Custer Grad Enjoying Vet Career Down Under

Name of Alumnus
Taren Jones

When were you in HOSA?
2016

Did you hold an officer position? If so, which one.
No, I did not. I was just a member due to traveling to New Zealand for a high school study abroad.

What chapter?
Custer High School South Dakota

Where do/did you go to college?
I took a bit of a different route than the average American student. I did my first year of university at South Dakota State University and then move to New Zealand where I finished my degree at Massey University

What is/was your major?
Veterinary Medicine

What advice would you give HS students in HOSA today?
My advice would be to try to seize every opportunity that is offered to you, even if it scares you. These are the memories and friends that you will remember 10 years down the road.

How did HOSA help you get to where you are today?
HOSA gave the confidence to believe in myself and encourage me to take big leaps towards my career.

What are you doing now?
I am currently living at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand and working at a rural practice as a mixed animal veterinarian. I'm mainly a dairy veterinarian but get to work with a wide range of animals including sheep, deer, cattle, dogs, cats, and many more. This career is not for the faint of heart but is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling job.