Eshan Selvan

Eshan Selvan, veterinary assistant and junior, comforts a dog that went through a procedure. While Selvan assists in procedures like surgeries and examinations, he also works with animals before and after their procedures.

When did you first know you wanted to work with animals?

Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to work with animals. I grew up watching “Animal Planet” and those types of shows, so I had the idea that working with animals was something that I wanted to do.

Would you want to pursue this as a career in the future?

I love being a vet assistant, but I don’t know if I would want to pursue it as a career. I don’t think (being a vet) is what I want to do. I would rather work with people, just because being a vet is a lot of physical work, and you work a lot with dogs and people. I want to hone in on working with people more than with animals.

What do you love most about your job?

I love that I get to work with animals and be part of the medical industry. I like the science part of being a vet, but I also like the practical side such as working with people and animals.

What inspired you to be a veterinary assistant?

I always wanted to be a vet growing up. I knew that I wanted to work with animals and do something like that, so I called a bunch of places, found (Leo’s Pet Care Carmel, where) I could volunteer and started there. After a couple of years they offered me the job.

What was your most memorable experience?

My most memorable experience was my first surgery. I walked into the clinic and they told me that I would be watching the surgery. I could assist the doctor in getting the right tools. I was about 13 years old, so that was pretty memorable for me.

How do you balance schoolwork and your job?

During the summer, I work a lot more. During the school year, I only work one day a week. I work longer shifts during the summer for 10 hours a day, for two or three times a week. I am a morning person, so I can wake up really early in the morning and I’ll be fine to work from 8 a.m to 6 p.m.