You are in Southern California! Infamously known as the place where you can hit the ski slopes in the morning and catch a sunset at the beach in the same day! Starting optometry school at MBKU is such an exciting milestone Congratulations and be proud of yourself! SCCO is not an easy school to get into and our faculty felt you had what it takes to encounter our curriculum and have the best qualities to become an outstanding optometrists. You have worked so hard and you are exactly where you are supposed to be. But the hard work is only beginning and it is going to feel overwhelming at times. Between lectures, labs, late hours of studying for exams and practicing for proficiencies every week are in your near future, it can get very easy to just
spend all your time on campus or in the library ((which is exactly where I spent a good portion of my first year). BUT DON'T WORRY! I'm gonna make sure it doesn't consume you! The secret to that, BALANCE!
One of the best decisions I made was deciding to live in a different city than our campus. I’m currently living in Newport Beach with my mom. I know that not everyone has the opportunity to do this and have family support with you every day. However having school and home be two separate places was crucial to staying afloat this past year for me. It helped me create a healthy balance between school and the things I enjoy outside of it. My commute is only about 25 minutes. It's long enough to wake up, mentally prepare for the day, and listen to my favorite '70s and '80s rock playlist, but short enough that it never feels like a chore. Then, on the drive home, I get to leave school at school. Once I'm back in Newport, I'm no longer surrounded by lectures, flashcards, and studying—I can actually relax. So my biggest piece of advice? Take advantage of where you are.
After a long week of school, nothing beats piling into the car with your new friends and heading to the beach. It's sunny and 70° here for what feels like at least 300 days a year! There are so many amazing beaches to choose from, but I'll admit I'm a little biased. Newport Beach is something special.
During my years in undergrad at UC Irvine to now in grad school, I have had many times where I felt like the entire weight of the world was on my shoulders. But once you listen to those waves crash and smell that salty air, everything starts to quiet down. Jumping in the ocean bring me back to a simpler time and releases my inner child. I can finally be present again and not worry so much.
Growing up in Philadelphia, I never imagined I'd one day call Southern California home. Somehow it's become the place where I've worked harder than I ever have, while also teaching me the importance of slowing down every once in a while. The beach became my reset button, and honestly, I don't know what I would've done without it. Whether it's Newport or Laguna, I really encourage you to make time for a beach day every now and then.
If you end up in Newport, walk around Balboa Island, rent bikes, hop on the Balboa Ferry, grab a frozen banana, play beach volleyball, or end the night with a bonfire and s'mores. Those are the kinds of evenings that make even the hardest weeks feel worth it.
If you're looking for something a little quieter, Laguna Beach is only about 35 minutes from campus and has some of the prettiest coves and hiking trails in Orange County. Crystal Cove is another favorite of mine if you want to hike and end up right by the ocean.
Not every study break has to turn into a beach day, though. Downtown Fullerton and Brea have become one of my favorite places to grab coffee or food after class. My go-to coffee shop is Do Coffee. If you ask any second-year student who knows me, they'll probably tell you that's where I disappear to after every exam. (Spring quarter had two exams a week...so I basically lived
there.) And while you're in the area, do yourself a favor and try Tacos Los Cholos. I don't think I've ever met someone who didn't love it.
I also can't write this without mentioning Disneyland. You're going to be living less than 20 minutes away! Try to take advantage of your weekends during the first two quarters of the first year. Once spring quarter hits...you'll understand why everyone talks about it. But I promise you'll get through it, and you'll be amazed by how much you've learned.
Optometry school is demanding, but taking time to recharge makes you a better student in the long run. Your memories of your time here may lie within the 80% of time you spend learning optometry. I have dreamed of being at this point in my career for so long and I’m still in awe that I get to call myself a 2nd year optometry student. The laughs in between breaks in the lecture hall during class are also very special moments from my time last year. But you will really remember that 20%—spontaneous beach trips, late-night food runs, catching that Angels game, hiking those trails down at Crystal Cove, hitting the Anaheim packing district from some good eats and weekend adventures with your classmates. Those are the moments you'll remember long after graduation.
One thing I wish I had learned sooner is that taking a break doesn't mean you're falling behind. In fact, it usually means you'll come back more focused. You'll spend countless hours learning how to care for your future patients, but don't forget to take care of yourself too.
The next four years are going to fly by. Study hard, enjoy the journey, and don't forget to explore
Orange County while you're lucky enough to call it home.