Hello, everyone. Welcome, and thank you for joining us today on our podcast back to school. View through the lens of a second year optometry student. I am doctor Arthy Shah, senior manager of professional and academic affairs at CooperVision. And I am thrilled to have Ms. Lauren Martinez join me today, a current second year student at University of Houston College of optometry. She's gonna reflect back upon her experiences as a former first year student, as well as provide some advice and pro tips to our current first years. So Lauren, thank you so much for joining us here today. And if you could just please share a little bit about your background and a little bit about yourself. Yeah. Thank you for having me, Doctor. Shaw. So I'd like to say that I'm Lauren Martinez. I am currently a second year student at the University of Houston College of Optama tree. So I'm from Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, which is very, very far south Texas. The town that I grew up in was called Mercedes Texas, which is a very, very small town. And I attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergrad where I majored in biology got a minor in educational psych and continued my academic career at the University of Houston. So now I'm here I've been in Houston now about a year and I'm loving it. So thank you again for having me. Absolutely. Thank you so much for sharing. You know, I definitely have a lot of questions about your first year at University of Houston. I remember being a first year just a little bit, and it was exciting, and it was challenging, and it went by all four years very quickly. And so I I figured I'd start off by asking you what sparked your interest in optometry or who did, you know, who sparked your interest? Yeah. So I've been wearing contact slash glasses, or as long as I can remember, I was I think I was in about second or third grade when I got my first pair of glasses. Eventually, I transitioned to contact lenses, But it was so funny because my doctor growing up, we only had one doctor in my one one optometrist in my town, and her name was actually doctor Laura Martinez. And I'm doc and I'm Lauren Martinez. So I always felt like maybe subconsciously that's what, like, kinda directed me in the field of optometry or pushed me that way, but I always knew I wanted to go pre health. I just didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. And so throughout middle school and high school, I kind of just, like, considered my options. I feel like I went around the senses. I considered audiology. I considered considered speech pathology. And then my senior year of high school, one of my teachers told me about her friend who was an optometrist, and she was saying how he loved his job and had such a great work life balance and just was genuinely happy and fulfilled doing optometry. And so that kind of is what sparked my interest. And so I went to UT Austin, and I decided to explore that a little bit more. So I worked as a tech, I shadowed different optometrists, and it was through that where I truly knew that optometry was the field for me because I just felt that each of the doctors, each of the optometrists that I got to see working with verifications was just so fulfilled and so rewarding getting to see that patient doctor interaction. So I just, like I said, that confirmed what I kind of already knew and kind of just can really see could really see myself in the field of optometry. That's wonderful. I mean, just hearing your story. It it's so similar to my story. Like, I had my optometrist who really inspired me and meeting other optometrists and stuff and looking into different health professionals, you know, to to narrow it down and to really make sure that optometry was what we what we wanted to pursue. So Mhmm. Well, thank you. You know, so what would you say would be some of your highlights of your first year? You know, like, was there anything really surprising or unexpected? You know, if you could share anything there. Yeah. So going into first gear, I had no idea what to expect, and I feel like that was very frightening for me because I'm the type of person who I like to know what I'm getting myself into. I like to have a plan. And so going in with, like, lying does seem like with very scary. So I go in and I set these expectations for myself, and I said it's gonna be hard. It's gonna be difficult. It's going to be a lot of work. But ultimately it will be worth it. And that was kind of something that kept me grounded, which is remembering why I wanted to pursue this career in the first place, but I was surprised to see my mentality towards learning shift because in undergrad, I did have study a lot, and I was constantly, you know, in the books, but guess when you get to this field where or the this academic setting where it's everything you're learning is going to be what you need to know, and everything is going to be so crucial and important to your career and what you've been wanting to do. It's just that mentality where I was like, okay, I need to truly understand everything, and I need to learn to study more efficiently and truly be intentional with studying. So I feel like that was a big shift and something I didn't quite expect in myself because I thought, like, oh, I know how to study. Like, I've been studying for four years at YouTube, but No. It's a lot different. It's a different game and it's a different type of setting. And like I said, it's just being more intentional. It's just being truly, truly trying to under stand and learn how everything connects into each other and how it is applicable to a real life patient because that's the end goal. That's the most important thing being able to use everything in all of the knowledge that you've learned in these four