In veterinary school, many of us believed something simple:
The smartest students will become the most successful veterinarians.
But research over the past three decades tells a different story.
Academic intelligence alone does not determine who thrives in life, career, or leadership. What truly predicts long-term success is something deeper: perseverance, discipline, resilience, and the ability to keep going when things get hard.
In other words, grit.
And if there is one profession where grit matters more than raw intelligence, it is veterinary medicine.
The Valedictorian Surprise
A famous long-term study followed high school valedictorians for 14 years after graduation.
Most went on to have stable and respectable careers—lawyers, doctors, professors, engineers. They were successful in traditional institutions. But very few became the disruptive innovators, entrepreneurs, or industry leaders people expected.
The conclusion was clear:
Being academically brilliant does not automatically translate to exceptional life success.
Grades show intelligence.
But success requires something else.
The Power of Non-Cognitive Skills
Economist James Heckman’s research showed that non-cognitive skills—traits like persistence, discipline, motivation, and social behavior—play a major role in career outcomes and earnings.
These traits influence job performance, income, leadership potential, and career stability. Sometimes even more than cognitive ability.
For veterinarians, this makes perfect sense. Because veterinary medicine is not an exam. It is a lifelong marathon.
The Science of Grit
Psychologist Angela Duckworth defined grit as “perseverance and passion for long-term goals.”
Her research found that people who succeed in demanding environments, West Point cadets, elite athletes, high-level professionals, are not necessarily the most talented. They are the ones who refuse to quit.
Talent may open the door.
But grit is what keeps you in the room.
The Veterinary Reality
Every veterinarian knows this truth firsthand.
Our profession is full of challenges that intelligence alone cannot solve:
- Sleepless nights during critical cases
- Angry clients who misunderstand you
- Financial pressure while building a clinic
- Emotional fatigue from euthanasia
- Failed treatments despite your best effort
In those moments, grades no longer matter. What matters is character.
The veterinarian who survives and grows is usually not the smartest in the room. It is the one who keeps studying after graduation, learns from mistakes, shows up after difficult days, and continues caring even when it hurts.
That is grit.
The Quiet Advantage of Veterinarians
Here is something beautiful about our profession: veterinarians naturally develop grit.
Every case teaches patience.
Every failure builds resilience.
Every recovery reminds us why we started.
Over time, the profession shapes our character—not just our knowledge.
The Real Measure of Success
Ask young vets what determines success, and many will say: high grades, top schools, board certifications.
But ask veterinarians who have been practicing for 20 years, and the answer changes.
They will tell you success comes from discipline, consistency, emotional strength, and perseverance.
Because in the end, veterinary medicine is not a test of intelligence. It is a test of endurance.
A Message to Young Veterinarians
If you were not the top of your class, do not worry.
Some of the greatest veterinarians in the world were never valedictorians. But they had something stronger: the ability to keep going.
In this profession, the ones who last are the ones who stay passionate about helping animals and serving people—year after year, case after case.
That is the real secret.
Not genius.
Grit.
Sources
- Arnold, K. (1995). Lives of Promise: What Becomes of High School Valedictorians.
- Heckman, J., Stixrud, J., & Urzua, S. (2006). The Effects of Cognitive and Noncognitive Abilities on Labor Market Outcomes.
- Heckman, J. (2011). The Economics of Inequality: The Value of Early Childhood Education.
- Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
- Duckworth, A., Peterson, C., Matthews, M., & Kelly, D. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals.
- Park, D. et al. Research on grit and achievement outcomes.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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