Student Life Blogs

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12/12/12

Which is better, 1 or 2?

I can’t believe my first semester is rapidly coming to a close! It’s hard to believe how much I have learned in these 15 weeks. From the first day of classes until the start of finals, our heads have gotten jam-packed with information. Vergence tracing, cranial nerves, and AC/A ratios fill every free spot in my brain as I am preparing for my first round of finals at SCO. As my last post of the semester before I can relax back home in Jersey, I thought I would share my favorite 3 experiences of the semester.

Just keep…running? I had no idea that there were so many awesome 5Ks in the Memphis area this fall. I participated in fun runs like The Color Run and The Ugly Sweater 5K with other members of my class. Besides being a total blast, it was a great way to hang out with my classmates outside of school and get some much needed exercise. I also participated in SVOSH’s Eye 5K, which helps support SVOSH’s medical missions trips this upcoming May. I’m hoping to participate in the St. Jude half marathon next year after seeing the runners this year. Am I crazy? Probably.
Jumping on the Grizz bandwagon. Ok, ok I’ll admit that I wasn’t a Memphis Grizzlies fan before moving down here. But with being so close to the Fed Ex Forum and having a Tony Allen cut out picture on the side of our building, it’s hard not to get caught up in the grit and grind fever. Catching a Grizz game is a popular way to forget about our studying for a night and relax. If for no other reason, Justin Timberlake is part owner and has been spotted by my classmates at games. Plus, they beat the once undefeated Knicks. Go Grizz!
Which is better, 1 or 2? By the end of the semester, the first years finally got to the point of asking during our theory lab, “Take a look at that image out there. Which is better, 1 or 2?” For the first time, we feel like real student doctors. After practicing retinoscopy and manifest refraction with each other for weeks, it was finally time to put our skills to the test and have our techniques graded while finding the prescription of a 3rd year. I have never been more nervous for a practical. I tried to remember the 3rd year that was my patient was once in my shoes preforming his first graded manifest refraction. I made it through the practical fine and got great feedback from the doctor. I’ll be sure not to forget everything I learned this semester over break!

Posted by Amy Dunbar at 12/12/12

11/30/12

A Knight to the Blind

Thanksgiving Break was great! My family and I spent much of it in the Smoky Mountains near Blue Ridge, GA. Besides over-eating and generally relaxing, we also spent a day hiking and it was beautiful! On the way back, we stopped at the Tennessee Aquarium and my kids loved it. Two huge buildings dedicated just to an aquarium meant that our 2.5 hours there was hardly enough. I’d highly recommend it to anyone with kids.

Perhaps the most memorable event during my vacation happened on the drive from Memphis. As I passed through the town of Tuscumbia, I noticed a sign announcing that this little city was the birthplace of Helen Keller. Had to stop. After hearing Helen Keller’s story all growing up, it was amazing to see it all materialize. There it was. Her playroom. The room she locked Anne Sullivan in. Most importantly, the pump where Helen first learned that each object has a name. Then, off to one side of the property sat a booth that caught my eye.

The booth was filled with Lions Club International banners from all over the world. As I paused there, I learned that in 1925, Helen Keller gave a speech at the Lions Club International Convention and this is the challenge she gave: “Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?”

- Helen Keller, June 30, 1925

As a result of that speech, Lions Club chose to make vision a priority in their quest to serve humanity. As I read and listened, her speech both humbled and emboldened me. It made me proud to be a Lions Club member. To be part of an organization so dedicated to helped bring sight to those in need. Moreover, it made me proud to be a future optometrist. One of some 35,000 optometrists trained and willing to end blindness in any way we can. I chose the right profession. I will be a Knight to the Blind.

The Challenge

Posted by Amy Dunbar at 11/30/12

11/7/12

Running Mad

Howdy Blogosphere!

There's plenty to follow-up on since my last post. Let's start off with the most exciting news... I ran my first half marathon (click the link for a photo!) on November 3, and finished under two hours! Woot-Woot!

I also participated in SVOSH's 11th Annual Eye5k. SVOSH is one of the largest campus volunteer organizations at SCO. Each year, SVOSH provides free vision care and glasses to people in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. This year's Eye5K was Halloween-themed and all the participants were encouraged to wear costumes. My costume? Runaway Bride :) (click the link for a photo!)

Speaking of costumes, Omega Delta hosted it's annual Halloween Party a few weeks back. It came at the perfect time, as my classmates and I had just finished a busy week of exams prior. The Halloween Party is one of the most anticipated events of the school year and many of my classmates started planning their costumes months in advance. I definitely had a lot of fun putting this year's costume together--complete with a blonde wig and giant eyelashes...can you guess which celebrity look-a-like I was trying to impersonate?

