Shadowing Reflection Paper

Optometry is the perfect fit that blends my professional goals, my interests in science, and healthcare with individual strengths of compassion, relational service, and leadership. It is affirming when passion meets purpose, and for me, the optometry profession is just that. My passion in life is to serve others and to improve their health and well-being, while my purpose is to reach my full potential as a medical provider. My inspiration to pursue a career in optometry arises from a combination of my natural strengths, my life experiences, and my triumphs over life’s hardships.

I have shadowed two physicians during my pre-medical years. These experiences have significantly shaped the type of physician I want to be in the future. Not in the sense of a medical specialty, but rather in the sense of demonstrating a clear compassion and understanding for my patients.

I have also come to realize that this particular practice focuses more on disease and disease prevention juxtaposed to only offering refractions and other optical solutions. This type of practice is what interests me most in the field of optometry. Having extensive experience in the health field, namely the field of pharmacy, I was unsatisfied with the level of patient interaction and patient care a pharmacist can convey toward his/her patients. I understand the field of pharmacy is more complex than that of a local practice and that I may have been in a particular situation, but I wanted to have more of a connection with those in need. Being able to see patients at the clinic progress through treatment is what drew me even closer to the field after I started observing. I know the field of optometry can give me the opportunity to have a direct effect on patients and their ocular health. Which is why I have never wanted anything more for myself then to have the chance to become an

Last year, I set the goal that I wanted to pass the 2017 AP Studio Art 2-D: Design Exam. I wanted to prove my art ability. For the portfolio, I had to create 12 pieces that demonstrated a theme and 12 pieces that show experimentation. Sadly, I needed 6 pieces still. For a week before the exam, I worked on the other pieces everyday. Drawing, then adding Ink, then adding white out, then adding cutouts. The night before, I stayed up until 4am to finish. I was able to successfully finish my portfolio and I received a 5 on it. This year I submitted an application for the YoungArts competition and I hope to become a finalist.

Today I returned back to CDI South to shadow another Sonographer named Kari. Overall, this shadowing experience on November 24th has been my favorite yet. I watched Kari preform different ultrasounds, and I got to learn about diagnostic time, which was another one of my favorite parts about the day. Kari also answered all of my questions perfectly, and described the job in a way that made me almost completely confident that it is what I want to do in my future. Throughout my day with Kari, we saw a total of 4 patients. Our first patient was a 30-year-old woman who was there to get an OB ultrasound; she was about 20 weeks pregnant. This was my first patient I observed who needed a 20-week ultrasound. This time of the pregnancy usually marks on of their first ultrasounds for the pregnancy; they do a full scan of the baby, checking everything, and this is also the visit where the parents can find out the gender of the baby. One challenge for this visit was the parents brought their young toddler along, and she was distracting and wild in the room. But throughout this Kari was very professional, and says as the job goes on you learn to deal with these sorts of distractions. This experience was absolutely amazing; it was so powerful to see the baby on the screen and their parent’s reactions. I got to pick out certain parts of the baby, like the head, heart, bladder, and feet. The parents did not want to know the gender of this baby, but they got to leave the ultrasound knowing

The Road to Brown tells the story of the millions of nameless blacks who faced devastating hardships caused by Jim Crow, which simply robbed them of the rights granted by the 14th and 15th Amendments. Under the "separate but equal" doctrine of the Supreme Court's 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, black citizens were denied the right to vote, to attend white schools, to be buried in white cemeteries, etc. Those who objected were liable to be lynched. The era of Jim Crow provoked men such as, Charles Houston to fight back for those who were unable.

