Road to Optometry School

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Hello World…August 10,2019

61 days until OAT

A lot of things have happened this year…

Things that have made me simultaneously lose hope in getting into optometry school and fire me up for it

It’s those moments of frustration and weakness that I feel aren’t really displayed in our social media age- which hasn’t helped me personally as I wonder how everyone is just a perfect student, perfect study person, perfect optometry student…

I KNOW everyone has their struggles, we are humans after all. But I would like to write my next year . I love writing random things about my life and experiences, albeit poorly. I tend to ramble, as I do in real life, so you will get to see me at my most real self.

As for me, I’m Ariana, I’m a 27 year old student that has always done everything according to schedules and timelines. Ironically the biggest and most important timeline in my life -Optometry School- has been all over the place. I’m studying for the Optometry Admissions Test(OAT) and applying to schools this year, along with finishing up some pre-reqs.

Some dates that should be important October 10: Plan to take OAT
October 10: Submit any applications not submitted

“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might as well put that passing time to the best possible use” -Earl Nightingale

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

Purpose of this blog

I LOVE to write. It’s probably one of my favourite things to do, especially when you take into account being able to imagine different worlds and being able to write your thoughts and feelings into the world. The fun thing about blogs is being able to express either your worries and people(that you may or may not know) read it! And have an opinion. As my blog will be a study blog, or a rant blog(hopefully not…), or a “journey” blog, it’s not super controversial. Unless you think me sleeping a ton is controversial…or not sleeping much.

I know these next couple of weeks are going to be rough so I wanted to bring back an old hobby to play. It’s a nice distraction, while not being too distracting like books. I mean, one gets tired of reading their own thoughts at times huh?

Disclaimer: My mind works very strangely and may jump from topic to topic. It may not be as weird on a written format but in person it has led to many a confused “What are you talking about?”

When Life is going…it just keeps going

I know there was a time I was disciplined…

As you’ve probably noticed I have not posted since my first post. Which I guess can be said to be an upgrade from my previous blog where I didn’t post anything…so- one step in the right direction??

Either way this week has been simultaneously busy and a laze fest.(Does anyone relate??) I was scheduled to work- which I won’t pretend were many hours, but being an introvert sometimes normal social things really drain me-moreso when my stress is already at pretty high levels. But fun fact- my attempts to sleep or nap have been rough.

Anyways, while I still am exhausted I forced myself to go through some chapters of physics and review chapter 1. For the life of me, vector addition and subtraction eludes me. Which is kind of important so I need to get that down. Maybe it’s one of those concepts that’s really easy and I’m overthinking it. Whatever the case, it should be solved soon.

So I’ve been using this website that gives videos, slides, and a TON of practice problems, along with practice OAT/DAT problems for Chem, Physics and Ochem. PS. I’m paying 10 dollars a month(started this month) for access to this which is a lot more manageable than the hundreds of dollars some prep programs request(and have been more helpful…for me at least). Also if you just wanted to watch the videos I think that’s free and the OAT practice are free for a while as well. Just sayin’

What I started doing that might help my mind space is dividing OAT work per day per subject into little manila filing folders. If I can figure out pictures on this blogging platform, I will make sure to post it. Essentially I started writing down the subjects on the folders, looked at the chapters and questions, MADE SURE I WASN’T TAKING ON TOO MUCH, and wrote down a few days of work. It’s still in the trial and error format, but starting studying and not really having a plan can be kind of a pain…and then somehow youtube is on with me supposedly “planning” my study schedule. Again…I used to be super disciplined. -.-

Anyways- between my last days of summer “vacation” and working a good amount of hours(thank God…) I’ve been again, busy and not busy. (There has to be a word for it). Maybe I just need to spend one day, completely meaningfully, meant for me, to relax so I can reset- because I feel I’ve been racing around since May(between school, Chicago, school, OAT studying, Optometry applications- that have not been submitted yet, and OAT studying). If anyone has any tips to best reset and get that focus back I’d love to hear them.

I hope you are well and that you take care!