Local Pursuits & Wordly Passions

Two BSCS students with a shared interest in animal health are getting early exposure to veterinary medicine through a weekly internship. As part of their Pursuits & Passions work, they are:

– Interning at Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital, under the mentorship of Dr. Sydney Desmarais and her staff, observing a wide range of clinical cases, from routine wellness exams and teeth cleanings to urgent situations, including a dog who had a run in with a porcupine!

– Gaining insight into medical decision-making, diagnostic procedures, and the communication skills required in a busy veterinary practice.

– Developing an early understanding of animal wellness, medical assessment, and the skills required for a future in veterinary medicine.

This experience gives students meaningful, real-world exposure to veterinary medicine, helping them build observation skills, curiosity, confidence, and an early understanding of what a medical profession looks like day to day. It allows them to explore emerging interests in an authentic setting and begin discovering where those interests might lead.

Beyond her shared veterinary experience, one 5th Grade student is pursuing her own focus:

– Creating and running her own dog-walking and pet-care business, building real-world skills in animal handling, responsibility, communication, client management, and entrepreneurship.

Why it matters:

This focus area blends hands-on responsibility with entrepreneurial learning, helping the student develop initiative, confidence, communication, and practical skills that support both personal growth and future exploration in animal health. These entrepreneurial skills are critical life skills she can carry into any future academic or career path.

Wellness Tools for Winter Athletes
A BSCS student is exploring the mental side of athletic performance through a personalized learning experience focused on sports psychology and mindset training. As part of her Pursuits & Passions work, she is:

– Working under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Czech, an internationally recognized sport psychologist who has coached collegiate, professional, and Olympic-level athletes across multiple sports.

– Designing a mental-performance toolkit for winter athletes, exploring practical strategies such as confidence routines, visualization techniques, performance cues, resilience-building habits, reflection practices, and recovery resets.

– Translating sport-psychology research and professional techniques into age-appropriate tools that support focus, consistency, and emotional regulation during training and competition.

This exploration helps students build confidence, focus, resilience, and self-awareness, the mental skills that drive high performance in any setting. By sharing these tools with the BSCS community, she is helping lead our culture of growth.