Tonight I am helping organize the North Central States students Optometric Association (NCSsOA) meeting. An OD from Iowa is visiting to speak about practice management. Each one of the state representatives will be presenting the requirements needed to practice in each of the North Central States and the major meetings associated with each state. At SCO there are many state and regional groups that meet to discuss practicing in a specific area. It allows students to be in contact with ODs in the state in which they want to practice and share information with other students.
In years past there have been a separate North Central State clubs, but this year we decided to combine them. SCO has always been supportive of all student organizations. While at SCO I have seen the start of the Private Practice Club which has since flourished. The Omega Delta social fraternity was reinstated and I have many great memories from events that were organized by this group.
There are so many great clubs and organizations to get involved with looking back I am so thankful to have had these opportunities. I think my favorite experience was the Student Volunteers for Optometric Service to Humanity (SVOSH) trip. My small group of about 12 students and 2 doctors saw over 1200 patients and donated close to 1000 pairs of glasses to people in an impoverished village in Mexico. The local Lions club that sponsored us was so kind and it inspired me to be involved with the Lions club.
Only a few more weeks at SCO until I head 16 hours north to an Indian Hospital in Minnesota for my first extern. I am very excited, but leaving my SCO family is bitter sweet. Last weekend I was there when my roommate's boyfriend/high school sweetheart proposed to her and yesterday she asked me to be in her wedding. I am so blessed to have had such a wonderful friend to have taken this journey with. So many hours were spent with her studying at our kitchen table not only quizzing each other on eye related subjects but discussing life and all our hopes and fears. I will definitely miss her, but I am looking forward to learning new things and making new friends.