STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Nikki Peterkovic, Veterinary Assistant
- Miguel Rivera
- Jul 25, 2014
- 2 min read
As an immigrant refugee from a war-stricken country, the odds were stacked against Nikki Peterkovic but this hardworking student didn’t let that get her down. After immigrating to the U.S. from Bosnia, Nikki graduated from the College of DuPage’s Veterinary Assistant training program as the first step towards pursuing her dream of owning an exotic animal wildlife center.
Nikki, who is a studying biology at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, has had a love of animals her whole life. Her father, a former veterinarian for farm animals in Bosnia, instilled a love for animals in her at a very young age. In fact, Nikki’s first word was “dog!”
“When I came here, I was really different, and no kid wants to be different. I loved animals because they loved me - they didn’t judge, they were always there for me.”
Despite her excitement, the ardent animal lover was nervous to take this class. “I didn’t know what to expect, I thought I couldn’t do this but MK Education was so helpful. Initially, they guided me through every step and eventually, really showed me how to do things on my own. They even answered the phone when I got lost on my first day of class and spoke to me until I found the place! Everything they did was very encouraging.”
After completing her externship at Naperville Animal Hospital, Nikki accepted a position at the clinic as a veterinary assistant. She said the knowledge she gained in the class has helped her tremendously through her externship and now, her job.
“At the clinic, people are allowed to do the externship without taking a class but I don’t know they could do it! I was able to immediately assist the staff there and they were very impressed by how much I already knew. From my first week, I was given more responsibility than the other externs and I got a job offer before my externship ended.”
She gives her instructor, Christy Langwell-Millett, some credit for this. “I really enjoyed her teaching style and I learned so much from her. Christy was very approachable and made the class feel like a family. If she didn’t know the answer to one of our questions, she would find out!”
Nikki’s early success is a vital stepping stone in her journey. “I’ve always known I want to help animals. Running a wildlife clinic is my ultimate dream. No matter what I do, I know this class was a great step in the right direction. I’ve learned so much!”
She is one of many MK graduates that has received a job at their externship location. In fact, employers that have had students of MK Education in the past reach out to companies to ask for graduates.
To future students, Nikki advises them to not be intimidated or nervous about taking the program. “MK Education provides a great support team, the genuinely care about the success of all their students. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in the veterinary field!”
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