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GARDINER — The thing about childhood dreams is without hard work they will only ever be dreams. However, with hard work, determination and a bit of luck, dreams can be transitioned into achievable goals. Dr. Christian White’s journey from student to veterinarian is an example of the work needed to turn dreams into goals and goals into reality. White spoke to the Gardiner Area High School Class of 2018 this past June, commenting on his journey to veterinary medicine.
“You can do anything you want to do; you have to be willing to work for it,” he told them.
The Gardiner native is currently working as a horse veterinarian in New York after completing his undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada. As a 2011 GAHS graduate, being asked to speak at the graduation felt like he was coming full circle.
“There is no greater testament to my fading youth than being asked here today,” laughed the 26-year-old as he took the podium.
The only child of William and Maryann White of Gardiner, he inadvertently began his journey toward veterinary medicine with the purchase of his first horse in elementary school. By high school, White was the owner of his third quarter horse, Copper. When Copper begun to develop health issues, White’s quest to heal his animal ignited an interest in veterinary medicine.
From this point, White began to turn his dream of becoming a veterinarian into achievable goals, applying to and being accepted as an undergraduate at the University of Prince Edward Island, which was associated with the Atlantic Veterinary College — his veterinary school of choice. White enrolled in a bachelor of science degree to fulfill the veterinary prerequisites while taking a broad enough range of classes to ensure he had a degree to fall back on should he change his dream. White sought out and worked at several veterinary-related experiences to both strengthen his application and to ensure his desired career was a good fit. More importantly, White worked other odd jobs out of the veterinary field.
“If you really want to find out what you’re supposed to be doing with your life, spend some time doing things you aren’t supposed to do,” White states with a grin to the GAHS graduates, “For me, those included being a tour guide at an ice-cream factory, a certified mixologist, and a French minor.”
After acceptance to the Atlantic Veterinary College, White continued to work at various veterinary jobs to broaden his resume and more easily ensure a future in his chosen occupation. After his 2018 graduation, White was hired as a horse veterinarian in New York.
As he spoke at GAHS weeks before starting his new career, White recognized not all dreams are straight-forward and not all are immediately apparent. “Dreams will come to you with time and experience,” he said.
White’s speech left the graduates with a valuable message about working toward goals in order to achieve bigger dreams. “The world is, in fact, your oyster, but you need to be prepared to shuck it.”
