• Current Scholars
• Alumni
• Dream Big
• Scholar Travels
• Scholar Art & Music
• Scholar Stories
• The Scholar Experience

Mickey Rydzak

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: When asked to pinpoint her top memories as a Scholar, Mickey Rydzak simply said:  “Wow. I’m not really sure how to begin reflecting on my Young Scholar experience. This program, and the people connected with it, has helped me to dream big dreams and to plan and work toward achieving them.” Much of her summer studies involved reinforcing her dream of becoming a veterinarian and preparing for that effort.  In particular Mickey traveled to Ithaca, New York and spent several weeks studying at Cornell University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. 

Profile: A brilliant student, Mickey is bound for Music City (Nashville) and pre-veterinary studies at Vanderbilt University.  The young lady with a love for animals and agriculture hails from Pleasanton in Texas, just south of San Antonio.  Active in several high school clubs, community service organizations as well a longstanding member of the 4-H, there was never any doubt in Mickey’s mind what she would do with her life.  It all comes back to an “orphaned opossum” that her father found when she was only four years old. The young future vet bottle fed the marsupial and researched how to care for it.  “This was not a cute animal by most people's standards but I really loved it,” said Mickey. “I learned all about it and took it to various groups where I taught other kids about opossums.”  That was one lucky opossum. 

Inspiration: To Mickey the term “nerdlette” is a term of endearment pinned on her and others by her third grade teacher, Mary Zinda her all-time favorite teacher. Best to let Mickey explain:  “Mrs. Zinda had an excitement for teaching that translated into a love of learning for every student she taught. She called us her little nerdlettes then and still recognizes each of us and calls us her big nerdlettes now. She believed that you can have fun and learn something from everything that you encounter in life.” 

Aspiration: Following graduation from Vanderbilt, Mickey hopes to be accepted at a veterinary school in the US. 

Making a Difference: Mickey is active with an organization called Leading Eagles Against Drugs, mentors high school freshmen, and each Thanksgiving volunteers at the community dinner.  On a personal level, she is most proud of placing a lamb first at a major livestock show.  “This had been a goal of mine since I had started showing sheep nine years ago. However, I learned a lot more from the journey than I did from reaching the goal. I learned the importance of hard work and perseverance. I learned you have control of some things but not of others. Most importantly, I learned that the motivation for doing your best should come from within and not from the opinions of others.” 

Accolades: It would probably be easier to list the awards Mickey didn’t win, rather than the ones she earned.  But here is a partial list of her honors:  National Merit Finalist; 1st place Texas State Veterinary Science Skillathon; 1^st place Star of Texas Livestock Show (Finewool Cross Lamb); 2nd Place Texas Lamb Breeders Association (Sheep Skillathon); and Texas State Fair, 2^nd place Architectural Photography Contest.

Interesting Fact: If Mickey were to say that she learned everything she needed to know about life from the lambs she raised, she would not be far from the truth.  From her lambs Mickey has learned to enjoy the little things in life, to eat slower, and to treasure companionship – all things that lambs do (or shouldn’t do in the case of eating too fast).  “These may seem like simple things, but life doesn’t have to be complicated for me to be happy and successful,” said Mickey.

Other Scholars Like Mickey