Exactly one year ago today, I was in Memphis for my interview and tour of SCO. I honestly had no intentions of choosing this school; really I just wanted some interview practice and a chance to experience a new city. As soon as I left the campus that day, I knew my feelings had changed. I was so impressed with the entire community, and immediately felt comfortable here.
Obviously, things are not always the same as they appear on tours, but overall I have been extremely happy with my choice. All of my classmates are great, and I really feel like we are an entire community. There's not so much competition as there is support, and this was huge for me. I am not a very competitive person, and I don't like comparing myself to others. Here, I feel like I am able to focus on my own work and not worry about how anyone else is doing. If I have a question about a concept, I'm never worried that I will seem stupid to my classmates.
Optometry school is not anything like I expected it to be. I never thought it would be so challenging and all-consuming, but I also never knew how rewarding it would feel to be here. It's so different than being in undergrad; everything we learn is going to contribute to my future career and my future life, and that is very exciting and fulfilling.
Memphis is very different than what I had imagined it to be as well, but I'm slowly finding my way here. The Memphis Farmer's Market has absolutely been my favorite thing, and I try to get there as many Saturdays as possible. They just started their winter season, which is pretty much like the summer season but colder, but I am loving that I'll be able to keep this as part of my Saturday routine. Downtown Memphis is also very pretty, and I've been having fun exploring some of the local restaurants and shops. I feel like there are definitely some charming places, it just takes a little bit of work to find them. What I like about Memphis is the overall feel of the city. It really has its own personality. I absolutely love living on Mud Island and seeing the the Mississippi River every day, and I am especially excited for the huge new Bass Pro Shop to open up in the pyramid this May. Some specific plans were released this week and it definitely seems like it will be worth the wait!
I also love being in the South in general and having access to so many nearby states. As someone from the Northeast, I had never even travelled to many southern states and have had a ton of fun with road trips to Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. There's definitely a charm to this area of the country and I am thankful to be able to experience that.
Above all, I am very happy with where I've ended up for school. I never would have imagined a year and a half ago that I would be sitting in Memphis reviewing Anatomy notes, but I'm very happy that this is the case. As I head into the last part of the semester, I am feeling very positive about my optometry journey so far, and I can't wait to see what the next few months (and years) have in store for me!