Hi guys, it’s Amanda, and this video is literally my first week as a small animal GP new grad vet (which still feels wild to say out loud). I start off the night before my first day feeling mostly excited with a little bit of nerves, and then I take you through what those first few days actually felt like behind the scenes—soaking it all in, having basically no responsibility on day one, and realizing how lucky I am to be surrounded by supportive mentors and clients. Then we get into the real “new grad life” part: my first day with my own appointments, feeling rushed, asking a million questions, and spiraling a bit into the whole “I feel useless” headspace even when the cases are straightforward. I talk honestly about being overwhelmed, thriving on routine, and how big the student-to-doctor transition really is. I also share my first euthanasia as a veterinarian—how vet school didn’t truly prepare me for being the one leading it—and how it became a tipping point for all the emotions I’d been holding in. To wrap it up, I jump forward a few months and reflect on how much changes with time: the learning curve is steep, the highs and lows don’t disappear, but you do grow. If you’re a baby vet (or about to be), I hope this makes you feel less alone and reminds you to be kind to yourself.