years and applying it to a real person. Yeah. And I remember first year just being challenging. There's just so many changes. You know, you're in a different place. You have different friends. So you're trying to settle down and then everything first year from what I remember was more didactic. You know? Yeah. So I had to keep reminding myself that Eventually, this will apply to patients, which is different than second year as I'm sure you will soon see. Yeah. You know, but even like a course load was quite extensive. You know, I remember we were taking like twenty five units and eventually we had like, you know, anywhere from two to five labs. So it definitely changes between your first and second year, but first year was definitely a bit challenging for sure. Yes. Well, You know, if you could remind me, what is a typical week look like for a first year? What was your schedule like? Yeah. So here at the University of Houston, we have all of the first years have the same morning schedules. So, typically, we have starting at nine AM, a class nine to ten, ten to eleven, eleven to twelve, then we get our one hour lunch break And then the afternoon schedule kind of varied depending on our lab groups. So we were split up into lab groups a, b, c, d, I'm group d. And so my schedule first year was we had two long days. So we took a total of six lecture courses and four labs. So our afternoon is where the labs were stuck. So I've had two long days, Mondays and Thursdays where I was at this school from nine AM to seven PM. And but it also was nice because Tuesday, Wednesdays I had a free afternoon where I just got to study, study, study all on my own. So like I said, that varies per lab group. Some of the other lab groups had their long day split in half. So they had labs for three days of the week. It all just varies depending on the lab, but I felt like it was a really good balance because you do have those long days, but you also do have those sections and blocks of time, which were the dedicated study afternoons where you do get to just look at and interpret all of the information on your own, then use your time to study the everything that we've learned, the morning section. So it was definitely like you said, a lot of the basic sciences and a lot of the just drilling information, but it's very foundational. It's all of the foundational stuff. Cause now that I'm a second year, it's only our third day, and it's feel like everything just builds on each other. So, yes, it was a lot of the basics, but it's still very important. And all of those classes were still so interesting to me. That's great to hear. Yeah. It definitely builds. That's for sure. Having done research prior to getting into a Tom True School, and then, of course, now having finished one year, And what would you say is very exciting about optometry or that you're really looking forward to? Yeah. So I just feel like in the field of Tometry. This is also something that I can say that surprised me. It's just I feel like there's just such a broad There's so much in optometry. You know, there are different subdivisions and different specialties in optometry, and it's just so exciting because you can focus so much on one area and there's still so much that you've yet to learn and still so much that you can learn in different areas. So I feel like that's something that I'm very excited about and looking forward to. I just feel like getting into the clinic within the next semester in the next couple of years can really just expose me to different areas of optometry that I haven't seen yet, and it's just, you know, finding what suits me best and seeing where I truly fit in and what I'm truly passionate about. So it's just being open to so much and being having so much still out there to learn that I don't know about yet. Yes. There's there's a lot of specialties and reason of interest interest and, you'll definitely start to learn more about them over the next two years for sure. That's great. Well, you know, I remember optometry school, aside from going by very quickly, there was only one summer that I had off. Yes. I remember I did go home. I don't think I stayed back at Berkeley, which is where I went. And I definitely wasn't studying. I figured, well, this is my summer to relax and enjoy. So I'm curious how did you spend those few summer months that you just had right now? Yeah. That's so funny that you said that because that was always my plan leading up to this summer. I was like, I am not doing anything this summer. I'm just going to spend my time relaxing, you know, truly take in my summer. And then come end of spring semester, first year, I got an email about the supervision myopia management immersion program. And I kinda looked into it, and I was like, Okay. Wait. Maybe I should do this. Like, this sounds very interesting. It's very appealing. It is everything, like, I wanna learn about And so I decided to apply for that. And so that's what I ended up spending my summer doing. So I was a intern this summer for the myopia management program And so two days of the week, I got to work or be present at a multi doctor setting. Where we they did a lot of myopia management, a lot of contact lens, specialty. And one of the days of the week, I was here at the school in clinic in the my be a clinic and just getting to see that. So it was awesome, and that's how I spent my summer. And I loved it because I just felt like I learned so much from it and it was just so youthful, so applicable to what I wanna be doing in the future. So it wasn't what I intentionally plan to do this summer, but I'm so glad that I ended up switching gears and deciding to do that this summer. Well, I'm so glad you you know, decided to opt in for that opportunity. It is a very unique