Jenna Y.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jenna's journey to veterinary medicine began when she moved to California to pursue a Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Santa Clara University. Despite her initial focus on chemistry, Jenna's academic interests expanded, leading her to graduate with double majors in biochemistry and English and a minor in biology. Her academic excellence was recognized with her induction into the English Honors Society Sigma Tau Delta, and she cherishes her time as an active member of Rho Psi Eta, a pre-health sorority.

Jenna's passion for veterinary medicine is deeply personal. It stems from her experience with her beloved dachshund, Lucy, who suffered from Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD). The years of care, therapy, and support that followed Lucy's emergency surgery reinforced her commitment to animal welfare and veterinary medicine. 

Throughout her education, Jenna has gained diverse experience through volunteer work at animal shelters in Honolulu and Santa Clara, a small animal GP/Rehabilitation clinic, and a high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter clinic. She has also accumulated approximately six years of combined full-time experience working as a kennel and veterinary assistant at a small animal and exotics ER/GP. In these roles, Jenna has had the opportunity to work with a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, guinea pigs, rats, turtles, and chameleons. She is committed to continuing her work with all types of animals throughout her veterinary career.

Jenna also served as a Health Professions Peer Advisor, where she was part of an Advisory Committee to revamp her university's pre-health advising system. As the Veterinary Representative, she shared her experiences as a pre-vet student and guided them through the VMCAS application processes. Over the years, Jenna worked with numerous vet school candidates, reviewing their application essays and resumes while helping them target schools that aligned with their goals. She takes pride in her ability to recognize and highlight the qualities of each applicant, making the application process more seamless and effective.

Jenna’s core aspirations as an admissions counselor align closely with her personal and professional values. She approaches each relationship with an abundance of empathy and kindness. Having experienced the immense stress of applying to veterinary school herself, Jenna is dedicated to helping her mentees navigate that same process. She wants them to know that, though she now sits on the other side of the table, she and every other applicant were once in their position, and it’s completely natural to feel nervous. Jenna wants you to know that she’s on your team!