Berkeley Optometry Ambassadors (BOA)

Scott Bartlett
scottbartlett@berkeley.edu

Born and raised along the outskirts of Los Angeles in Ventura County, I came to Berkeley Optometry with a double major in Human Biology and Psychology from UC San Diego (UCSD). Prior to entering optometry school, I was involved in the pre-optometry club at UCSD that helped me gain a better understanding of the vast scope of optometric practice. I did not consider optometry until the second half of my undergraduate career and have been fascinated by the profession ever since. I find Berkeley Optometry is a program with a strong sense of community and commitment to serve underserved populations. Last year, I led one of the vision screening missions to the villages of Panama and found a great deal of satisfaction in providing services to those without access to vision care. The faculty, my classmates, and older students are continually an invaluable asset to my educational experience. I find Berkeley an ideal educational environment not only due to its emphasis on early clinical exposure, but also the Bay Area's patient diversity is ideal for students to receive a well-rounded education. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Stephanie Burns
snburns@berkeley.edu

I am originally from a small town nestled in central Pennsylvania. I attended Slippery Rock University of PA where I earned a BS in Chemistry with minors in Biology and Spanish. As an optometric patient since the age of six, I grew to admire my optometrist both professionally and personally and soon realized in middle school that I wanted to be just like him. I decided to attend Berkeley Optometry because of its recognized reputation of excellence, super friendly and helpful faculty, staff, and students, off-the-wall clinic led by optometrists who are the forerunners in their field, challenging curriculum that is one step ahead of other schools, and, of course, Berkeley's rich cultural diversity. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an email.

Jennifer Che
chej@berkeley.edu

I grew up in Southern California before I moved to Berkeley for optometry school. With a degree in Business Administration and Computer Science minor from UC Riverside, optometry school has enlightened me to endless opportunities that come with this profession. As the former President of the 2011 Class, I worked closely with both faculty members and optometric vendors on events. I am now the Trustee Elect for the American Optometric Student Association. This responsibility allows me the opportunity to represent Berkeley Optometry in nationwide professional events and participate in seminars about the future of optometry; destinations have included Washington DC, Seattle, and St. Louis. The school also embraces and encourages student involvement in all aspect of school activities. Additionally, the UC Berkeley campus offers many enjoyable student activities and the Bay Area's breathtaking views are definitely a must-see. Words cannot describe the uniqueness of Berkeley Optometry, and it is an honor to be a student here. The faculty members and fellow students are friendly and supportive. Please come by for a tour and allow us to introduce Berkeley Optometry to you!

Allison Coit
acoit@berkeley.edu

Hi! I was born and raised in Petaluma, CA, a small town about 40 miles north of San Francisco. After high school, I decided to head north to University of Oregon where I majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry. During my junior year of college I started checking out different health careers and found optometry to be a good fit for me. I can make a difference in people's lives, it's a flexible career, and every optometrist I talked to seemed to love their job, even after 20 years of practice. I volunteered in Thailand with Unite for Sight during my senior year of college and saw a big difference optometrists can make. I checked out five other optometry schools, but after visiting Berkeley it immediately became my first choice. I loved the family-like atmosphere and the fact that the students I talked to seemed to be having fun amidst the rigorous academics. I love traveling and reading. I'm a sports fan and also enjoy movies and crosswords. Please email me with any questions. I would love to hear from you!

Avanti Ghanekar
avanti@berkeley.edu

I grew up mainly in Cupertino, CA (Bay Area) before attending UC San Diego for my BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. During my undergraduate years I fluctuated between wanting to pursue a research PhD and considering other options. The seed of optometry had been placed in my mind years prior by my personal optometrist who I had been seeing regularly for years. After volunteering for a local optometrist in San Diego who worked mainly with learning disabled children, I decided that optometry was the career that I wanted to pursue! After taking a year off to pursue other interests, I started at Berkeley Optometry in fall 2007 and it has been a great fit thus far. The depth of knowledge and support from faculty and staff has been overwhelming and I'm reminded every day that despite the challenges, I'm in the right place. I would be more than willing to answer any questions you might have about the program, the school, the area, etc. Go bears!

Anna Griffith
annagriffith@berkeley.edu

I grew up in Chico, CA and graduated from UC Davis with a Neurobiology Physiology and Behavior degree. Before coming to Berkeley Optometry, I did freelance writing for Scientific American and coached junior high volleyball and basketball. I had been interested in the health field for awhile, but became especially interested in optometry after learning about vision in my neurobiology classes and that optometry would be a great career with a family in the future. The more I learned about optometry, the more I liked it. Once I found out about all the different specialties within optometry and the role the optometrist plays in the patient's systemic health, I was sold! I am especially interested in pediatric optometry, vision therapy, and sports vision. I served as Berkeley Optometry's rep in the Graduate Assembly last year and this year I will be the Class of 2011's Sunshine Coordinator (we do fun things for our class). I have fun playing IM sports and basketball every Wednesday morning at 6 AM with other opto students. I am glad you are interested in Berkeley! Come visit us!

