We asked wildlife vet Chloe Buiting to connect with her childhood, reflect on her teen years, and write a heartfelt letter offering advice and support to her 15-year-old self…
Fresh from veterinary school, passionate conservationist Dr Chloe Buiting headed for the frontline of Africa’s rhino-poaching crisis, going on to live and work in many other remote corners of the globe. Her first book, The Jungle Doctor, explores Chloe’s incredible work helping injured animals and inspires future generations to do the same.
DEAR PAST CHLO,
Oh, how things have changed. I doubt that you’ll believe me when I say this, but there really isn’t as much to worry about as you think. Right now, you are consumed with worry about friendships, fitting in, school, grades, what you’re going to do in the future, and liking your new home. It’s a lot, I know. You’ve just moved from Lord Howe Island – a tiny island off the coast of Sydney, filled with nature and wonder and freedom and your friends – to Canberra, where you know no one, but they all seem to know each other. You don’t feel like you fit in, you’re homesick, and it’s scary. Even a bit lonely, and it will probably stay that way for a few more years.
In fact, you’ve moved around a lot, and you’re starting to wonder if you’ll ever have those deep friendships everyone else around you seem to have. But I’m here to tell you that it’s OK and that one day, not too far off , you’ll find your place and you’ll know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. It’s not in school, and that’s OK, but it comes straight after, so just hang in there. Trust me.
As for what you’re going to do in the future, you’ll probably be surprised when I tell you you’re a vet. You really shouldn’t be surprised – you’ve wanted this as long as you can remember – but I know you have your doubts about if you’re good enough, if you’ll get the grades, if you’ll get a place at university… It all seems so hard right now, but the truth is that everyone is overwhelmed, just like you. It comes with the territory at this stage of life. Try not to compare yourself to others, not just now, but always. It’s advice that will serve you well if you can master it. It may seem like everyone else has their lives so ‘together’, but they’re all figuring it out too, and will be for a long time to come – even now!
One of the biggest things I wish I could tell you is that there are many ways to get to where you want to go, not just one. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.
And no, you won’t get that place at uni that you want right away, but it’s not the disaster you think it is. Instead, it will take you on a path filled with adventures beyond your wildest dreams. In fact, this reminds me of some advice we received around the age you are now: ‘don’t wish so hard for what you want, because you might just get it’. We didn’t really understand it at the time, but I can tell you now that it means it’s OK for your goals and dreams to change and develop over time. In fact, that’s part of growing up. Don’t see a change of direction as a failure, it’s not. It takes strength to know when what you want has changed, so don’t feel like you have to relentlessly pursue what you want at 15 – what we have now, after all, is much better!
So, with all this in mind, let me leave you with a few parting notes. Don’t worry as much as you do. You have so much to look forward to. Don’t try to be perfect, mistakes help to shape you, and very few are permanent or life-altering, so please refer again to point number one – worry less!
Don’t be so determined to stay on the path you think you want now, and certainly don’t close doors to other opportunities or avenues you think could make you happy, just because they’re different from what you thought they’d be. Finally, don’t wish to grow up so quickly. It is great being 31, but there’s also so much beauty in 15. Try to slow down and enjoy it. And at the risk of sounding like a dinosaur, wear sunscreen, there’s a reason people my age nag you about it!
LOVE ALWAYS,
CHLO FROM 2022 XOXO
