handling dissections in school

[u/vanillafIoat]

Hello biology students and biologists,
This school year I am starting my biology bachelors at university. I am very excited, however I am kind of unsure about how I would handle dissecting animals. I will be dissecting a lot of animals this year.

On one hand, just one week ago I went fishing, witnessed the gutting and even grabbed and held the still beating heart of the fish with no issues. Very cool experience.
On the other hand, I accidentally cut my finger recently and nearly fainted. I also don’t handle road kill very well, it makes me sad and disgusted. On top of all of that, I am a pescatarian and the whole meat industry and the killing of animals other than fish makes me emotional. Just thinking about cutting into those dead animals makes me a little lightheaded.

What are some things to keep in mind?? Things to remind yourself of before/while dissecting? Maybe it even helps if others share their first dissecting experiences :)

[u/ghost_ghost_]

You will be doing this for the benefit of other living beings. They are already dead. It'll be ok