A Dream in Motion: Spring Start in Animal Sciences
In sixth grade, she wrote a letter to her future self. In it, she declared that one day she would become a veterinarian.
Today, that promise feels closer than ever.
Taylor Neal, a first-generation college student from Bloomfield, Indiana, is majoring in animal sciences with a pre-veterinary concentration and plans to graduate in 2028.
Raised on her grandparents’ farm, Neal grew up surrounded by livestock and responsibility. Caring for animals was never just a chore. It was a calling. Choosing animal sciences felt natural because it combined her love for animals with the academic preparation needed for veterinary school.
“I’ve known since elementary school that I wanted to be a veterinarian,” Neal said. “Being here is helping me turn that goal into something real.”
Finding community and confidence
Beginning her college journey through Spring Start allowed Neal to grow into campus life with intention. She embraced every opportunity to learn, connect and lead.
“I pushed myself to get involved,” she said. “I joined clubs, became secretary of the reptile and amphibian club and connected with other pre-vet students. Now I truly feel at home.”
Neal is a member of the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Association and fermentation club. She served as a team leader for Boiler Gold Rush 2025 and will complete an internship with New Fashion Pork next summer. She works as an animal handler at Purdue’s Large Animal Hospital and is serving as a teaching assistant for ANSC 102 this spring.
“These experiences have made me want to keep learning and growing,” she said. “It’s only my second semester, and I already feel like I’ve built something meaningful here.”
Neal with calf during a lab class. 
Neal poses with Purdue Pete. 
Neal holds her pet snake and is secretary of the reptile and amphibian club at Purdue. Learning with purpose
The College of Agriculture’s Spring Start program allowed Neal to strengthen her connection to home. During the fall semester, she continued working with her hometown veterinary clinic, gaining hands-on experience while preparing for campus life to start in the spring.
“The time helped me grow professionally and personally,” she said. “It gave me confidence walking into college.”
She describes the Department of Animal Sciences as welcoming, diverse and deeply invested in student success. A place where the faculty truly wants you to succeed.
“College can be stressful, but this department is dedicated to helping each student reach their goals.”
Neal hopes to attend veterinary school and eventually become a veterinarian, continuing the lifelong passion that began on her grandparents’ farm.
Her advice for students considering Purdue Agriculture: “Step out and be active. There are so many opportunities here. If you take the leap, you will find your place.”
For Neal, that leap began with a letter to her younger self. Now, it continues with every class, every leadership role and every early morning at the hospital. Her dream is no longer something she once imagined. It is something she is actively building.
Featured Stories
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is thrilled to welcome Ozan Ciftci, a renowned...
Ryan Folk, an emerging leader in the world of plant evolutionary biology, has joined...
For the first time since June 2025, respondents in the August Purdue University/CME Group Ag...
Most parents want to encourage their child’s hobbies, signing them up for chess club,...
The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) has named Dan Quinn, assistant professor of agronomy in...
For Krishna Nemali and Stephen Meyers, both associate professors in the Department of...