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━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ❝ YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SORRY FOR LEAVING AND GROWINGUP. ❞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
TALIA PARKED HER CAR outside the Carver Café, spotting Kim already waiting by the entrance, leaning casually against her silver sedan. Kim waved her over, a bright smile lighting up her face.
"Hey, Talia! Ready to get your hands dirty?" Kim teased as Talia approached.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Talia replied with a grin. "Thanks for letting me tag along today."
"Are you kidding? You're going to love this program," Kim said as they got into her car. "The shelter's partnership with our schools is amazing. You'll get a little bit of everything—lectures, hands-on work, even some insights into the medical side of animal care. Plus, the team is super chill."
The drive to the shelter was filled with light conversation, Kim sharing stories about her time volunteering there and the various dogs and cats she'd helped care for. By the time they arrived, Talia was both nervous and excited.
The shelter was bustling with activity, volunteers moving in and out of the kennels with leashes, bowls, and grooming supplies. Kim led Talia inside, where she introduced her to a few team members—a mix of students from both schools—and the program coordinator, a tall, energetic woman named Evelyn.
"Kim, good to see you," Evelyn greeted warmly before turning to Talia. "And you must be the new recruit."
Talia nodded, extending her hand. "Hi, I'm Talia. Thanks for having me today."
Evelyn shook her hand with a firm grip, her smile encouraging. "Of course! Kim's been singing your praises already. She says you're interested in veterinary medicine?"
Talia's cheeks flushed as she nodded. "Yeah, that's the plan. I've always loved animals, and I'm really serious about becoming a vet."
"Well, you're in the right place," Evelyn said, crossing her arms. "We focus a lot on hands-on experience here. You'll be helping with feeding, grooming, and basic care, but we also sprinkle in some lectures—how to do X-rays, bandage wounds, administer medication, that kind of thing. If you're serious about your career, this could be a great start for you."
Kim jumped in, nudging Talia playfully. "She's already doing great, trust me. This'll just be another step."
Evelyn nodded thoughtfully. "Well, Talia, if you enjoy today, you should consider coming here more often. It's a great way to gain experience and make connections. We'd love to have you."
