Showing My Children the Value of Giving Back

After I met my husband and started a family, I decided to pursue a career in optometry. Numerous family members have worked in the medical field, and I always knew I wanted to pave my own path. To find my place, I shadowed various modalities of the optometric field for over a hundred hours to ensure optometry was the right career path for me. Now, I am a third-year student at the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) College of Optometry. 

Sharing My Passion with My Family
As a mom of two, I’ve had to juggle a lot of responsibilities to manage my time during optometry school. Although it’s been difficult, it’s also been a rewarding journey as my kids enjoy hearing about my experiences and what I am doing to help others. I always thought that volunteering is important, which is one of the main reasons why I chose to attend UMSL, as the school shares the same passion for giving back. Although my home life is currently at its busiest, I’ve prioritized volunteering and reinforced this value with my kids. As their mother, it’s important to show them what matters—and community is always going to matter. 

I’ve even brought my kids to meetings and events for my local state and student associations, which has helped me stay community-minded, and ensures giving back remains a continuous and integral part of my family's culture. I know that if I ever move out of Missouri, I can leave it better than I found it because of my involvement in these organizations. I encourage other optometry students to become involved in their local organizations too, so we can collectively make a difference for the profession in our own communities. 

Receiving Support on My Journey
VSP Vision has been extremely supportive of the next generation of optometrists by hosting events for USML’s student organizations and private practice clubs, securing speakers for the students to interact with, and offering scholarships. In partnership with the Heart of America Eye Care Congress, VSP recently awarded me the 2024 Dr. Frank Fontana Memorial Scholarship. Receiving this award was meaningful not just for me, but for my family, because without my family’s vital support, I wouldn’t have been able to dedicate as much time and energy to volunteering and schoolwork. Being chosen for this award validates I’m on the right path to becoming a successful Doctor of Optometry. 

Looking Ahead
While I’m still juggling long days of studying and home life as I wrap up my final years of optometry school, I think back on the days of shadowing practices and how much it influenced me to be where I am today. No matter where and how I practice, I know I'm going to love what I'm doing. As Eye See It, some days are going to be harder than others, but when I go home at night and know I did the best I could for my patients, it’s always going to be a successful day.