Career Life Connections 12: Post-Secondary TRANSITION Plan
CAREER: PLAN A
Career Choice A: Veterinarian
Me and my choices:
Consider:
❏ What do you enjoy about this
career choice?
❏ What sort of lifestyle can this
choice create for you?
❏ Why is this the best choice for
you?
Career Info that I have discovered…
Consider:
❏ Upsides/downsides of this
employment choice
❏ Job duties/ responsibilities
❏ Salary range
❏ Future outlook
❏ Lifestyle factors
❏ Advancement opportunities
Three employability skills I possess
that will support my plan:
Consider:
❏ Skills required for position.
❏ Personal attributes
Education needed to pursue my
plan:
Consider:
❏ Courses/training/ certificates
needed.
❏ Post-secondary requirements
I love animals and I would do anything in my power to help animals. Due to
all of the animals I have lost in my life, I decided that I wanted to become a
veterinarian to help animals and pet families with injured or sick pets.
There are many benefits to becoming a vet, such as health and dental
benefits, paid sick days and vacation, as well as helping animals in need.
While there are a lot of benefits, there are also some downsides as being a
vet is very physically draining, and there are possibilities of not being able
to help an animal.
Veterinarians try their best to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses and
diseases in animals, some including surgeries.
The salary for veterinarians in BC is around $100K-150K a year.
The expected growth rate of job openings is 20% in the next year.
The lifestyle of a veterinarian is different for everyone as there are different
times and shifts you can work. There are on-call shifts where you have to be
ready to go to work at all times, regular 9-5s, and some vets can make their
own schedule depending on where they work.
There are many different specialties to veterinarians that you can advance to
as well as advancing within a regular vet office.
1. I show empathy which all veterinarians should have as they are all
working with animals as well as pet owners. Vets need to show empathy to
reassure pet owners and to prove that you care about the animal you are
helping.
2. Due to growing up around animals, I can understand their body language,
which is critical for a veterinarian as they need to be able to tell how the
animal is feeling.
3.I work well with others which is a good trait for veterinarians to have as
they need to work with other doctors along with the owner.
2-3 years of pre-veterinary courses then 4 years of veterinary courses at a
vet school to get a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

Me and my choices:
Consider:
❏ What do you enjoy about this
career choice?
❏ What sort of lifestyle can this
choice create for you?
❏ Why is this another great
option for you?
Career Info that I have discovered…
Consider:
❏ Upsides/downsides of this
employment choice
❏ Job duties/ responsibilities
❏ Salary range
❏ Future outlook
❏ Lifestyle factors
❏ Advancement opportunities
Three employability skills I possess
that will support my plan:
Consider:
❏ Skills required for position
❏ Personal attributes
Education needed to pursue my
plan:
Consider:
❏ Courses/training/ certificates
needed
❏ Post-secondary requirements
POST-SECONDARY OPTION:
CAREER: PLAN B
Career Choice B: Nurse
I want to make a difference in the job that I choose, and I know that being a
nurse is hard work, however, it would be rewarding.
There are many benefits to being a nurse: there is paid sick and vacation
days, health and life insurance, retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement,
and being able to help others in need. While there are a lot of benefits, there
are also quite a few downsides, there is a lot of stress involved with the job,
irregular work hours, and it is very physically and mentally draining.
A nurse has many responsibilities such as assessing patients, administering
medication, observing and recording the patient’s vital signs, keeping a
detailed medical record, and many other jobs.
The salary is around $99331 per year in BC.
Nurses are in high demand; in the past two years the demand has jumped
36%.
There are many types of nurses and there are opportunities, such as more
schooling, to get to the type of nurse you want to be.
1. I have great communication skills which is beneficial for nurses as they
need to continuously be on top of everything and report back to the
doctors.
2. I show empathy, which is another critical skill to have as it reassures the
patient that they are in great hands and will get as much help as
possible.
3. I am patient, which is a great trait for nurses to have as they need to talk
to all types of people who may be slower than others or more difficult.
To become a nurse, you need 4 years of post-secondary school to get a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). You also need to take the
NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed nurse.
Name of First Choice: Second Choice:
University, College, University of Victoria University of British Columbia
or Institution

Name of Degree or Diploma Diploma

type of training you Faculty of Science Faculty of Science
will receive

Length of the 2 years 2 years

program

Price of Tuition for $7186 $7350

the first year

Approx. Cost of $1000 $1540

books/supplies for
the first year

Cost to live in $6462 $12000

Residence

Application Fee to $84.25 $116.25

apply to program

Application January 31, 2024 January 15, 2024

deadline

Academic  English 11 + 12  English 11 + 12

Requirements for  Pre-calculus 11 + 12  Language 11
program  Chemistry 11  Chemistry 11
 Physics 11  Physics 11
 Social studies 11/12  Pre-calculus 11 or Foundations 12
 Two approved science 12 classes  Pre-calculus 12
 Anatomy and physiology 12,
Chemistry 12, or Physics 12

Other possible  Dentist  Animal husbandry

occupations related  Medical professional  Animal care worker
to this type of  Pharmacist  Clinical research assistant
degree  Research and development  Cytogenic technologist
professional  Forensic laboratory analyst
 Government field scientist
 Health care administrator
 Lab technician
 Medical and clinical lab technologist
 Quality controller
 Science journalist
 Wildlife rehabilitator
 WORKING FULL-TIME & LIVING ON YOUR OWN

Projected employment: Animal Care Attendant Employer: BCSPCA

Income Monthly: Annually:

Hourly Wage/salary $3486 $41836

Income Tax $874 $10493

Subtract Income Tax from Income (A – B =) 3486-874 41836-10493

Net Income: $2612 $31344

Expenses:

Rent $1595 $19140

List the details of your rental accommodations:
 Location: Vancouver
 Bedrooms: 1
 Bathrooms: 1
 Square footage: 740
 Parking: Free
 Monthly rent: $1595

Utilities $187 $2244

 Electricity Included Included
 Water $100 $1200
 Cable / Internet = $287 = $3444

Food/Grocery $250 $3000

Car Insurance $0 $0

Fuel $0 $0

Car Repairs $0 $0

Compass Card (Transit) $100 $1200

Cell Phone $100 $1200

Clothing $20 $240

Entertainment $20 $240

Personal items $20 $240

Recreation / Sports / Gym membership $0 $0

Other 1x $20 $240

$20

Savings / Investments $100 $1200

Total Expenses $2512 $30144

Total Net Income MINUS Total Expenses $100 $1200

Reflection:
I will have to cut back on groceries, as well as internet and electricity if I need to save more, there is also a
possibility of having to move, if so, it would hopefully be to a smaller or cheaper place, possibly with roommates.
I will need to prioritize spending less as I only have $100 a month left after expenses which could be dangerous if I
end up needing more at some point. I would also most likely have to work more than 40 hours per week and try to
get overtime as well.
I would hope to save $100 a month meaning I would save $1200 a year. I would hope to also save any money that
was not used that month from extra expenses or what would be left over in general. In five years, I would hope to
still be saving that money, not touching any of it until it is needed, and same within ten years. Within ten years I
would only have saved around $12000, which is not very much to use for anything significant. I would hope that
within those ten years I would have gotten a raise or even looked for a better paying job over the years, which
would change the amount I can save each year.