's 61,551 hectares in size is burning near the hamlet of Conklin. The R.M. of Wood Buffalo has put Conklin on an evacuation alert. Conklin is 279 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Swan complex Swan Hills remains under an evacuation order because of a wildfire eight kilometres north of the town near Edith Lake that put residents on alert last Sunday. The 1,300 people living in the town 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton were ordered to leave the next day. The fire is 17,573 hectares in size as of Sunday. Cooler weather has helped firefighters, the province said. Highway 33 southbound is closed from the Highway 2 junction near Kinuso to Highway 32. The Town of Swan Hills is maintaining an evacuation section on its website for more information. The nearby out-of-control Hubert Lake wildfire in Westlock County's Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park, located west of Highway 44 and seven kilometres from the community of Fawcett, is 2,924 hectares in size. The province said Sunday the wildfire has not grown, adding the fire has seen little rain and that warmer temperatures forecast are expected to bring very dry conditions to the area. Sousa Creek The out-of-control wildfire, estimated to be 25,000 hectares in size, is located 72 kilometres west of High Level near the Chateh turnoff, 30 kilometres east of the town of Rainbow Lake and 6.8 km from the southern edge of the Chateh community. The province said Sunday the fire grew overnight on the southeastern flank. Whitefish Wildfires burning near Whitefish River Utikoomak Lake 155A and Marten Beach are classified as out of control at 10,448 hectares. Evacuation alerts are in place for both communities located north of Lesser Slave Lake. The province said Sunday firefighters have made good progress on the fires and that there has been little growth. Tulip Lake The out-of-control wildfire in northern Alberta near the border with the Northwest Territories is estimated to be 4,500 hectares in size and is burning 19 km northeast of Fort Fitzgerald and 28 km east of Fort Smith, N.W.T. Grande Prairie County No. 1 The county put some residents on alert Thursday because of a wildfire burning across the provincial border in nearby British Columbia. People living north of Township Road 720 to Township Road 732 and east of the border to Range Road 130 are asked to be prepared to leave when asked. The wildfire prompted an evacuation in B.C.'s Peace River region and may face precipitation throughout the weekend. Environment Canada says Kelly Lake in the Peace River Regional District is forecasted to see about a 30 per cent chance for showers for both days of the weekend. The nearby wildfire remains at about 4,600 hectares in size as of Saturday morning, and firefighters say its growth has stopped about seven kilometres from Kelly Lake. The fire has forced about 70 people in the area to evacuate their homes. Yellowhead County The communities of Peers, Robb and Mercoal have been evacuated because of wildfires burning close to them. The January Creek fire south of the hamlet of Peers is 761 hectares in size. The province said Sunday firefighters, heavy equipment, helicopters and airtankers alongside the Yellowhead County Fire Department continue to fight the blaze. Prairies emergencies In Manitoba: Wildfire near Flin Flon contained Fire crews in northern Manitoba have so far been able to contain an encroaching wildfire that forced thousands of residents from their homes. Officials in Flin Flon, Man., say the fire burning near the mining city has been contained to outside its perimeter highway, and that as of Saturday evening there have been no structure losses. In Saskatchewan: Northern communities evacuated Ongoing wildfires in northern Saskatchewan have forced several communities to evacuate and prompted a province-wide state of emergency. People in Timber Bay, located in north-central Saskatchewan, were ordered to evacuate on Sunday due to a fast-moving wildfire threatening the area. The community of 81 residents is situated about 30 minutes off Highway 2, which connects La Ronge and Prince Albert, and is accessible via secondary Highway 969, a former main route into the north. With files from CTV News Winnipeg, CTV News Saskatoon and The Canadian Press
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Volunteers hold search and rescue simulation at Fundy National Park
Em Fabry was out at Fundy National Park on a rainy Saturday searching for a man in his 40s, having very few details about him. She was participating in a mock search with more than 50 others from various ground search and rescue teams, joined by the members of the RCMP, Parks Canada, New Brunswick's emergency measures organization and some paramedic students. Fabry had some training with Tri-County Ground Search, but she said this weekend gave her a chance to put her skills to the test. "I've learned a lot of new skills and it's really neat to see all of that come to fruition today," Fabry said. "I'm trying to see how it plays out in a real search situation." In the simulation, participants looked for a man after an incident between a husband and wife who went on a hike Saturday morning. It's unclear exactly what happened between the two, but searchers were given a description of the man they were looking for. Searchers were deployed in groups of four to five people with each group being assigned a task, she said. "There's a little bit of an adrenaline rush," said Fabry. Shawn Steele, team leader with Tri-County Ground Search and Rescue, said 30 people were on the ground searching and another 20-30 at a command post. Volunteers had to exercise skills like clue awareness, tracking communication, searching, first aid and extrication. "We try to make it as realistic as possible," he said. There can be a few random events tossed in. A team member might be asked to fake an injury, which would force the searchers to respond. Training officer Randy Breau, who was at the command post, said it is critical to have current information to be able to effectively deploy the ground teams. He said he tried to make this weekend's exercise as real as possible. He had a person in the woods — the one reported missing by his wife — pretending to be the injured 48-year old man. "They have mocked up an injury and they're actually really well hidden," Breau said. Breau said the searchers may also find issues like the computers not working, not everyone having the correct information from the initial report, challenging weather, or some other unexpected ones. "One of the key things is most people think that a lot of the searching is done by paid professionals when about 90 per cent of it or more is actually done by volunteers," he said. "After all this we're going to debrief the members and then take a look at what was learned, what was done well, and then what we can improve on from what we did today."
