ABSTRACT
When asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my response was always “A veterinarian.” If you liked animals, this was the go-to career choice. Fast forward to today, I coordinate the Pet Assisted Therapy (PAT) program at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS/SPCA) and am a licensed psychologist in private practice. My career in human animal interaction (HAI) can be explained by the Happenstance Learning Theory, where “the career destiny of each individual cannot be predicted in advance, but is a function of countless planned and unplanned learning experiences beginning at birth” (Krumboltz, 2009). My dissertation adviser developed this theory, and it reflects my career journey and will likely reflect yours.
