My name is Victoria Heijn, and I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. My family is Cuban and Lebanese, and living in Miami has afforded me a unique perspective since I have always been surrounded by people of all nationalities, ethnicities, and identities. I attended a bilingual IB school in Little Havana during my elementary and middle school years and took classes like AP Spanish Literature and Culture in high school. I stayed in Miami for my undergraduate education and obtained a BSMAS in Marine Science/Microbiology and Immunology with minors in Chemistry, Mathematics, and English from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). I graduated Summa Cum Laude in May of 2023 and was awarded the RSMAS Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian early on, so I had taken the necessary prerequisites and gained hands-on experience by working as a veterinary technician at a small animal general practice clinic and an animal care intern at a wildlife rehabilitation facility. I applied to veterinary schools the summer before my senior year of college, and I began my first year of vet school at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine in August of 2023. Now, as I move on to my second year at UFCVM, I look forward to continuing in my role as a student ambassador for the school, and I am also excited to begin my new leadership positions as vice president of the Veterinary Ophthalmology and Neurology Club, wet lab coordinator of the Student Association of Veterinary Surgery, and student representative of Nutramax Laboratories Inc. I am also completing the Shelter Medicine Certificate at UF, and once I graduate, I plan to work with small animals (cats and dogs) and exotic pets in an emergency or general practice setting. I am excited to see what the future holds, and I am grateful to UF’s Association of Hispanic Alumni for helping me on this journey.