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For all of you optometry student hopefuls reading this: If you are like me, then you are currently scouring the internet for any and all information that you can find on optometry school, what to expect, what it’s like, how to improve your application, etc. While it may not be what you are looking for at the moment, I hope I provide you with some valuable tidbits on how to find success in the program. I have compiled a list of resources that I believe will assist you in your optometric journey and I encourage you to use all of them.  

1. Use your peers.There is an entire class of people who are learning the exact same content at the exact same time as you. Working together, sharing resources, giving and receiving advice and encouragement—these things will help you immensely as you grow together throughout the program. The friends I’ve made in optometry school are some the best friends I’ve ever made, and I wish nothing less for any of you. 
2. Use the upper years.They have been through what you are going through, they have struggled with what you are struggling with and you have the advantage to learn from their experience. The best part about it is that they want to help! One day we will all be colleagues and will all be representing the wonderful profession that is optometry.   
3. Use your profs.Believe it or not, they, too, have gone through what you are going through, and they wish nothing more than to see you succeed. The professors I have met in optometry school are some of the most understanding and compassionate people. Ask them questions, attend office hours, arrange meetings—anything that you think will help you. If you are unsure of something, they will be more than willing to clarify it for you and help you gain a deeper level of understanding on the topic.  
4. Lastly, use your time.I am the king of procrastination and have very poor study habits, so trust me, this is a lesson I had to learn the hard way. Review your notes daily, discuss the material with your peers, and if you have a spare minute don’t convince yourself you’ll do “it” later, whatever it may be, because no you won’t. Also, all of the time you will spend in the pre-clinic is a gift; make sure you capitalize on it. I can’t speak for each school, but at my school the pandemic severely limited our opportunities to practice and time in the pre-clinic is not something I will take for granted. If you get the chance to practice, use it. 

Optometry school is not a smooth ride to the finish line. I wish I could tell you it is. I wish I could say it is like driving a Tesla down a freshly paved highway, but a more accurate depiction would be like sitting in the back of a school bus on the pothole-ridden streets of Winnipeg (go Jets!). However, while there may be a lot of bumps on your journey, at least you will have some good friends beside you along the way.