As we enter finals week, there is much to celebrate! This edition of the Snellen Letter honors the beginnings, endings, and important milestones that are the Optometry student journey.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019! Next week’s graduation events are almost here. We look forward to having you back together again to honor both your accomplishments and the important place you occupy in our community and our hearts. Here is the Class of 2019 as Dean Zadnik welcomes them to the Optometry family on their first day of orientation in August 2015!

The Class of 2020 is preparing to spread their wings and begin their first extern rotations. We look forward to seeing your skills and confidence grow to the next level as you encounter new patients, practices, and experiences. Here is the Class of 2020 on their last day of class together!

After a year of learning how to perform an eye exam, the Class of 2021 soon will begin seeing patients in the third-year clinical rotations. Here’s a reminder of how good you look in those white coats! We can’t wait to see the difference you make in the lives of patients!

Finally, our Class of 2022 is so close to finishing their first year! It seems like just yesterday we welcomed you into the Ohio State Optometry family. Getting to know you could not have been more enjoyable. We can’t wait to see you in your white coats in just a little over two weeks! Here you are at your Welcome Dinner!

In her last student blog post titled “Little Lessons,” soon-to-be Doctor of Optometry, Hannah Vollmer shared a few thoughts about what optometry school has taught her – we have included a few below. You can read Hannah’s full blog post at https://u.osu.edu/optometryHannah/

• Seeing patients is loads of fun.
• Short escapes from the monotony of daily routines will rejuvenate the soul more than extended vacations.
• It’s better to learn skills right the first time, than try to be the first one out of clinic, but have sloppy skills.
• Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it.
• It’s okay to admit when you don’t know.
• Have a backup plan, or 6.
• Your voice is important, even if you’re that quiet kid in the back of every class. Don’t be afraid to speak, but in speaking, don’t lose sight of the value of silence.
• You will be afraid in life – it’s only natural – but don’t let the fears of tomorrow keep you from living today.

Your plans will change. Just relax and enjoy the adventure.

Financial aid packages will be available to view for rising OPT III and IV students in early April. With that in mind, Justin Griest will host financial aid acceptance meetings with the Classes of 2020 and 2021. Please plan to attend one of these short meetings to hear about the timeline for acceptance, tuition and fee breakdown for the 2019-2020 school year, and all other pertinent information. Meetings will take place following scheduled classes to allow for all to attend. For the Class of 2020, we will meet in 33 Fry on Friday, April 5 at 11:50 a.m. For the Class of 2021, we will meet on Thursday, April 4 in 33 Fry at 3 p.m. Meetings will only last 15-20 minutes, so please plan to carve some time out of your schedule for this important discussion. The Class of 2022 will meet in early May – more to come on this in the near future.

The Innovation Studio exists to foster interprofessional collaboration in creating healthcare solutions. If you have an idea for a healthcare product, service or software and would like help developing it into a commercial reality, the Innovation Studio has resources, mentors and tools to help. Even if you don’t have a specific idea in mind, you are welcome to share your knowledge, network and partner up with a team that needs your support. Learn more at: https://nursing.osu.edu/offices-and-initiatives/office-innovation-and-strategic-partnerships/innovation-studio

Or, attend the Interprofessional Innovation Symposium, an engaging conversation about innovation in healthcare, on Tuesday, April 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Blackwell Ballroom. More information at https://nursing.osu.edu/event/interprofessional-innovation-symposium

Ohio State is conducting a climate survey on sexual misconduct and all students are encouraged to participate. The survey will be available to all students until April 12 at http://go.osu.edu/climatesurvey. Participation is voluntary, and once the survey is submitted, responses are completely anonymous. Information collected will help enhance current policies and services, and to inform longer-term strategies and programs. Ohio State’s first priority is a safe and healthy campus for all members of our community. All of us play a role – do your part and be heard to have a positive influence on our campus.

As your student organization elects a new executive board for the 2019-2020 academic year, be sure to e-mail Jen Bennett with the names and positions of your new officers.

Set your new officers up for success by providing a seamless transition. Ohio State’s Student Activities office maintains a comprehensive set of resources for student organizations – check it out at https://activities.osu.edu/involvement/student_organizations/resources/.

Also of note, the Ohio State student organization spring registration window closes on April 15. More information is available at https://activities.osu.edu/involvement/student_organizations/registration/