“I’m incredibly happy to have been accepted to the University because I believe in the future of the veterinary profession, and I know that all those years of studying will pay off. It takes some time to figure out how to study certain subjects, but compared to the first semester, I can already see I’m improving,” says Dorina Szopkó, a second-year veterinary student and Marek Scholarship recipient. I interviewed her on the occasion of her appointment as the student secretary of this year’s Student Research Societies Conference. Here’s an excerpt from the conversation.
GUSZTÁV BALÁZS
How did you feel about taking on the secretary role?
Thank you, I felt great. The request came through mutual acquaintances, from my predecessor, Klaudia Mátyási. I thought this position would be an excellent opportunity to get a glimpse into research. I also want to write a research paper for the Student Societies someday. My fellow students discussed topics that interest me, which could even inspire my future choices. For instance, Werner Bouwer wrote about The Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy on the Main Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Horses. I’d love to continue this research!
Could you tell us about your family and childhood?
I was born in Ajak, a small town at the meeting point of the Rétköz and Nyírség regions in Szabolcs County. Though it has a population of 3,200 and holds city status, I’ll always think of it as a village. It’s a quiet, lovely place not far from Kisvárda. My mother is a Hungarian language teacher at the local primary school, and my father primarily works in crop production, but we don’t have any livestock, unfortunately. I have two sisters; they both work already. I attended primary school in my hometown from first to eighth grade. I was a good student and participated in many competitions, sometimes with four or five other classmates representing our town.
How did you develop an interest in veterinary medicine?
I’ve loved animals since childhood. Anything alive I found, I brought home. I dreamed of having lots of animals and treating them myself. At the time, I didn’t know anything about veterinary work. My commitment to animals is evident from the fact that I’ve been riding horses since I was ten.
Who was the brave soul who first put the even braver little girl on a horse?
I think I must have been pestering my parents enough for them to finally let me. Apart from dogs and cats, we didn’t have other pets, not even at my grandparents’ homes. My mother is inherently afraid of animals, so she still doesn’t fully approve of this hobby, but I’m unstoppable. I still often visit the riding school in Petneháza, and we sometimes go trail riding, too. This riding school is closer to my mother’s birthplace, surrounded by large forests, where we enjoy walking on dirt roads together. Naturally, I’ve also tried riding and carriage driving at the University’s Dóra Training Farm during my first-year practical classes.
Where did you attend secondary school?
I studied at the Bessenyei György High School and College in Kisvárda. When deciding on a high school program, I hesitated between an English or a science specialization. While wrecking my brain, it struck me how much I loved animals and wanted to work with them since I was a child. I made my decision and, fortunately, was admitted to the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest on my first attempt. I should mention that students from Bessenyei have enrolled in my year, as well as in the years above and below me.
What kind of veterinarian do you envision yourself in the future?
After earning my degree, I’d like to specialize in treating horses or large livestock. Regardless of receiving the Marek Scholarship, my primary interest lies in livestock. I want to continue being involved with horses beyond my professional work; either as a hobby rider or by establishing a breeding stable, though that’s still a dream for a distant future.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not in the saddle?
During the COVID restrictions, I fell in love with photography and bought my first camera. I enjoy photographing nature, especially birds and flowers. When it comes to capturing the images of birds, I find hideouts near feeders and wait until something shows up…I love reading, too. Unfortunately, I have less and less time to read freely chosen books, since the professional materials have a priority. When I really get my mind to it, though, I can read books with up to 200 pages in a day. When? For example, when I am travelling by train home or back to the campus. It’s the easiest and most productive way to pass the 4-hour journey, including a transfer in Nyíregyháza.