Peter Ricci

4th Year Student

I was born and bred in Perth. I come from a diverse background but have strong Italian ties with a very big and very close family and loving and supporting parents, brother and sister. I have lived on the same property my entire life in Wattleup, which was originally my grandparent’s. I have grown up around many animals; always having a menagerie at home. My brother and I have always been obsessed with animals and especially birds, even as children. We would never play video games; we were always doing something with animals. We still to this day have many strange and wonderful creatures that share our home with us.

After high school I applied for veterinary studies, but did not get in. Instead I started the biomedical science degree. I enjoyed what I was doing at uni, but had always wanted to be a vet. I applied again for veterinary and was successful. I have struggled with the studies and workload of this degree and have at times suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety, but I do believe that I will one day soon be a very successful vet.

What has been your most frightening experience at Vet School?
My most frightening experience in vet school would have to involve exams and waiting for results. There have been so many exams in my years at Murdoch, and every time the levels of stress, anxiety and self doubt honestly do scare the crap out of me. So much effort and so much time comes down to just a few hours of writing on a bit of paper.

What was your first Pet?
My grandparents and parents always had a number of animals when I was a kid, often giving a home to the unwanted and sick animals. The first animal that I could call my very own was my pet goat, Bubbles. I got Bubbles as a kid (baby goat)when I was 7 years old. I was pestering my parents to let me have a pig after watching the movie ‘Babe’. After some debate my parents agreed to get me a goat. Bubbles lived to be 17 years old and died last year at the beginning of my 4th year of veterinary study.

What has been the best part of going through Vet School?
There have been many good things going through the degree. I guess the best parts for me are all the little accomplishments along the way. Passing assignments, passing exams, learning and performing new procedures and surgeries, getting through semesters and years. Each day is a day closer to graduation.

What was it like being filmed for this documentary?
It has been very interesting and humbling being filmed for this documentary. It has been good to realise the accomplishments I have made, and heartening to know that in some way the friends and family I hold dear will be able to see and understand some of the things we have gone through.