Congratulations on getting into optometry school!
Here's a few tips that help me navigate the rollercoaster school can be.
1. Don’t let the high get too high or the lows too low
This is a tip I’ve seen several professional athletes talk about in interviews. You’re about to embark on four years of optometry school and it’s quite easy to treat it like a sprint, especially with weekly exams. And while the weeks do fly by, I think it’s more of a marathon. You will get good grades and you'll probably get grades you didn't want. But with the rapid pace, staying even keeled with help you.
Even though emotions are fleeting, it’s hard not to get caught up in a moment. So, when good grades come, celebrate your excellent work but ground yourself in your next task. Similarly, when bad grades come, constructively figure out how to improve to come back to that grounded state. This isn’t to diminish the excitement or disappointment of these moments, but to help you keep moving forward.
2. Don’t let others be your benchmark of success
There’s a difference between comparison and learning from others. Learning from others has a more collaborative tone, where you’re able to try and apply another person’s advice in your life. Comparison usually leads to no fruit and leaves a bad taste when left to fester. >
Your success is not contingent on doing better than another. And the opposite is just as true: your dips do not make another person’s success. Be able to learn from others but do not think that just because someone is getting higher marks, their methods are the only ones that work. We are all unique people with unique strengths. Different people will benefit from different tactics.
It's always easier said than done, but finding inward contentment and an inward sense of accomplishment will be more satisfying than comparing to your neighbor.
3. Find time to rest and enjoy life!
School is intense and you’ll learn how to implement your best study strategies to make it through. But giving your best effort all the time can take a toll too. Making time to rest will be just as important as those study skills. And rest can take many different forms. It may look like spending time with friends, talking to your family, spending time in your faith, watching your favorite show, going for a hike, and so many other ways. Carve out those spaces for you to recharge and connect with activities and people outside of optometry.