Animal Aspirations
EDUCATE. INSPIRE. DIVERSIFY.
‘Animal Aspirations’ began in January 2019 with the help of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) Widening Participation team and is made up of a diverse group of vet students from various backgrounds.
The aim of the initiative is to engage students from diverse backgrounds through interactive animal and science-focused workshops. We also aim to promote diverse role models and break the stereotypes of the veterinary and other animal-related professions by having a positive online and social media presence. Our achievements have so far allowed us to reach out to children from various backgrounds, exposing them to the versatility, ingenuity and value of veterinary and animal-related professions.
President's Note:
Shreevarshini Mandraiar
Year 3 BVetMed, RVC
Animal aspirations isn’t just an organisation, we are a community, a driving force, and a connecting bridge for so many children. Five years ago, we were a spark at the RVC, but today, we are a national organisation and we’re just getting started!
What is Animal Aspirations to me?
Growing up in India, I had people question me every step of my way to vet school, because ‘why veterinary when you can do medicine instead?’. I had no one to look up to, and no one to guide me through my journey here. However, even after joining vet
Why we do what we do?
Going to schools every week and running these workshops, we are trying to give children the access and exposure to animal related careers. Seeing people who look like them doing what they dream to do, doesn’t just give them encouragement, it empowers them and gives them the belief that they can do whatever they dream to and be the person they aspire to be. We hope to be the bridge between talent and opportunity, because everyone has a different road map to university and we believe that a student’s background should not be a barrier.
Where do I see us going?
This year, my goal is to strengthen our community within each school and also between schools. Students that were a part of Animal Aspirations workshops a few years ago are now in vet school; when they tell us they are here because of Animal aspirations, it’s the best feeling in the world! We hope to expand more in the UK and hopefully do some international online events too!
school, it broke my heart when I realised there weren’t a lot of people who looked like me or spoke like me, and it felt even worse when I found out that the RVC is the most diverse vet school in the UK. That’s when I found this beautiful community with the nicest people, who have all experienced discrimination, microaggression and bias in extremely similar ways. So, for me, Animal Aspirations is a home for diverse students within vet schools where they can thrive, and not just fit in. Sometimes, people undervalue the importance of having a sense of belonging and the difference it can make, and that’s what we are trying to change.