Passing my VTNE!

 Welcome back lovelies!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day, and preparing for the Holiday season! In today's blog I am going to talk about passing my VTNE!! This is so exciting and so nerve racking at the same time. For those that do not know, the VTNE stands for Veterinary Technician National Exam. This is the national board to become a Registered Veterinary Technician! It is a 170 question test that is 3 hours long. Let's dive in!

I applied to take my test back in August of 2020. I knew I wanted to have plenty of time to study so I set my exam date for early December. I bought this study subscription that we used in college to help us. It wasn’t cheap but was totally worth the money. I bought a 6 month subscription for around $260 and the VTNE cost around $350. I knew I wanted to pay for all this with my own money. I couldn’t live with myself if my parents paid for my subscription and test and I failed so now they are out of all that money. I also knew it was going to feel more of an accomplishment knowing I paid for it all to happen. It was a big girl purchase ;) 

My plan was to originally take the test right after college, but COVID hit and completely destroyed that. They still had it available but everything was just so uncertain at the time that I wanted to wait till things got figured out more. I set my new goal to get a job, save money for the subscription and test, pay for it myself, and then take it by the end of the year. Needless to say I was determined with that goal. I strayed away from it for a little while working, but after I took my leave of absence, I saw no better time than now. I studied everyday for an hour all the way up until the day of my test. I was BRAIN FRIED by the time November and December hit. I will say I took a break towards the end of November just because I was becoming resentful of it and I knew that wouldn’t help me retain any information. I still studied everyday, but some days might have only been for 15 minutes. I really started cramming for the test when I only had a week left. I’ve always done that. Even in college I did my best studying where I studied a little bit before then crammed the night before. That’s the best way I’ve learned that I personally retain the information. 

As the days grew closer I grew more and more anxiety ridden. A lot of other students from college that were in the classes below me were taking them too. They were all passing and so it made me feel a little better knowing I haven’t seen anyone fail yet. I talked to a couple of them to see how it was but we aren’t allowed to talk about the test afterwards. That was completely understandable! They did give me advice saying the subscription I was using helps a lot, and to just breathe and have faith in yourself. It made me feel much better!

It finally came to the day before my test and I was NERVOUS. I was off the walls not being able to think, breathe, or just calm down. My parents and I rented a hotel room up in Fort Wayne for the night because I was taking my test at the Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne. It was a super nice  hotel, and it was fun just getting to stay somewhere else. I tried to study some, and I was doing good at answering, but I was so frantic that my parents told me to take a break and enjoy the night with them. I was to the point either I knew the material or I didn’t and stressing myself more was not going to help or change anything. My parents and I ended up just enjoying each other's company and watching family feuds on the hotel cable. They ended going to bed around 11:00pm, me on the other hand, did not sleep at all. I don’t know what happened. I was so tired, and by that point not worried at all, but no matter how I layed or how long I kept my eyes closed I just could not fall asleep. I was up all the way till my alarm went off to wake up and start getting ready. My parents woke up and was surprised to see me sitting up in the bed awake too. Surprisingly by that point I was wide awake and didn’t feel tired anymore. That was probably because my nerves were starting to come back knowing my test is nearing closer. I was scheduled to take my test at 9:00am and so I wanted to be there by 8:30am. We left the hotel early to make sure we got to the right place. My parents didn’t have to check out till noon so they were just going to go back to the room until I was finished. 

We got to the testing center and by then I was practically shaking. My parents walked with me to make sure I found the right room then they left back for the hotel. I signed in and put all my belongings into a locker. The proctor then led me to my computer station and this was it, no turning back. Well I guess I could have, but then I would be out $350 and have failed the test anyway. I sat down, took a deep breath, and just said, “I got this.” I can only do to the best of my ability. Everyone before my test was wishing me good luck and had no doubt I would do fine. My biggest fear was having to walk out of that room and tell everyone I didn’t pass after they had all this faith in me. It was almost more pressure being told that they know I will do fine then just saying good luck. I told my parents before they left that I was not going to trick them when I let them know. Whatever I tell them is the true outcome, and I was only going to tell them in person when they come and get me. 

I started the test and finished it in 30 minutes. I’ve always been a quick test taker and it always makes me second guess when I am the first one done. I knew with this I HAD to trust my gut and not second guess myself. I spent another 20 minutes just going back and reviewing my answers. I knew there was nothing else I could do, I just had to submit it and accept my fate. My dad told me there was no doubt that I know the material, it’s just a matter of not second guessing myself. Best advice I could have received. I clicked submit then met the proctor back up at the front desk to get my printed results. That whole time I was standing up there I was praying that I passed. The proctor scared me at one point because he shook his head when he grabbed the results from the printer. He laid the paper down in front of me and the first thing I saw was, “Congratulations!” I shot down to the floor and started crying. I was so happy and so relieved. I grabbed the paper and my belongings. I texted my dad that I was done and he could come and get me. While I was waiting for them I let my two best friends know that I passed. They were UNBELIEVABLY happy for me! I love them so much! I let everyone else know that I had previously wished me good luck. My parents finally pulled up to the front of the building, I walked down the steps, then shot up and gave them a huge thumbs up! I did it! I really did it! I saw and heard my mom scream from in the car. She ran out and gave me the biggest hug! I looked at my dad still in the car and told him to come out and hug me. I could see he was crying. My dad doesn’t cry often, so it melted my heart knowing this brought tears of joy to him. They said they were both gripping their seats at wanting to know. We all had a final big group hug then my mom took my picture in front of the building. It was then posted all over social media on all my business pages and her page. You could see the genuine happiness in my face in that picture! We all got back in the car and went and got celebratory lunch! 

After lunch we started on our way back home. It still didn’t feel real, and to this day it still doesn’t. I want to thank everyone who had faith in me and wished me good luck! You all mean everything to me! I love and appreciate all of the support. Everyone continued to congratulate me on social media and it just all felt surreal. The best was seeing my teachers from college be so proud! I couldn’t have done it without the awesome teachers I had to teach me everything. Now I am just waiting for my results to be submitted to the state, then all I have to do is take an at home state test over the laws, and then I’m golden! This is a dream come true and I’m so happy to be reaching it. I’M GOING TO BE AN RVT?!?!?! I’M MEAN WHAT, HOW COOL IS THAT??? Hard work definitely paid off! Here is the start to another chapter!

Xoxo, Cupcakes & Canines

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