“It is always about the work. In the latter years of your life, your happiness and your self-esteem will be determined by the mountains you surmounted, the valleys you climbed out of, and the life and/or career that you forged for yourself.” – Maya Angelou
Class of 2022, it’s NBEO Part I exam time! It’s hard for me to realize that you fresh-faced students, who I remember in my class from right out of your undergraduate education, are already taking that first step toward optometric practice. It’s as if my infant and toddler grandsons are suddenly headed to kindergarten. The time has flown by.
I know that the examination looms large on your personal horizons. It’s a significant hurdle but also an important step forward for you. It takes you one step closer to the title of Doctor of Optometry. After that, the downhill tumble to the fourth year board exams and graduation with your OD degree will seem to happen even faster.
You do Ms. Angelou’s work every day, especially in the past year under challenging circumstances. You have the academic history to have ended up at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. You have worked hard across six semesters of your optometric education. You acquire new clinical skills and capability every day. You work when you study, when you get enough sleep, when you exercise, when you eat right, and when you encourage yourself and your classmates. You work hard with each concept you refresh in your mind and each time you turn a physical or digital page of notes to learn the next topic.
You’re on the home stretch now. Take care of yourselves, and keep up your rational, intelligent, hard work based on all you’ve learned. #buckeyesruleparti