“We can do hard things, but we don’t have to do them alone.” This piece of wisdom from her advisor helped Ileia Gibbs at a challenging time, and came to symbolize what the future veterinarian likes most about UConn: the sense of community and mutual support. As she heads into the next stage of life, this West Coast native will always think of that closeness when she thinks about UConn – along with springtime at Horsebarn Hill.<\/p>\n
Why did you choose UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n From the start of my college search, I knew I wanted to major in animal science, and UConn stood out to me because of the department’s hands-on approach to learning. I am within close distance to barns and facilities with livestock that allow me to learn beyond the classroom. I am also from the West Coast, so I was excited to experience what living on the East Coast would be like!<\/p>\n What\u2019s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?<\/strong><\/p>\n I am majoring in animal science on the pre-vet track because of my aspiration to become a veterinarian. I was drawn to this field because my love for science, animals, and working with people all intersect in veterinary medicine. In this profession, I can be the person responsible for the medical care of pets alongside supporting their families in any way possible.<\/p>\n Did you have a favorite UConn professor or class?<\/strong><\/p>\n Horse Breeding and Farm Management was my favorite class at UConn, because of the amount of interaction and responsibility we had with the horses. It made what we learned in class feel more engaging and meaningful. Dr. Sarah Reed is an amazing teacher who\u2019s always supportive and encouraging, and her approach to teaching helped me grow both academically and personally.<\/p>\n What activities were you involved in as a student?<\/strong><\/p>\n As a student, I was actively involved in the Pre-Vet Club and co-founded the Minorities in Animal Science Club to help build a more inclusive and supportive community within the field. I also volunteered as an admissions ambassador for the Animal Science Department and worked as a student research trainee under Dr. Maria Gracia Gervasi, gaining hands-on experience in research.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one thing that surprised you about UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n One thing that surprised me about CAHNR was how personable all the professors and staff are. They truly are there for students if you have any questions or just want to chat.<\/p>\n What are your plans after graduation\/receiving your degree?<\/strong><\/p>\n I am planning on attending veterinary school after I graduate from UConn. In the future, I hope to specialize within the field and participate in more community outreach to help animals in need.<\/p>\n How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe can do hard things, but we don\u2019t have to do them alone.\u201d My advisor gave me this piece of advice during a time when I was struggling academically, but I think it encapsulates the support and the community that UConn and CAHNR provide. My classes, teachers, and peers have taught me to be adaptable, determined, and confident as I prepare for vet school and the next chapter of my life.<\/p>\n Any advice for incoming students?<\/strong><\/p>\n Do everything that UConn offers you. This school has so many resources and activities, and I regret not doing more during my earlier years here.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n Go take a lap around Horsebarn Hill! My favorite time is in late April when it starts to get warm again and everything feels like it is coming back to life. It is the perfect way to clear your head and explore that side of campus that makes UConn feel like home.<\/p>\n What will always make you think of UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n The friends who I made in my freshman year dorm will always make me think of the amazing time I had at UConn. We would eat together at Gelfenbien Dining Hall together every night until it closed, reflecting on our days and sharing stories, and they helped turn UConn into my home away from home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gibbs reflects on her time at UConn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":243194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"quote","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[117],"class_list":["post-243193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-quote","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","post_format-post-format-quote"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 23:18:34","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243193"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":244249,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243193\/revisions\/244249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/243194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243193"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=243193"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=243193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}