By Taylor Stewart
Jaylin Lewis, a graduating senior from Prairie View A&M University, has only just begun her journey to become a veterinarian, but this dream has been in the making for some time. Through sheer grit and dedication to knocking down roadblocks throughout her life, Lewis is now one of ten current College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS) students who have been accepted to veterinary school, a record number for the college.
“It feels so surreal, honestly speaking!” said Lewis, the first student this year to get into a vet school. “I’m so grateful for what’s to come in regards to my future, and I look forward to being a change agent in this industry and helping the next generation become leaders in medicine.”
Lewis has cared for animals since she was a child. Growing up, she was the only one in her life truly invested in learning about their behavior and was glued to Animal Planet. She considered herself an “animal doctor,” and that passion eventually led to an interest in becoming a veterinarian.
While at PVAMU, Lewis represented the Pre-Vet Club as Miss Pre-Vet in 2019 and became the shadow chair of the Pre-Vet Club that same year, assisting students with interning at their hospital of choice for volunteer hours. In 2020, she became President of the Pre-Vet Club and broadened her peers’ interests in the various aspects of veterinary medicine.
In 2019, Lewis was given the opportunity to travel to South Africa for an internship that further ignited her passion to study veterinary medicine. She considered the trip to be eye-opening and solidified her desire to pursue this career. Not only did the trip have a major impact on her success, but she also allocates a lot of her achievements to the late Dr. Wendell Baker, a veterinarian who created a clinic near PVAMU. Dr. Baker passed away in 2021.
“I have to pay tribute to Dr. Baker, God rest his soul,” Lewis said. “Without him, I wouldn’t see veterinary medicine through the lens I do now. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and he pushed me to get out of my comfort zone because he knew my capabilities.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, African Americans make up only 2% of the industry. Witnessing Dr. Baker’s successful career served to motivate Lewis to be the same role model for other students. Applying to veterinary school is competitive and rigorous, Lewis said, and she fought to suppress negative thoughts about the process. She had to learn to stop comparing herself to the thousands of other applicants who were competing for a spot at the same schools.
“Roadblocks appeared along the way,” Lewis said. “However, these blocks also molded me into the young woman I can proudly say I am today due to my drive, discipline and determination. Prairie View truly does produce productive people!”
After graduating from PVAMU, Jaylin plans to attend Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. She also plans to travel abroad to gain a global perspective that will guide her in her specialization.
“She is an excellent student, very dedicated, very disciplined, and very determined to achieve whatever she sets her mind to,” said Milton Daley, an assistant professor in CAHS. “Not only am I very proud of Jaylin, but also the university as a whole. She has been the trendsetter for this academic year in terms of getting into vet school.”
Through PVAMU, Lewis gained invaluable resources through CAHS that helped her receive an early acceptance offer at Purdue. The university also advanced her networking and communications skills, which, in turn, made her grow as a person.
When she completes veterinary school, Lewis plans to climb even higher. Her long-term goals include becoming a board-certified neurologist and opening up her own practice to aid students interested in veterinary school.
