More often than not, people are confused as to how or why I'm majoring in Animal Science when I tell them that I do not have an agriculture background.

When people ask me why I chose to major in Animal Science, I never know exactly what to say, because my reasons have changed.

I started, like many other of my peers, wanting to be a veterinarian working with small animals. After taking some chemistry courses, and getting introduced to livestock, I soon realized this was not the path for me.

After the devastation of realizing that my dream since I was five years old was soon coming to an end, I felt lost.

I decided to take beef science, along with swine science, to see if I could see myself working with either of these species, and I found myself enjoying these classes more than I ever imagined I would.

Once I began showing interest in beef cattle, and asking my roommate numerous questions, she started inviting me to her farm and to watch her in cattle shows.

Now instead of feeling lost or devastated over my failed dream, I began to see a new dream to pursue.

Starting this new journey, I began to realize the abundant challenges ahead of me.

From trying to find a production internship with my little to no experience to figuring out what career I could possibly find once I graduate.

The reason I choose to stay in Animal Science even with all of these various challenges is because I am starting to love the industry.

What I see from the outside looking in is this:

I see older generations teaching younger generations tools that will forever help them in life. They teach them hard work, passion, patience and efficiency. The list goes on.

I see children working hard, and gaining skills that no classroom could ever teach them.

I see people in the industry coming together when others are in crisis.

I see farmers feeding our population while getting critiqued from not only anti-ag activists, but consumers as well.

So to those that ask me why I choose Animal Science as my major with no background in agriculture:

I choose it because I would be proud to make my way into this industry from what I have seen in my two years in this major. Even with all of the challenges ahead of me, I truly hope to overcome them all and find a place in the hard working, passionate, agriculture industry.