By Whitney Baxter
Sharing her story made her realize she’s not the only one.
Sydney Paris (’22 animal science, microbiology) is a first-generation veterinary student. Her support system consists of her mom and aunt. As an Iowa State student, she was involved in many organizations and held several leadership roles, but funding her college journey has not always been easy.
“There’s some stigma around being a first-generation student or coming from a low-income background, and some students, including myself, sometimes feel a need to hide those identities,” Paris said. “That can be isolating and make you feel as if you’re the only one. But the more I started to talk to students, the more I realized there were others in similar situations.”
That is what prompted Paris to start the First-Generation Low-Income Veterinary Student Association (FiGLI VSA) at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she just began her fourth year. Believed to be the first organization of its kind, FiGLI VSA serves not just to bring together underrepresented veterinary students at Cornell, but also to build connections with practicing veterinarians who were once in their shoes.
The organization began one year ago with two officers and has expanded to nine officers and approximately 30 members. Activities include a monthly speaker series, professional development opportunities and community-building events. The group has also organized a scrub drive to provide access to the required clothing for vet students.
Paris hopes they can also create a fund to assist students experiencing financial hardships that may prevent them from completing their degree.
“I’m really proud of everything we’ve accomplished and hope to see it continue to find success and help students,” Paris said.
She encourages veterinary students – at Cornell or elsewhere – to reach out if they want to join the organization or attend the virtual speaker series by emailing figlivetstudents@gmail.com.
“If you’re feeling like you’re navigating this journey on your own, you’re more than welcome to reach out to me,” Paris said.
A foundation of support built at Iowa State
Paris takes inspiration from two individuals at Iowa State who helped her navigate her undergraduate college journey – Corey Welch and Howard Tyler.
Welch is the founder/director of the STEM Scholars Program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A goal for student participants is to equip them with the skills needed to go out into the world and make a positive impact on others, just as the STEM Scholars program did for them.
“This is the dream – she’s replicating this program to benefit fellow vet students,” Welch said. “I’m not surprised that she started FiGLI VSA, but I am surprised there isn’t any other program like it in the country. I’m really proud of what Sydney has done.”
Tyler, a retired professor of animal science and former assistant dean of student services in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is “one of those people who sees you for who you are,” Paris said.
“He was one of my biggest cheerleaders and helped me through life challenges that came up,” she said.
Tyler said Paris was known for her academic success and leadership at Iowa State, but what truly defined her was her grit and resilience.
“As she became more comfortable openly sharing her experiences, she became committed to helping others navigate similar challenges. She ultimately turned those difficult experiences into something extremely meaningful,” Tyler said. “She has created a community at Cornell that reflects her leadership, compassion and dedication to helping other first-generation and low-income students succeed while also encouraging openness, understanding and empathy among everyone involved.”
Guidance from Welch and Tyler, along with her involvement in several student organizations and research labs at Iowa State, gave Paris the foundation needed for veterinary school.
“Every single experience pushed me to become a better person and helped me learn what I wanted to do – and what I didn’t want to do,” Paris said.
And what she wants to do is provide access to low-cost veterinary care for underserved and low-income pet owners. Paris said these services are currently available in large cities, where existing clinics offer services on a sliding scale based on income, while other veterinarians volunteer their time outside their regular work hours to provide more affordable services to the community. She hopes to expand this affordable veterinary care to rural areas.
“It means a lot that this is a new area in veterinary care, and I’ll be able to help people care for their animals and keep them,” Paris said.