Meet Emily Foell
Emily Foell is Currently pursuing a Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Guelph. In her spare time she enjoys horse back riding and running. She says "I find both are a great way to relieve stress after a busy day at work or in class." Emily spends a lot of her spare time caring for NSD Carly, a service puppy in training.
Favourite Movies: Inception, A Dog's Purpose.
Favourite Sports: Horse back riding, hunter/jumper.
When did your love of STEM begin?
Ever since I was a little girl I have alway had a passion for animals. From the time I could talk I was asking for a dog. My mom entered me into horse back riding camp when I was a little girl and then my passion for horses started. My combined love for animals and interest in science has lead me to want to pursue a career as a veterinarian. When I was little I used to tell people that I wanted to become a veterinarian ( as most little girls do) and as I grew older, although i explored some other career opportunities, my heart always comes back to pursuing a career in animal medicine.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
The best part about working in the field of STEM is the endless opportunities for innovation. New things are being discovered on a daily basis to lead to new treatments and inventions. I would love to be someone who develops a medicine or product to help out the health of our animals in some shape or form. I also love the opportunities for advancement. Once I become a veterinarian it does not stop there. I can go on to own my own clinics or work in research to discover new medical treatments.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
Don't give up when things seem hard to achieve. Coming into first year of University I had a rough start. I have always supported myself through school and I found it hard to balance working full time and keeping my grades high enough to apply to vet school. In fourth year I decided that I shouldn't let anything stop me from achieving what I want to and decided to come back for an extra semester to take any remaining courses needed to apply and improve a few grades. I thought putting an extra 4-8 months into a degree would be worth it in the long run if I could be a practicing veterinarian for the rest of my life. All in all, the good things in life do not come easy and do not let people tell you that it is too hard to achieve your goals. Find the people in your life that will support you through the hard work!