Becoming a first-generation veterinarian

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Being a first-generation immigrant in the United States comes with a host of challenges, particularly when you're an only child—and a daughter—in a family that holds deep cultural values. Growing up in a South Asian and Caribbean household often means navigating the expectations of my parents, who immigrated to the US from Guyana in pursuit of better opportunities for their children. For many, this journey is one of sacrifice and hard work with hopes pinned on their children's success in fields they deem prestigious or financially secure. For me, the struggle to forge my own path led me to veterinary medicine, a career that not only defied family expectations, but also tested my identity as an only child and a woman raised in a culturally complex household.

My mother, a Licensed Practical Nurse who spent years in the field, worked tirelessly to provide for our family, while my father, a quiet but equally hard-working man, supported us in every way possible. Growing up in such an environment instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and that anything worth having must be earned through sheer effort. However, it also meant that my parents’ dreams for me were often shaped by their struggles and what they considered "stable" professions like careers in human medicine.

As an only child, the weight of these expectations felt particularly heavy. I wasn’t just their daughter; I was their only hope for upward mobility. My mother envisioned me following in her footsteps and becoming a doctor or pursuing some other career in human medicine. The narrative of becoming a physician was reinforced daily. “You’ll be a doctor one day,” she would say, a phrase that reverberated through my childhood and adolescence.

There was a part of me that always felt disconnected from this dream. The idea of working in human medicine didn’t excite me because I knew I wanted to somehow work with animals. That was the secret I had buried deep inside me, a passion that I didn’t know how to express—let alone pursue—when it seemed so out of place in my household.

It wasn’t until college that I began to understand my true calling. I entered college as a pre-med student, driven by the belief that this was the path my family envisioned for me. However, I quickly realized that human medicine wasn’t where my heart was. The pressure of trying to fit into a career that didn’t resonate with me made it harder to focus, and I was constantly questioning my choices. During this period of uncertainty, a simple comment from a friend shifted the course of my life, they said I should pursue veterinary medicine.

At the time, I wasn’t sure what veterinary medicine entailed beyond the basics, but when that friend suggested it a light bulb went off. I thought back to 2012 when my parents had given me a sun conure Brock, named after a character from Pokémon, and he became the light of my life. His cheerful personality and the way we connected on an emotional level was a reminder of my deep bond with animals. Everyone around me knew how much I adored Brock, and it clicked: I wanted to spend my life helping animals. The idea of becoming a veterinarian suddenly felt like an answer to a question I didn’t even know I was asking.

Brock, the sun conure (Image courtesy of Ashley Lall)

Once I discovered my passion for veterinary medicine, the next hurdle was convincing my parents to accept this decision. In a South Asian and Caribbean household, where success is often measured by achievements in more conventional professions, the idea of becoming a veterinarian was met with skepticism. My parents thought veterinary medicine wasn’t a “real” career in the way human medicine was because it wasn’t prestigious or financially stable to them. In their world, animals weren’t seen as deserving of the same level of attention and care as humans. The emotional and financial investment of pursuing such a career seemed illogical and impractical.

I felt the weight of their disappointment keenly because I wasn’t just fighting for my career choice—I was fighting for my sense of self. I wanted to honor my parents’ sacrifices and make them proud, but I also needed to follow my own passion. It was an emotional tug-of-war that sometimes left me feeling isolated.

There were many difficult conversations—arguments, tears, and countless attempts to explain why I felt so strongly about becoming a veterinarian. My mother, especially, couldn’t understand why I would choose to work with animals when human lives were at stake. “What about helping people?” she would ask. It took a long time to explain that my desire to help others wasn’t exclusive to humans. I loved animals deeply, and felt a profound sense of purpose in caring for them, especially at their most vulnerable.

Despite these challenges, I pressed on. The more I learned about veterinary medicine, the more I knew it was the right path for me. Eventually, my parents began to see the dedication and passion I had for animals. It wasn’t an overnight change, but slowly, they began to accept that it was okay for my path to be different. I learned to advocate for myself, to communicate my desires clearly, and to show my parents that my happiness and fulfillment were worth the risk of a less conventional career.

Becoming a veterinarian wasn’t just about the animals; it was about finding my voice as a daughter in an immigrant family, and as an individual who refused to let anyone else dictate her path. It was a long and difficult journey, but in the end, I found a career that gives me purpose and allowed me to bridge the gap between my cultural heritage and my personal passions.

Today, as I work toward becoming a veterinarian, I am proud of my path. I know being a first-generation South Asian and Caribbean woman in this field is no small feat, but I hope my journey will inspire others who feel torn by family expectations and their own dreams. It’s a hard road, but it’s a road worth walking if it means creating a life that is truly your own.

Ashley Lall is a 24-year-old first-generation New Yorker born to immigrant parents from Guyana. Lall is hearing impaired and currently attend veterinary school at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, with a passion for avian medicine. Her goal is to make a difference in animal care.