Sheryl Guillory
sheryl_g@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. Graduating from UC Berkeley in 2006, majoring in Sociology, I remained a local and true Golden Bear! I began shadowing a local optometrist my sophomore year in high school and continued working, part time and full time, through my first year here at Berkeley Optometry.  So, I guess you can say I had my mind pretty much made up on optometry for a long time. However, with time I realize more and more what a wonderful profession this is and how happy I am to be part of such a great community! I've felt right at home from day one! I was Class of 2011 Philanthropy Chair (2007-2008) and Secretary (2008-2009), equipment committee member, and VOSH volunteer to the Dominican Republic during my first year. I continue to be involved through political action on behalf of optometry as a profession, volunteering at the local suitcase clinic, and tutoring. I'd be more than happy to further discuss the dynamic and exciting profession of optometry anytime!  GO BEARS!

Sheena Nagaraja
sheena_nagaraja@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in good ol' Manhattan, Kansas. I stayed in Manhattan to attend Kansas State University where I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology, with minors in Women's Studies and Leadership Studies. I always planned to pursue a career in the health field and settled on optometry after shadowing a variety of health professionals. The career really appealed to me because it offered so many different modes of practice, schedule flexibility, and the ability to really impact patients (immediately and in the long-term). Selecting a school was a difficult choice until I made the visit to UC Berkeley. I felt at home with the genuine and helpful staff, intelligent and accessible professors, and surrounding community. There are also many opportunities to be involved outside of class. I served as my class secretary during first year and helped plan activities, including our year-end formal — Eyeball! I volunteered at suitcase clinic my first semester where I got to perform some basic testing on patients. I have really enjoyed learning at this school and having fun with my classmates. If you have any questions, shoot me an email or stop by for a visit!

Kim Nguyen
knguyen8@berkeley.edu

I grew up in San Jose, CA and graduated from Cal with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. After six years in Berkeley, I still love discovering and experiencing the multiple facets of Berkeley food, sights, and culture. In addition to a great environment, Berkeley has also provided me with a great education and opportunities to nurture my passions. Having always been interested in vision care, Berkeley's optometry program allows me to research the visual system in Professor Wildsoet's Lab and provide eye care in our clinic. Two years in the program have given me a chance to learn with the best optometrists and professors, help underserved communities through programs like the Suitcase Clinic and VOSH, and network with other students at meetings and conferences. Come check out our program and see for yourself! Feel free to email me with any questions you have.

Lam Votran
lamvotran@berkeley.edu

Born in Hong Kong, I moved to Oakland when I was four years old. I attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate and I am one of the few OptoBears who did not major in a science area. After receiving my BA in American Studies, I decided to apply to medical school. I attended CSU Hayward (CSUH) to complete my prerequisites, and while taking physics, I became interested in learning about optics. It just so happened that I had an eye appointment that week at the CSUH eye clinic. Dr. George Lee (an instructor at Berkeley Optometry) happened to be my examiner. He allowed me to volunteer at the eye clinic there, and I was also able to sit in on exams done by current Berkeley Opotmetry clinicians. The experience really opened my eyes to the scope of optometry and how much it has to offer. Patients really love optometrists; they leave our office with improved vision. Berkeley Optometry has a ton of opportunities to give back to the community: Suitcase Clinics where students perform basic eye screenings for the homeless; annual VOSH trips to exotic places such as Dominican Republic, Thailand, and Vietnam. I think the greatest assets are the friendships developed here. Spending hours a day with each other, we form bonds that last beyond school. You can't ask for a better experience than Berkeley Optometry. We really are one big happy family! Come find out about us!

Esther Yeh
estheryeh@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in San Jose, CA and graduated from beautiful UC San Diego in Biochemistry/Cell Biology with a minor in Health Care Social Issues. I've wanted to be an optometrist since the 10th grade. Beginning in the 6th grade, I practically grew up in my optometrist's group practice as an Ortho-K patient. Optometry appealed to me not only because of the lifestyle and flexibility, but the awesome relationships with patients that come with it. Patient interaction makes optometry a truly rewarding career; the rest is icing on the cake. At UCSD, I was involved in the pre optometry club and an interdisciplinary engineering project called "Save Our Children's Sight." We developed a vision screening software and camera to identify low-income children in San Diego needing special vision care. As an active member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, social justice and caring for the poor has always been my passion. In 2005, I went on medical mission trips to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, where I provided basic optometric care to hundreds of rural villagers. I was also a research assistant in Stanford University's Department of Ophthalmology for three summers. All of my experiences confirmed my desire to enter optometry and serve people of all backgrounds. Since starting my training at Berkeley Optometry, it feels like I'm living out my dream. I've been actively involved with student life, serving as Yearbook Committee Co-Chair every year and participating in vision screenings, Suitcase Clinic, and a VOSH trip to Ecuador, where we served over 1,400 patients in 3 days. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them!

