This is my first ever post on the SCO Student Life Blog and I am very excited to share my thoughts! So, let’s get right to it!
My name is Will Stringer and I am now a second year student at SCO. I grew up in Daphne, Alabama in the Gulf Coast area of south Alabama. Not familiar with the town? You’ve probably passed through it dozens of times on your way to the beaches of Alabama and Florida. It is a wonderful place to live and I can’t wait to move back to the area after graduating from SCO!
I spent my undergraduate years at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. I ended up there after joining the football team as an invited walk-on. After a short time, I decided that I was ready to spend my college years strictly as a student. I graduated from Southern Miss with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Biology. Most of my exercise science classmates went on to Physical Therapy school or some sort of athletic training. I was the only student from my program to go into optometry. However, after a year of optometry school, you would be surprised to know the amount of times my experiences in exercise science were directly applicable to my optometry curriculum.
I am married to my beautiful wife, Stephanie, from Mobile, Alabama . We have been together since the summer before our senior year of high school in 2007! Just this last month, we were fortunate enough to celebrate our first wedding anniversary together. In even bigger news, we were able to really blow the unsuspecting minds of our friends and family when we told them WE ARE EXPECTING!! Our first child is due to arrive November 5th and we could not be any happier! Just in this past year, I have become a husband, an optometry student, and now a soon-to-be father. What an unbelievable year it has been!
Just to wrap things up, I want to talk a little bit about my first year in optometry school at SCO. First year was unlike any year of school I’ve ever experienced. The amount of information we learned as a class is mind boggling. But I also learned a great deal about myself and my willingness to succeed. I have made so many new friendships that I am sure will last a lifetime. My time at SCO thus far has fully reassured me that I made the right choice in coming to SCO.
So, that is just a quick introduction about myself! I am looking forward to giving you more inside looks at what life is like for an optometry student at SCO. Until next time, take care y’all!