Prior experience in the health care field will also help a student succeed in this program. In

Another reason as to why I decided to apply to MCPHS's optometry program deals with the fact there are many opportunities to be exposed to clinical experience. The on-campus clinic and the Veterans Administration centers excite me the most. I was told by the optometrist I work for that VA centers offer a high

My work throughout this semester has been a lot different than my work in my current classes. I was able to do fun projects where the assignment did not actually feel like work. For my first assignment of analyzing the arts I got to research an artist that intrigues me. I was able to find an artist that created pictures that involved, and I chose this artist because I love dogs. Through this project I learned a lot about this artist and also many other artists through the presentations of my classmates. My second assignment involved me experience some type of art style. I was able to attend a concert that I had really been hoping to get to go too and this gave me the perfect excuse to attend. I was able to enjoy this concert, but also think about the music elements that I had learned about in class. I think this was a great way to apply what I had been learning about in class. My third assignment was creating in the arts, and I made a water picture that had two boats that were next to a dock. This assignment let me again apply what I have been learning about and also be in charge of what I created. I think this assignment let me be creative. My fourth assignment was creating an art integration lesson plan with a poster. I think this was beneficial because I got to take everything that I have learned about throughout the course and turn it into one project. I briefly showed my lesson on a poster along with my classmates. My lesson plan is about integrating dance, which is not a form that I had focused on for previous assignments. Overall, I think my knowledge about art education has grown. I think I have grown by being more confident in what I create and what I perform.

Over time it became clear that I did not dread the appointments at the Oregon Health and Science University hospital which specialized in eye care. The building looked out on a tree lined street that was like a painting in the fall as kids with the same eye problems sat in the waiting room. My charismatic, kind, surgeon, Doctor Stout, answered inquiries and interpreted complex terminology patiently, pun intended, while the anesthesiologist made me laugh. In essence, I felt at home. Considering myself someone with an “elderly” issue quickly shifted and sparked a new ambition in me to explore a career the medical

Solution of cheating culture is honor codes and techniques for academic integrity which are important parts of the solution. It is the responsibility of students as well as faculty and administration to establish an environment where honest students do not feel that they are at risk or disadvantage. “Just as cheating can become normalized at a school, so too can academic integrity efforts move the pendulum in the other direction and create a climate where cheating is not cool” (Callahan, 2005). Academic integrity and

This helped me solidify my interest in helping people with their vision and eye care. I was able to pick up on how an optometrist goes about his day-to-day activities and talked with a few of them about the business side of their practice. Recently, before applying to schools, I was hired at a local optometry office close to Boise State. The job as a pre-tester has allowed me to be trained in using a tonometer, auto refractor, visual field machine, optomap, and the OCT machine. I have had a vast experience working in the private practice and really can see myself in an office similar to this one. The job has been all I have expected and ensured my career choice for serving people in vision health care and becoming an optometrist. Shadowing and working as a pre-tester have given me first hand exposure to the field of optometry. From the first time I looked through a slit lamp I knew I was on track to doing something I would be devoted to. Experiencing different types of practices allowed me to think about what type of practice I want to work in when I am older. I can envision myself working in a private practice with fellow optometrists. I would enjoy working at a practice that is multifaceted involving specialty practice in pediatric eye care and sports vision therapy, as well as providing routine exams and

As an undergraduate student at North Georgia, I have experienced some of the most memorable moments of my life, which include creating friendships, exploring new ways of thinking, and gaining newfound knowledge and perception of the world around me. The positive atmosphere that surrounds the college instills a unique sense of camaraderie between students and professors. The values and traditions implemented by the University have molded me into a more mature and rounded individual. Because of my success as an undergraduate at North Georgia, I wish to remain at this institution for the remainder of my college career. The doctorate of physical therapy program has persistently displayed student success through remarkable pass rates on the state

The University of Incarnate Word School of Optometry is important to me because I will be able to immerse myself in optometry education. I read up on your program being offered, which emphasized on individual attention along with having personal growth in classrooms and the community. This really grabbed my attention because I personally learn better with a one to one relationship. Not only does this university have an outreach program, but it will help me understand the community and expose me to early clinical training that will help improve my skills in general.

As a photography major, it was never clear to me on why I had to take a drawing class. I dreaded each class because of the known fact that I didn’t possess the skills to be a good drawer. When speaking to friends and family, I would always complain to them saying, “I’m going to fail this class. I have no idea why I have to take these drawing classes.” As the quarter went on and the more I learned about the different drawing techniques such as the use of lighting to create interesting shadows or the use of color to create a sense mood and emotion, I began to realize the parallels that drawing and photography have.