Now it's back to hitting the books. I've got 10 school days, two theory practicals, and four exams separating me from Thanksgiving Break. I'd say I've had enough fun in October to get me through these last two weeks before break, don't you!? Look for my next blog post in the coming weeks...

P.S.-It's Election Day! If you haven't done so already, go out there and work your civic muscle and VOTE!

Carpe Diem,

Amy

Posted by Amy Dunbar at 11/7/12

11/6/12

Fun Fall Festivities

So a lot has happened at SCO recently. I love this time of year! Let’s start back to the beginning of the festivities.

The Eye 5k was held on the last Saturday of October. I believe that close to 200 people ran the race this year, which is really great news for SVOSH! After all, the 5k is one of SVOSH’s biggest fundraisers.

Since it was Halloween weekend, costumes were definitely encouraged. I simply put on a dino hat, but everyone’s creativity was really fun to watch. Totoro, a Wolff wand, brides (fellow second-year blogger Amy Puerto!) – these were just an example of the great costumes on display.

I happened to finish the 5k in 26 minutes. Not bad, considering that I don’t particularly like long distance running and that it was my first 5k! Next year I hope to beat this mark.

Of course, since the Halloween party was the same day, the cool costumes didn’t end at the finish line. Everyone went all out. I decided to be a midget ganglion cell (it’s in the retina!). Since I was the Circle of Willis (it’s in the brain!) last year, I figured I’d continue this trend. Elsewhere, there was a couple dressed as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner, jellyfish, and so many other creative disguises. It was a great night!

But people weren’t the only ones celebrating the Halloween spirit. The Eye Center did too! Various student groups were invited to decorate suites for Halloween: monopoly, masquerade, a circus, just to name a few. The only patients seen on that day were children, and they must have had a blast with their eye exams! I know I had fun just walking through the clinic.

But wait, there’s more. This past weekend, SCO hosted its annual Chili Cookoff. I was on a team with my big sib, Brian, roommate Andy, and SVOSH travel buddies Amy and Linh: Ma and Pa’s Chili! We dressed as elderly folks with a passion for tasty chili, and it was tons of fun.

In my next post, I’m going to talk a little about some academic observations I’ve made about second year. It sure has been quite challenging! But the challenges have been enjoyable, just as all these extracurriculars have been enjoyable. I am truly blessed to be here.

Posted by Amy Dunbar at 11/6/12

10/24/12

Color Me Wonderful!

Hello Blogosphere:

Oh, October– the month of fall foliage, pumpkin spice, and running? Say what?!

Sure, there’s this little thing called optometry school that preoccupies most of my waking hours, but now-and-then a gal needs a hobby and running has become my thing. It just so happens that with the cooler weather change this fall, October has brought several races to run as well. So far this month I’ve run two 10miler races at Shelby Forest State Park outside of Memphis and participated in the “Happiest 5k Race on Earth,” the Color Run. Check out our Class of 2015 Color Run Team-” The Naughty Pupils”-sporting all of our colorful goodness below:

To end the month, SCO is hosting its 11th annual Eye5K this weekend. I’m really excited to participate in the Eye5K this year and be a part of this fun SCO tradition. Even more, this year’s race will be Halloween-themed. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone decked out in their best running costumes…me? You’ll just have to wait until my next blog post to see what costume I chose to wear! Which brings me to November, where I’ll be participating in my first half-marathon race–could second year be “running” any better?

But enough about racing, let’s get back to school. I mentioned in a previous post my experience with school screenings, but realized I never included any pictures. This time around, I’ve posted a few pictures below…don’t we all look great in our white coats? With each school screening I continue to improve my patient communication and clinical skills. In fact, I saw some interesting school children who had alternating tropias this morning!

Okay, so this isn't from a screening but daily dilation is pretty much the norm for us second years :)

Also, I made my first glasses this month in my ophthalmic optics lab. When I visited the Walmart Optical Lab in July with AOSA, I had my first experience with spectacle fabrication, but I didn’t know much about the glasses-making process. Now that I’ve had a chance to make my own specs, I have a better understanding of the optical side of our profession. Check out my classmates creating their glasses and the glasses I made below:

You won’t want to miss my next blog post…updates from the Eye5K race and photos from the annual Omega Delta Halloween Party!

Carpe Diem,

Amy

Posted by Amy Dunbar at 10/24/12