NC State grad essay captures the final stretch to DVM life

NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine is marking the graduation of its Class of 2026 with a first-person essay by student Hannah Dion, “From Nerves to NAVLE, Four Years of Questions Finally Answered,” published May 8. In the piece, Dion reflects on the uncertainty that shaped her veterinary school journey, from waiting for an acceptance email to worrying about belonging, passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, matching for post-graduate training, and finding a job. The essay landed alongside NC State’s broader graduation coverage, including its May 11 announcement that 108 students in the Class of 2026 received their doctoral hoods and took the Veterinarian’s Oath at Reynolds Coliseum. Dion is headed next to a small animal rotating internship at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston. (news.cvm.ncsu.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the story is less about an institutional milestone and more about the mindset of new graduates entering practice. Dion’s account highlights the pressures that now define the final stretch of DVM training: clinical rotations, licensing exams, internship matching, research, recommendation letters, and the transition into practice. That’s useful context for hospitals, mentors, and recruiters working with early-career veterinarians, especially as the profession continues to focus on onboarding, confidence-building, and retention during the first years after graduation. The NAVLE remains the gatekeeping exam required for licensure in the U.S. and Canada, underscoring why it looms so large in graduate narratives like this one. (news.cvm.ncsu.edu)

What to watch: Watch how schools and employers continue to frame the handoff from graduation to internship, licensure, and first-job support for the 2026 cohort. (news.cvm.ncsu.edu)