Scott Wood
Graduation year: 2011
Major: Biology, pre-veterinary medicine
Activities: Augustana Symphonic Band, cross country, Beta Beta Beta Honors Society
Post-grad plans: Attend the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Missouri
Are you where you thought you’d be four years ago?
I have wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember, so I am definitely where I hoped I would be.
A peak experience while you were here?
I have had too many peak experiences to just name one. I played a concert in Lucca, Italy, with the Symphonic Band and moved the audience to tears; I saw a live birth of twin calves during a job-shadowing experience my advisor helped set up; and I was finally able to match my 8K times from my first cross-country season after two years of injuries. You could say my entire time at Augustana was a peak experience.
What did you learn about yourself in these past four years that surprised you?
I have learned that I am actually more confident than I often give myself credit for, and I’m very capable of adapting to completely different situations. With the liberal arts education here, I have had to take many classes on different subjects with very different teaching styles. I was forced to tweak my study habits accordingly, and was able to do so successfully.
Who helped you get to where you are now?
My parents were the biggest help in supporting me throughout my life and helping me get to where I am now. The close friends that I have made at Augustana have also been a huge help. They have kept me sane these past four years by having snowball fights after midnight, getting away from campus for a day to go canoeing, and making studying an enjoyable time. My professors were also very helpful and were always available if I had questions, and Dr. Good, my advisor, was a huge help in preparing for veterinary school.
Advice for this fall's incoming class?
These four years go by faster than you think and something as simple as joining a music group, sport or small club will help you to develop very close friends and very fond memories.
"Scott is a wonderful example of our students at Augustana. As liberal arts educators, we hope to instill in our students the importance of having a lifelong passion for life, not just a career. Scott has found the perfect balance of embracing his professional as well as non-professional interests. His dedication to veterinary medicine is greatly enhanced by his love for running and music — each reinforcing the skills of the other."