I’m excited to meet and check in with Tyra this year. I’ve only lived and worked in large cities, so I think I’m going to learn a lot from this animal loving, aspiring vet tech who lives amongst farms in rural Iowa. Read all about Tyra below.

Meet the Class gets updated each month from September to May. Each installment features an interview about both the facts and the feelings of where the student is in the process.
Interviews may be edited lightly for clarity and grammar. Names may be changed to protect privacy.
Tyra attends a public high school in Iowa

Tell me about your high school. Around how many students does it have? Is it public, private? A magnet school or one with any special focus?

I come from a very small school. My graduating class will have around seventy students. It is a public school in rural Iowa. There is no special focus, but there are opportunities such as band, various sports, and speech (I am a proud member of the speech team, both individual and large group).

Have you already started school for the year? When did you begin or will you begin? Are you on campus, online only, or hybrid? How’s it going for you?

The school year started late in August; I decided to go in person to have a somewhat normal senior year but the option to video call into your classes is an option that quite a few students chose. So far it's been pretty good. I have college classes online to help me get some credits before I transition to college itself next year. Those classes are my main focus as the rest of my classes are electives with government as a requirement.

How much of a focus is college for your peers? What’s the mood of the senior class right now?

With my class being small, we are a pretty close group. We have been called the favorite class that teachers have seen in my school for a long time. I'd say college focus is half and half. Quite a few were raised on farms and will transition to take over family businesses while others go to technical schools, like myself, or universities. I think the overall mood is just stress waiting for the storm to come. No doubt we will be online at some point, I think we are all trying to make the most of being in person while we can.

How are you feeling about the college admissions season coming up? How prepared do you feel for all that’s going to be asked of you?

I actually have already selected a school as well as been accepted into said school. I recently changed my mind about what I wanted to do. I realized that my heart lay with animals and that being a veterinary technician would fulfill that dream of mine to help all of the animals. The only thing stressing me out is waiting to see if I got into the program. The college is small and only has seats for 24 students a year, so until I get my decision, it is safe to say I will be nervous.

Have you taken an SAT or ACT lately? Do you expect to be submitting test scores for applications?

I actually had to take the Accuplacer test to qualify for vet tech school. I had to place so high before they would allow me to apply to the program. ACT and SAT scores were accepted, but being from a low income family, the ability to take the Accuplacer for free was extremely helpful.

How complete is your college list right now? What schools are you already sure you’ll apply to? What else is currently on your list, even if you may drop it from your list?

As I have mentioned I already chose a school, but I can take you back to deciding. I basically had two options near me, as I wanted to stay close to home. A technical school, smaller but still well ranked for vet tech programs, or an expensive university over four hours away. By going to the smaller one I will be only an hour from home and be on a smaller campus when it comes to my social anxieties. It is also cheaper and more logical to go there. Once I toured the school and got to talk with the head of the vet tech department, I knew the school was for me. They only work on rescue animals which are animals I stand for, I always believe you should adopt before buying from a breeder (unless the breeder is reputable).

What are you looking for in a college? What’s most important to you?

Most important was my major of course, then probably the dorm space. I have two emotional support animals coming with me, so I need to have enough space for the both of them. They are both cats, so not a lot of space is needed, but more than an average dorm room. Then cost of course as my father is not in the picture and money is tight, I hope to apply for a lot of academic scholarships to help with some of the cost.

Are you a first-generation college student?

I am a first generation college student on my father's side. My father barely got his GED so I am kind of proud but he is also really stupid so there is that.

Is college something that’s expected for you, or does it feel like more of an option?

I always saw myself going to college, I assumed it would be a four year, but I am happy with my decision to go with a technical school.

Is there anything else about you that would be important or interesting to know?

The only other thing I'd add is that my mom and I might be moving with my mom and switching to high school online. But if moved I would be able to switch from working at subway to a vet clinic in my area that is really good.

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Photo by Angela Elisabeth.