My first year of optometry school has been, in a word, transformative and I'd love to share some of the most important lessons I've learned.
These lessons center on finding your balance, seeking joy in the present moment, and realizing that you're more capable than you can ever imagine. Each of these insights has played a crucial role in not only helping me navigate the challenges of optometry school, but also in enriching my overall experience and well-being.
The Importance of Finding Your Balance
If someone asked me to summarize the key to happiness in optometry school using one word, I would answer, “balance.” And I use the word “happiness” instead of “success” very intentionally, because I’ve learned this past year that you can be successful without being happy, but if you're happy, you'll be successful in a much more meaningful way. When you find joy in the process of what you’re doing, your success isn't just about reaching goals; it's about enjoying the journey and living a balanced, fulfilling life.
So, what exactly are we trying to balance? Last year, I found myself focusing on balancing two main things: The Big Picture vs. The Details, and Performance vs. Recovery.
1. The Big Picture vs The Details
I am a very detail-oriented person. Most of the time, this serves me well - other times, I’ve become lost in the details and ended up overwhelmed and completely paralyzed. I’ve met others who are visionaries - they often have grand ideas and a clear sense of direction but struggle with the practical steps needed to bring their vision to fruition. I’ve learned that during optometry school, a balance of these traits will help you accomplish what you want to accomplish without missing the forest for the trees.
So, how do we practically achieve this balance? First, determine your priorities for the big picture. Ask yourself, “What are the most important parts for what it is that I am trying to achieve?” Then, find out what details you actually need to achieve your goals.
One way I like to visualize this concept is by likening achieving a goal to crossing a bridge, where each plank represents a task to be performed. By prioritizing and carefully placing the strongest planks first, you ensure the bridge is stable and can support your journey. If you focus on less critical planks or neglect to secure them properly, you risk gaps that can make the crossing precarious or even impossible. Therefore, placing each plank with purpose and attention to detail builds a reliable path to your destination.
Having this mindset not only helps you accomplish the things that are important to you, it also helps you leave behind what doesn’t serve you or your goals. For instance, if you are feeling discouraged because you failed a proficiency worth 2% of your grade, you can ask yourself, “Is this a critical plank? Does failing this one proficiency mean I won’t achieve my goal?” Answer: it doesn’t. By balancing the details against the big picture, you can keep moving forward toward your goals, academic and otherwise.
2. Performance vs. Recovery
Prior to starting optometry school, I used to go through the academic year believing that rest was for the weak and that every waking moment not spent studying meant that I was wasting time. At one point, I couldn’t even remember the last time I had a meal that wasn’t eaten while working in front of my laptop. I was chronically stressed, incredibly anxious, and exhausted all the time.
Back then, I didn’t know there was a word for what I was going through, but I do now: I was experiencing burnout. It took me the better part of six months to recover from my burnout, and I entered optometry school acutely aware that it would happen again if I continued to prioritize my performance in school over my well-being.
The first thing I had to change was my mindset surrounding rest. Rest isn't the opposite of work; it's an essential part of it. Just like a car engine requires regular maintenance to function optimally, our minds and bodies need rest to perform at their best. By prioritizing rest as part of our routines, we recharge our energy, enhance our focus, and ultimately improve our productivity and efficiency. Rest isn't just a break from work; it's a crucial component that supports and sustains our ability to work effectively.
Maintaining a delicate balance between performing well in school and protecting your mental health is crucial, as the two are deeply interdependent. A practical way to achieve this balance is by creating a sustainable routine that nurtures both your academic goals and mental health and by listening to your body and mind when they need rest. By doing so, you build a foundation where academic success and mental well-being reinforce each other, leading to your optometry school journey being more fulfilling and productive.
Seek Joy In the Present Moment
Optometry school is rigorous. Your first quarter, you will have one exam per week as well as three total clinical skills proficiencies. By your spring quarter, you will have worked up to two exams and one proficiency per week. Given this pace, it's understandable that many students find themselves thinking, “I just need to get to the next day, the next weekend, the end of this quarter.”
I think this mindset has its time and place - when things get hard, it makes sense to focus on just putting one foot in front of the other and approaching life in manageable steps. But I also think that chronically being in this mindset is a recipe to letting life pass you by on the road to burnout.
We can challenge this mindset by intentionally seeking joy in the present moment, instead of postponing it to a “more convenient” time. This can look like:
- Going for a short walk every morning to enjoy the sunlight and fresh air
- Meeting up at a cute cafe to study with your friends in a novel environment
- Treating yourself to something nice after an exam or proficiency to celebrate your effort, regardless of the outcome
- Decorating your desk with things that make you happy - like pictures, merch, etc.
- Keeping in mind that while you’re sitting in lecture, studying for a difficult exam, or worrying about a proficiency, you’re making steps toward becoming an optometrist - your dreams are coming true!
By seeking joy in the present moment, you romanticize and get to enjoy the journey of optometry school itself instead of just dragging yourself the whole four years to graduation.
You are Capable of More Than You Can Ever Imagine
In the previous section, I told you what kind of workload you can expect in your first year of optometry school. I remember hearing that information for the first time and being absolutely terrified. I wondered if I could pass all those classes and stay in the program, let alone excel in them. If I could travel back in time to one year ago, I would tell myself, “You will be okay. You are capable of more than you can ever imagine.”
I understand that words aren’t always convincing - even if I had heard these words, I probably wouldn’t have believed them until I had seen some tangible proof that they were true. If you’re feeling similarly unconvinced, that’s okay - let me offer you the first piece of tangible proof that you are capable of doing well in optometry school and that you belong here.
At $51,200 per year, it costs a little over $200,000 in tuition to attend the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO). Once the class roster is final, no new students may be admitted to the class. In other words, if a student drops out of the program, that $200,000 seat can never be filled and the school loses whatever tuition that student would have paid had they remained in the program. When you were admitted to this program, it means that a team of experts reviewed your grades and test scores, read the essays you wrote, were impressed during their interview with you and were willing to bet $200,000 that you are capable of finishing the program and becoming an optometrist. SCCO has already given you a $200,000 vote of confidence. This alone is objective proof that you are capable and that you belong at SCCO.
Let that sink in.
And on top of that, once you start school, you will have access to fantastic faculty, peers with similar mindsets and goals, and upperclassmen that understand exactly what you’re going through, have survived it, and will help you through it. Remind yourself that you are never alone or doing this by yourself. You have excellent resources available to you - use them to support yourself and to accomplish things you didn’t think were possible.
All this being said, it's perfectly okay if you still feel anxious coming into optometry school - most students are. Feeling nervous doesn't mean you won't be able to excel in optometry school. In fact, pushing through despite the fear is the very definition of courage. In the act of confronting our fears, we tap into our skills and resourcefulness, proving to ourselves that we are capable of doing hard things. By the time you finish your first year of optometry school, you will be in awe of all you have accomplished. Optometry school is tough, but so are you.
Finding your balance, seeking joy in the present moment, and remembering that you're more capable than you can ever imagine are key to thriving in optometry school. By managing the demands of your studies and personal life, you create a sustainable pace that supports both your academic and personal well-being. Embracing each moment and finding joy in your journey ensures that you experience fulfillment, not just at milestones, but throughout the entire process. Trusting in your capabilities builds confidence and resilience, empowering you to face challenges head-on. Together, these practices foster a sense of happiness and accomplishment, making your time in optometry school both rewarding and enjoyable.