VMCVM Student Spotlight: Ann (Lily) Stenning
Ann (Lily) Stenning
Degree: DVM 2028, Public Corporate
Hometown: New Enterprise, Pennsylvania
My undergraduate was in…
Biology, minor in Spanish at ODU.
Best part of being a VMCVM student…
There are students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life who have come together because they decided that animals were going to be the center of their lives. This is something I resonate well with and being a VMCVM student has given me an immense sense of belonging.
The moment I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian/public health professional was…
I had the very typical childhood realization of as soon as I knew what the word "veterinarian" meant, I knew that's what I wanted to be.
My hidden talent...
A not-so-hidden talent anymore is that I greatly enjoy singing and playing instruments, especially my guitar!
A person who has inspired me...
My parents, pretty equally. They have both lived life to the fullest and have both done amazing things in their lives, with their careers and in their day-to-day lives. Their stories are never ending, and I hope to live my life as they did.
Biggest misconception about being a veterinarian/public health student…
Before I started vet school, I had several people tell me that I wouldn't have time to do anything but study as a vet student. While I often think I should probably be studying more, I have found time for so many different things, such as being a student representative, milking cows, enjoying microbiology cases in ViTALS, and spending time with my animals and friends.
If I had a superpower, it would be...
Depending on the day, I would choose between two different superpowers: cloning myself or being able to speak any language, including the ability to speak to animals.
My no-fail, go-for-it motivational song...
Before almost every single exam, I listen to "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Learning that guitar solo is on my bucket list!
The course project/study you're most excited about…
Not to sound like a typical second-year, but, currently, I am most excited about my first spay surgery in the spring. I know I will be very nervous, but it is a skill that I am looking forward to learning and becoming proficient in, as bringing that skill back to my community one day is incredibly important to me.
What excites me the most about the future of my industry...
Vet med is constantly changing and evolving. ... I love that as an industry we have already made huge steps towards being as behavior-conscious as we can with what we currently know, both with large and small animals. I think I am most looking forward to seeing new and improved techniques that bolster the mindset of having calm animals and a calm environment for them.
Favorite way to end the day...
My mom recently brought me my all time favorite recliner that had been waiting in storage in our barn for a space where I could use it. Now, my favorite way to end the day is to relax in it with a blanket and a bowl of ice cream and watch a movie or show with my roommates.
Top of my bucket list...
I want to visit every single continent, and I only have 4 more to go!
How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
It would probably be quite the paragraph to talk about all of them, so the simplified version is 5 horses, ~10 indoor/outdoor cats, 8 chickens, 4 dogs, 4 Holstein cows, my Corn snake, a Leopard gecko, and a goat at home in Pennsylvania. At school, I have my Pomsky, Isla, my cat, Hollow, and my Appaloosa mare, Spirit. Isla, Hollow, and Spirit keep me busy, but I love having all of them at school with me! If I could add one more to the crew down here, it would probably have to be Freya, my Nigerian Dwarf goat.
Anything else to add?
When I was younger, knowing that I wanted to attend vet school, my dream was to go to Virginia Tech, but I don't think I could have ever imagined how much I would love it here and how much I would care about everyone I have met. I am so thankful for that!
