Student Success & Residency

Advice to a First Year

By Veronica Schuver 04.25.21

Student success can be defined differently by every student, but it is important to find a way that brings us fulfillment on this journey to becoming a doctor. For some students, it might mean making straight A’s, being able to go on mission trips and making a difference in underprivileged communities, making it through exam week, forming lifelong friendships, or just staying awake during an entire zoom lecture! Whatever your goal is, it is important to find happiness in the midst of all that optometry school entails. For the first years, you are having a very unique start to your optometry career, but I hope I can offer some guidance to ease the transition to studying in a professional program.  

For those wanting to be successful in the academic department, I would recommend making your own notes, working with other students when possible, talking to professors to see what areas you can improve on, and be flexible with your style of learning. I have had friends in first year who did not know what style of learning worked for them; they took everyone’s input and kept changing up their learning style, which only made them more confused. Your learning style may have changed after the first round of exams because you are not used to a certain professor’s style of teaching or the pace of the curriculum, and that is okay! I would just recommend trying to develop your own way and sticking to it. Even when I try to read someone else’s notes, I find it harder for me to understand because they are not my own. Talking to professors can also help you understand what areas to focus on. That way, you can utilize your time better when studying. They might seem intimidating at first, but they really are there to help you. My friends and I also like to quiz each other before exams, which is super helpful! My friends ask me questions I would have never thought of, and then we explain the answer when someone gets confused. You would be surprised at how talking it out helps you recall information better. Most importantly, it is okay to ask for a tutor. There is no shame in needing extra help. It is YOUR academic career, so do what you need to keep you on the road to getting that degree! 

With the pandemic going on, it is difficult for clubs to meet during a time where we need to be separated, but I would still recommend joining clubs and getting involved! It is a great segue into everything the optometry field has to offer and helps you find other students who are interested in the same specialty areas as you. Whether you want to go on mission trips, network, do sports vision, do low vision, or ANYTHING your heart desires…clubs are a great way to get you where you want to be when you reach the end of your academic career. You might not know what you want to specialize in or if you even want to specialize in anything, but clubs are a great way to help you figure that out and to also just have some fun doing optometry related things! 

Most importantly, try to not just focus on school work. I know school is very demanding of your time, but you still need a break. Find at least one friend to help you get through the day, especially since most of you go to school outside of your hometown and away from your family. I found that most people tend to be friends with the people in their labs because they have the same exact schedules, so if you are having trouble finding at least one person because you are shy like me, then I would start there! Your classmates are the only ones who will truly understand what you are going through. It is a comforting feeling knowing you are not the only one on the struggle bus sometimes. If you are shy like me, just think about all the new patients you will have to talk to on a daily basis. Talking to one person in your school is not as scary as talking to a bunch of strangers everyday, so believe in yourself and be the one to start the conversation. 

Good luck to everyone on the rest of the semester. You can do it! You are not alone in this. There are so many people in your class and in the school available to help you. As Michael Scott said, “I knew exactly what to do, but in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.” You know what it takes to get that degree, but sometimes you might feel lost and wonder if you made the right choice. Just take it one day at a time, and know you do not have to do it alone. Remember why you fell in love with optometry, and know your hard work will pay off one day. Enjoy the small moments and learn as much as you can because these are the days that will shape what kind of doctor you will become. I hope you stay safe and find success and happiness on your journey. 

Photo (Left to Right): Estefany Mendez, Alexandria Van Ells, Caroline Obermeier, Monica Carrizal (Me), Dr. Srihari Narayanan, Nicole Klesner, Breeanna Kelly, Sarah Duong 

Student Experience

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone: Optometry School Networking

By Veronica Schuver 04.25.21

Wake up. Make coffee. Watch lectures. Study. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Sound familiar? 

It’s easy to get caught in our daily routine as optometry students, and it’s even easier to forget that there is a world outside of optometry school especially when we get thrown in an online remote learning environment. Moreover, when we fixate so heavily on the goal of doing well in that class or mastering that clinical skill, we often forget one key ingredient in career advancement: networking.  

Networking can help you better understand the evolving profession, come up with new ideas and perspectives, and set you up for lifelong success. It can help you evaluate where you are, where you are going, and where you want to be. Furthermore, it can help you realize how much potential you really have under your belt. So why are we afraid to do so?  

Connecting with optometrists and other like-minded individuals early on in your career may seem like a daunting task, especially when you don’t know where to start. Nonetheless, pushing your own boundaries and taking risks allows you to learn more about yourself, gain knowledge and expertise in the field, and acquire skills you would not have had otherwise. Optometrists and other professionals you meet also can play pivotal roles in shaping your future and open doors that you never knew existed. 

