Free time?! In a graduate program?
No, it’s not a typo. It really is possible to have free time while you pursue your studies of Optometry, Pharmacy, or Physician Assistant. While I’ve only completed my first year of Optometry school, I know many upperclassmen in my program that follow the same principles that I will be sharing. It works. Not only will you survive, you can also thrive.
In September of 2025, I was just a few weeks into my first year of Optometry school. I had moved from Utah, and I was beginning to adjust to a new life in a new state with new weather and new people. School was going well and I was making new friends. During this time, I also received an email I’d been dreaming of for years:
“Congratulations! Your entry into the 130th Boston Marathon has been accepted!”. I was so excited to fulfill a dream of mine, while at the same time anxiously wondering how I could ever balance graduate school with training and flying out to compete. The date of the race was in the middle of the busiest quarter of the first year.
I remember talking with Eryn Kraning about it, who encouraged me, “When you work hard in one area of your life, it makes you better in other areas too”. She was so right.
I spent a lot of time training for the race by waking up early for runs before exams and spending many hours on weekends doing long runs instead of studying or catching up on sleep. However, it didn’t feel like a sacrifice. The training gave me life, gave me balance, and gave me good health. It made me more alert, more excited, and more motivated. And I wasn’t the only one doing it. Several other classmates, including 2nd and 3rd year students, were also training for races. We’d often run together. We all agreed that spending time doing a non-school related activity made us better students.
You don’t have to go run a marathon. I got into golf as soon as I moved here, because it was a chance to spend a few hours outside in nature and make friends with some of my classmates. If I need a break from studying I’ll spend an hour learning a song on the guitar. Many students will go to concerts, meet up with friends at a restaurant, go to local events, or participate in volunteer opportunities like vision screenings or health fairs. You can do a short road trip to a new city or park or campground. Southern California has so many things to do. Spending a few hours at the beach on the weekend will do more for your health than scrolling on your phone in bed or sleeping in. You’ll feel more alert, more fulfilled, and locked in on your studies.
If you want to thrive in graduate school, balance is your best friend. Locking yourself in the library for 16 hours/day will not only lead you to burnout, but it will also prevent you from enjoying some of the best years of your life. You only get to do this for 2-4 years before you enter your career. Don’t be afraid of free time, enjoy it! You’ll be better because of it.