Peer Advisor Blog Posts

Whether you’re 1 mile or 5,000 miles from home, being in graduate school is a big commitment that requires way too much time and energy.

You may find that it becomes difficult maintaining relationships and close connections with the people around you who aren’t going through the same thing as you.

I am from Hawaii and being so far from my friends and family back home can get difficult at times. The best way that I’ve found to stay connected to my friends and family back home is by scheduling time to catch up.

Scheduled Fun

Before I discuss how I manage to work out almost daily in PA school, I wanted to congratulate you all for your acceptance into MBKU.

Congratulations and welcome to MBKU!

I remember the first day of Optometry school orientation vividly.

I had moved in from out of state, was an unconventional student with many gap years, and I am naturally an introvert. I sat on the concrete seats outside of the Lecture building, picked apart a boxed breakfast, and watched as my classmates talked and laughed. How were they already in groups? How did they already know each other’s names and stories? This appearance of familiarity among my peers fueled my anxiety and made approaching any of these boisterous groups seem impossible.

Stepping into this next stage of your life may be one of the most life-changing transitions that you will undergo.

You will continuously grow and change as you work towards becoming a healthcare professional. After reflecting on what helped me get through my first year of optometry school, I wanted to share some advice I would give to my first-year self.

1. Practice effectively.

Finding out where you are most productive will help you focus on your studies and maximize your learning.  

Once I started graduate school, I learned that it is extremely important to make the most of your study time. It is difficult to keep up with constant exams and proficiencies, however finding a study space where you feel you are the most productive can help a lot. Here are some places that have worked for myself and my classmates!

Cafes/Coffee Shops

Hello and welcome to MBKU!

I know it must be a bit chaotic right now with moving and beginning your graduate study journey, but hang in there, it’ll settle down soon. And when you ARE settled down in your apartment and get that first taste of homesickness, what better way to destress than to make a home cooked meal!

Before I started school, I was always thinking about how I won’t have a life and how I won’t be able to see my friends often.

Attending graduate school is already stressful enough, I am always trying to find things to do that would relieve my stress during the week. Even if it’s just an hour or two, any time that you have that is free should not be put to waste. Do you struggle to find a hangout spot that is within your budget? Are you looking to have fun with your classmates near campus? In order to enjoy school a little more, I found some budget friendly places to hang out at!

Welcome and congratulations Classes of 2024 and 2026!

Entering a professional program can be incredibly daunting.

The amount of information that you need to cram into your brain can feel unmanageable and overwhelming. Sitting in a library or a coffee shop for hours on end is a traditional way to study, but finding creative and unique ways to study can impact your graduate school experience for the better! Here are some ways I have been able to study while also focusing on my mental and physical health.

Hiking and Walking