If you don’t know where to start, start small. Spark up a conversation. Grab a cup of coffee with that person and connect over passions within or outside the field of optometry. Don’t be afraid to meet people and put yourself out there. Remember, they’re interested in optometry, too! Understand that networking is about creating relationships—not just adding names and phone numbers to your contact list. It involves connecting with others on a deeper level and continuing to grow the relationship over time. Know that networking does not come naturally for all people, so it may be a skill that you need to work on throughout your career.  

Still not sure where to start? Here are five ways to get you connected to others in the optometry community:  

  1. Reach out to your professors. Believe it or not, your professors want to see you succeed! Don’t be afraid to seek out a mentor—you may be pleasantly surprised to find that many, if not all of them, are kind people who enjoy getting to know their students. You will, after all, be their colleague one day. 
  1. Get involved in various optometry clubs and organizations. This is an excellent way to start meeting other optometry students with similar interests and work directly with faculty. AOSA, NOSA and CAOS are great places to start. You also can become a student member of professional associations for FREE including the AAO, COVD and NORA among others. 
  1. Attend conferences. Enjoy the benefits of being an optometry student by registering for conferences and annual meetings at student rates! If you are interested in a certain field of optometry, you are guaranteed to be surrounded by experts who would love to share their ideas and expertise. For those who are thinking of practicing in a different state, this also is a chance for you to connect with doctors from that area.  
  1. Connect with doctors and future doctors on Instagram. Social media isn’t going anywhere, so why not use it to your advantage? You’ll discover that the Instagram optometry community is a tight-knit community of optometrists helping optometrists and optometry students helping optometry students. Here, you can find study inspiration, experience the day-to-day life of an optometry resident, and even explore unique clinical cases. 
  1. Other avenues. Networking also will happen when you’re simply out and about living your life. Be open to the idea that someone you least expect can change your perspective, introduce you to new opportunities and, ultimately, help you become the optometrist you desire to be. Don’t limit yourself and remember that you are right where you are supposed to be. 
Student Experience

Evolving: Perspectives from a First Year Student

By Veronica Schuver 04.25.21

Let me start by telling you that these will be the best and most memorable four years of your life. Your studies will finally be focused on something that you are passionate about as you catch yourself saying, “Wow, that is so cool!” at least once during every lecture (at least, I did). You will be making lifelong friends who help make the journey a little easier. They’re the friends who can relate and understand what you are going through, who will remind you of deadlines, and who will be there when you need to vent, laugh or cry. There will be lots of fun experiences throughout as well as a ton of self-growth.  

As I’m sure you know, not everything is sunshine and rainbows as an optometry student. Halfway through my first year, I developed an anxiety disorder due to the excess pressure I was putting on myself to perform well in school. I kept telling myself that I need to become the best optometrist that I could be but, at the same time, I was questioning and sometimes doubting how I will even become a doctor. These thoughts made it difficult to focus on my schoolwork, and it also became difficult to enjoy time with my friends. Thankfully, my optometry school is very supportive about mental health and has provided us, since the beginning, with the resources we might require. I quickly took advantage of those resources, which have helped me tremendously. By listening to my body and acting quick, I was able to prevent my grades from dropping and enjoy what I was studying again.  

As you start your journey through optometry school, always make time for self-care. This is easier said than done as you will be incredibly busy with schoolwork and might forget from time to time to take care of your body. Set yourself a reminder if necessary or find a spot to fit it into your busy schedule. Whether it is meditating, exercising or a spa night, your body will thank you and you will most likely perform better on your exams and proficiencies. Keep in mind that putting a little pressure on yourself can be helpful, but don’t be too hard on yourself.  

Not only will optometry school teach you everything you need to know about eyeballs, but you will learn so much about yourself during your time as a student. So far, I’ve learned that I am much stronger than I thought I was and I am capable of handling big and unexpected obstacles that come my way. I also have  found ways in which I could keep myself calm during chaotic times.  

Something else I have come to realize is that I am not the only one going through personal struggles. I found that a lot of my classmates were going through the exact same thing, making me feel less alone. So, don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend and let them in on what’s going on. And don’t forget, your professors and faculty members are some of your biggest supporters. They want you to succeed and, though we are listening to them lecturing most of the time, they are great listeners, too.  

I hope I was able to give you insight with my experience during my first year as an optometry student. You are all going to be amazing doctors and help so many people. I am already proud of you all!