When I grow up, I want to be an optometrist? (and an ode to ancient gas stations)
Deciding which career to enter is a major decision in life. Some people seem to know exactly what they want since they were kids, whereas some have no idea. It’s a discussion that deserves a lot of thought, time, and research. For me, the confusing point was in high school when I realized that all of my options were wide open, I had to make some choices. I know if the InSight program was available when I was in undergrad, I would have been eager to participate.
Pacific has created the InSight program for college students that want to learn more about the profession about optometry. More specifically, it aims to introduce underrepresented minority students to every aspect of the career possible. They spend three days living on campus with their schedules packed full of workshops, case conferences, and social events to help the students explore if a career in optometry is right for them.
This year I had the privilege of meeting and working with the InSight students, we had a fantastic time that I will never forget. Here is one of my pictures of the weekend, with most of the InSight-ers:
There are a few current optometry students in that photo as well; they volunteered to stay in the dorms for the duration of the program, kind of like RA’s. This picture is from our last scheduled event of the program, dinner and a cruise down the Willamette River in Portland. It was a fun event for us all to get dressed up and have some fun before everyone’s flights out the next day. It was definitely a cool summer night but the rain stayed away for us.
I began to think of all of the events that had occurred since the first day the InSight-ers arrived on campus. Thankfully everyone was wearing their nametags the first morning as we met for breakfast and to kick off the program. There were some locals from Oregon and many students from further away including Florida, New Jersey, and Missouri. Now I look at the photo above and have no trouble naming every face. By the end of our cruise, the skies were dark and we watched the lights of the city and Portland’s many bridges turn on.
The students participated in so many activities throughout their time with us. One of the first ones which I had the privilege of being involved in was a tour with the Student Ambassadors for the optometry program. This was one of several chances to talk with current optometry students about their experiences with school so far, getting advice on everything from the application process to how we settled on which school we wanted to get our OD (Doctor of Optometry) from. We visited the Procedures Lab in Jefferson Hall (the optometry building) to have an introduction to a few pieces of equipment optometrists use on a daily basis. I showed my group how to use a Slit Lamp (which is basically a giant intricate microscope) to examine a few structures in their eyes. With a volunteer patient and the teaching tube (an attachment that lets two people look at the same thing) in place, I helped them look at the details on the iris, lens, and cornea (the front clear part of your eye). In your first year of optometry school you will become masters at using the slit lamp for many procedures.
The rest of the days and evenings were full of guest lecturers, presentations (example Sports Vision), career planning, and one-on-one sessions with our admissions director, Janelle. I wish I had been able to follow everyone around with a camera to document every moment, but as a third year, we’re in class and clinic throughout the summer. One unscheduled stop where I did have my camera was at the old school gas station in FoGro.
Now, in Oregon, self service gas stations don't exist. I was told that the state enforced full service stations at one point to stimulate jobs in the economy, and it has been that way ever since. So, returning late at night from our dinner cruise in Portland, the rented shuttle vans needed to be refuelled before we returned them to the lot. Naturally, the normal gas stations were closed for the evening and we had to head to the only 24 hour, by membership only, self serve station.
Now, in Oregon, self service gas stations don't exist. I was told that the state enforced full service stations at one point to stimulate jobs in the economy, and it has been that way ever since. So, returning late at night from our dinner cruise in Portland, the rented shuttle vans needed to be refuelled before we returned them to the lot. Naturally, the normal gas stations were closed for the evening and we had to head to the only 24 hour, by membership only, self serve station.
I was literally in awe; I had never seen a pump quite like this before. Thankfully with a van full of bright students, we were able to fill up and get back to the dorms for a hilarious round of the game Taboo (naturally we split the teams - boys versus girls).
I will miss of the students I got to connect with. I am happy we have the internet to stay in contact but I look forward to meeting them again if they decide to interview at Pacific.
As for the Taboo game, who won? Girls of course!!