opportunity, and we only have a few students across the US who are actually able to participate in that. So I'm sure you learned quite a bit, with the with the doctor that you were with out in the Houston area. So Yes. I did. Who knows that might end up being one of the specialties that you end up pursuing. Exactly. That's what I've been seeing because I only know or I only consider the specialties that I've been exposed to. And so now that I have this under my bed, I'm like, wait, maybe I should go this route. Like, this is just there's so much to do with this too. So that definitely the exposure to this this summer has kind of switched my mentality and my outlook on how I want to go forward in the next couple of years as well. Yeah. Well, that's great. I'm so happy to hear that. Yes. Thank you. Especially because, you know, as you said, you got your first pair of glasses and second grade, which is the same in me. Exactly. And it's just something that I wish that was an option back then for me too. So it's just like now that it is, it's just so is so amazing. So, I mean, of course, you know, you you you're in your second year and you have a few years ahead of you. What do you look forward to the most over these next three years that you have? Yeah. So like I said, it's just There's first of all, I'm very excited to enter into clinic next semester. So starting spring semester, that's when I'll see my first patient that in itself is like, this whole a whole bunch of emotions because I'm so excited. And then I'm like, wait. I'm nervous. I get so soon, but I'm so much looking forward to that. And especially just getting more confident in seeing these patients, and I look forward to seeing that growth in myself. And in, like, the doctor patient relationship, which is something I truly aspire to establish for each and every patient. So I'm just excited to see my growth as a clinician along with all of my classmates because we're all in this together, and it's just so exciting to see us learn from each other and apply too, like a patient. So definitely for that, also, like I said, just immersing immersing myself into different fields and just finding what truly works for me and what I truly want to pursue for my career because as of now, I kind of am debating on doing a specialty and doing a residency. So just seeing which route I decide to take, it's just all very exciting because there's so much unknown, but it leaves so much room for only a different paths I can take, which is very exciting in itself. Yes. Well, Gordon, yeah. Oh, so kind of on a similar note, you know, where do you see yourself maybe ten years from now? Yeah. So ten years. Yeah. Okay. I'm trying to think. Okay. Ten years from now. By then, I hope to practice back home Like I said, growing up there was only one automatrist in my hometown. I'm from a very small town, so I hope to contribute back to the town that I grew up in and add another optometrist there. Hopefully, I will be in a specialty practice and go that route and just pursuant. Just being able to see patients like like myself who and offer patients stuff that wasn't directly offered to me and and just being able to provide that to my community. It's very sweet. And so this would be back in Mercedes. Yes. Back in my face. Yeah. Well, first, I love the name of that town. I mean, it's so unique. Okay. That's precious. Well, you know, a few last questions. I mean, what advice would you give all of the first years that are just starting, just as you're starting your second year. Yeah. So going into first year is just So it can be very overwhelming. I remember just registering for my classes. It seems like I was registering for, like, a million classes at once to just is very daunting because you're not necessarily used to that in undergrad. So I would give advice to expect to work hard learn to manage your time, but more importantly, once you get into the root and of everything, once you get into the rhythm of everything, because for me, that was the hardest part just, like, getting into the hang of things. Once you establish that, make sure that you have time for yourself and keep that balance because that was very hard for me to learn because I wanted to constantly be studying, studying, studying, or if I wasn't, I would feel like Oh, no. Like, I should be studying right now. Yeah. But definitely once you get in the groove of it, make sure that You have time for yourself. You take care of yourself as well, and just make learning fun and make this experience fun because you wanna look back at autonomous people and realize or think to yourself that you actually did enjoy it. So, yeah, just enjoy your time here because it's gonna fly by first year size five. So and I I'd imagine the next few years will too. So It does. It goes by actually very quickly. You know, I just remember first year, you know, definitely being challenging. Second year was challenging, but like I was able to apply it to patient care. Yes. Thirty or it's a lot more practical hands on. And then fourth year, you're on your externship. So if it goes by what feels like in a blink of an eye, You know, and one of the things that I I would love to share is that, you know, try to spend time with your classmates, you know, get to know them. Because it does fly by in that fourth year. You're all on different paths in different locations. So some very similar advice So thank you so much, Lauren. And he really kinda encapsulated, what first year was for you and offered some, you know, beautiful advice to current first years, which I think they'll be very appreciative of. So I just wanted to thank everyone for joining our podcast today. I hope you'll tune in again for our next podcast, which will be coming to us very soon. Thank you for joining us.
