I still remember my first week of Optometry School. Everything seemed overwhelmingly intimidating. I was faced with a new school, a new city, a new state, and a new adventure that I would be undertaking for the next three to four years. Would I find new friends? Would I have time to have a life outside of school? Should I join clubs? The uncertainty seemed nearly paralyzing, but I knew that in order to thrive and grow as a future optometrist, I had to start somewhere.
After reaching out to a few of my classmates, we decided to plan a class picnic. After the picnic, several classmates mentioned that I should run for a class office. I did not know if I would even have time to join a club, much less be a class officer. Although this seemed intimidating, I decided to attend the first Student Government Association Meeting. At this meeting, some of the upperclassmen assured me that I would be able to handle the job. Before I knew it, I was a member of the Private Practice Club, Omega Delta Fraternity, Student Volunteer for Optometric Service, and Student Government. I promised myself that if my grades began to suffer, I would have to be less involved, but it was the complete opposite. When I became exhausted from the constant stress of school, my volunteer activities were my escape. They fulfilled my passion for optometry in a whole new light. Being able to help the less fortunate, better educate myself and others about optometry, and volunteer to assist and direct my school and classmates brought me more excitement than I could have imagined. Through this process, I found a new city to call my home , a new state in which to thrive, a new school to love, and friends that will last a lifetime.
Today, I am serving as President of Student Government Association at Southern College of Optometry. Even 6 months ago, I never would have thought that I would be in this position. Through my experiences as a student volunteer, I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. The leadership skills, self-awareness, diversity acceptance, confidence, knowledge, compassion, and organizational skills obtained through my volunteer service are ones that I will never forget. It is with these tools, that I, as an optometrist, plan to continue my journey to serve my community. It was as simple as a decision to have a class picnic that evoked what I now consider to be such a big part of my life.
Although this next step may seem overwhelming , it is so much more than just four years of studying. Each volunteer event, club, and service project can make you fall more in love with the field of Optometry. By the end of these four years, these are the experiences that will form the type of doctor that you become. It not only increases your knowledge to better serve patients, but it builds compassion and leadership. I am confident that the kind of character development that I have gained from this experience is one that will shape me going forward into the professional that I have always striven to become, but more than that, it has fashioned me into the kind of person that no longer shys way from a new challenging quest, but rather one that sees the opportunity for growth in the unknown.
Kailey Soileau
O.D. Candidate, Class of 2020
Southern College of Optometry
