In many ways, optometry school is becoming the toughest years of my life. Yes, while grad school is meant to shape your career and push your intellectual boundaries, I admit that I found myself losing touch with who I was before I started. The pressure of “imposter syndrome” was getting a little too real, and my place as a “SCCO student” began to feel like a full-time identity. Every second of my day felt like it could be dedicated to schoolwork. I started to lose sight of who I was and the passions that led me to this very point, until I realized I had to purposefully seek and rediscover myself again in order to enjoy my journey! Here’s how I did it:
Ruthlessly manage your time.
It’s important to me that I have non-negotiable personal time (even if it’s just one hour a week). Grad school can seem like it romanticizes long hours of overwork, but burnout is not productive to anyone! To make time for myself and to protect my relationships with friends and family outside of school, I meticulously break down my week into blocks of time with each serving a purpose, whether it be for school or personal life. It’s easy to become anxious when you don’t know how much time you have to study, so it helped me a lot to visualize how each day would pan out for me. Learning to do a little bit everyday to not fall behind will go a long way in the future! With this, I can “schedule” in time for the activities that make me feel most like myself to help keep me grounded for all the time between.
Pursue joy without justifying it.
You don’t have to “earn” joy. Do whatever it takes to bring you back to yourself, guilt-free (even indulging in TikTok time…). I take weekend trips, go to festivals, and make time to see my family. These are not meant to be a distraction to my schoolwork, but rather to nourish the parts of me that make school meaningful in the first place. Sometimes, work has to be put off a little to ensure some sanity and happiness—which probably leads to being more productive down the road anyway. Grad school is difficult, but learn to understand that no one can spend 24/7 on either sleeping or studying so make the most of the time you have outside of that!
Letting go of perfectionism.
Sometimes, it’s okay to be “good enough”. I admit—graduate schools attract high-achievers, and the pressure to be perfect is there. However, I quickly learned that striving for perfection can slowly strip away your authenticity and your real self. It’s so important to learn to not compare yourself to your friends and peers. One harsh piece of advice that really stuck with me was that, someone will always be better than you. There’s no point in chasing that comparison, especially in the supportive community that SCCO builds. I’ve learned with time that we’re all in the same big boat here, and we shouldn’t be trying to be “better” than our peers when our only competitor should be ourselves.
As a final note, I understand that grad school is a beast, regardless of whatever program you’re in. It will challenge your sense of self, but it doesn’t have to erase it! You are allowed to grow without sacrificing your values, joy, or identity.
Remember: You are not just a student. You are a person, first and always.
Solyana Chan, SCCO Class of 2028