A student from Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form will be spending her summer working with animals at Blackpool Zoo and two veterinary practices!
Rachel Harrison, from Bowland High School, has been working hard toward achieving her aspiration of becoming a veterinarian. She has been studying a challenging programme of medical and science related A Levels during her time at Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form: the popular duo of Biology and Chemistry, as well as Maths for Science and Psychology. She has also been taking part in the College’s innovative Pre-Professional Medicine Programme, which runs in conjunction with a student’s selected courses to provide them with the best possible opportunity to enter into a difficult but rewarding medical career.
The College is proud to support students in all endeavours, and especially in anything that will help them into their chosen profession. Rachel Harrison is one of many students who has been supported and encouraged in following her dreams; and her enthusiasm has now paid off, as she will be spending her summer at Blackpool Zoo and at two different veterinary practices: Dalehead Veterinary Practice in Settle and Kingsway Veterinary Group in Skipton!
Rachel will be taking part in Blackpool Zoo’s Keeper Academy, a 10 day course for young people aged between 15 and 17 years old. Each day, the keepers-in-training study a different exotic animal species and learn about their natural habitat and diet. It isn’t just theory sessions; the ten sessions, running from 10:30am-3:00pm each day, also include over thirty hours of practical experience with a range of zoo animals; invertebrates, reptiles, and mammals, including primates and elephants! The course is designed for those who wish to pursue a career with animals, whether working as a vet, vet nurse, zookeeper or something else entirely – so it is perfect for Rachel’s career aspiration of becoming a vet!
At the veterinary practices, Rachel will be shadowing veterinary surgeons for five days at each practice. It will give her the rewarding opportunity to work with a mixture of animals, both large and small, assisting the vets in any jobs that might arise.