Melanie Akau
melanie.akau@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in the desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico where I grew up with a love of mountains, green chile, and hot air balloons. For undergrad, I packed up my bags and headed for The University of Texas at Austin where I graduated in Violin Performance with minors in Biology and Chemistry. I will always love music and the violin, but I knew going into college that I wanted my career to be in a health-science related field. While at UT, I contemplated medical school, speech pathology, nursing, and clinical lab science before happening upon optometry toward the end of my junior year. The aspects of the profession that immediately attracted me were its flexibility, interaction with patients, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. In my senior and "super senior" years, I worked as an optometry technician at a local office and shadowed five different optometrists. The insight gathered from these experiences was priceless and contributed greatly to my enthusiasm as I decided on optometry as a career. I chose to attend Berkeley Optometry not only because of the high caliber of the program and its faculty, but because I could see myself thriving in the personality and diverse backgrounds of the people I met while here for Interview Day. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your questions!

Alana Brown
balanabrown@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in Lakeland, FL just 40 minutes away from the happiest place on earth, Disney World! I lived with my parents while I attended Florida Southern College, a small liberal arts school in my hometown. I earned a BS in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Studio Art. My whole life I struggled with deciding what I wanted to do with my career, loving both the sciences and the arts equally. I finally chose optometry my junior year of college because it not only is a rewarding and incredibly interesting career, it also allows me the flexibility to achieve all my other life goals as well. Berkeley Optometry really appealed to me because they really strive to make you an excellent clinician. I am so happy to be here because it is evident everyday that the faculty and staff genuinely care and want you to succeed. I really feel at home (not to mention the fact that I live two blocks away from any kind of food you could ever want to eat!). I am really enjoying my time here; please come for a tour or ask me any questions you like!

Selena Chu
selenacchu@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia and attended Goucher College, a small liberal arts school in Baltimore, Maryland. I was able to study a variety of subjects and study abroad in different countries. I knew I wanted to eventually be involved in patient care, but I had no idea what kind of field I wanted to go into. It wasn't until my junior year that I first considered optometry as a profession. My one day shadowing visit turned into a weekly internship and eventually a job where I found myself growing to love the profession. I never imagined myself moving to the west coast until Admit Day weekend. After walking around the lively, diverse campus on Cal Day, I was sold. I love living in the Bay Area and exploring all this area has to offer. More than that, I love my school: the helpful faculty and camaraderie that I share with my classmates has made my experience great. I play IM soccer and tennis with my classmates during the academic year, and I will be serving on our school's Student Life committee. Feel free to contact me!

Hector Duenas
hduenas@berkeley.edu

I was born in Mexico, but have spent most of my life in Southern California. One of the first memories I have in this country is of a volunteer optometrist providing free eye care for my financially stricken family. From then on, I have always viewed Optometry as a very rewarding and kind career dedicated to the advancement of vision care. I attended UC Riverside (UCR) for my undergraduate studies majoring in Biology. Throughout my time at UCR, I was very involved in optometry; I was the founder of the pre-optometry club, shadowed a few local optometrists, and even worked on an outreach project for Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO). My proudest accomplishment was participating in a monthly volunteer eye clinic in El Hongo, Mexico. I chose Berkeley Optometry because of its academic and clinical reputation. I also wanted the opportunity to explore the Bay Area and experience everything the vibrant city of San Francisco has to offer. After completing my first semester at Berkeley Optometry, I was fortunate enough to travel to Ecuador with fellow classmates on a Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) trip where we saw 1,400 patients and even had the opportunity to visit the Galapagos Islands. I hope you consider Berkeley Optometry, and feel free to contact me.

Chelsia Leong
chelsialeong@berkeley.edu

Hi all! My name is Chelsia, and I grew up around the Bay Area. Upon graduating from high school, I decided to attend community college to stay close to my family and pets, Emily and Bobo, in addition to giving myself more time for some soul searching. After transferring from community college to UC Berkeley undergrad, there was no other campus besides Berkeley that could provide the richness in culture and exposure to global issues that would feed my curiosity. I was able to gain a deeper connection with the world news I read on the internet through posters, protesters, or peace demonstrations I observed around campus. In addition, I loved my strolls through the streets of Berkeley, where I'd scan handmade beaded jewelry, while smelling Brazilian barbeque or fresh chocolate muffins from the storefronts. My road to optometry has been a windy one, but I was able to firmly decide on pursuing a career in this field upon attending Cal. Although I had shadowed and worked for an optometrist while in community college, this spark of interest wasn't solidified until I took an undergrad optometry course and explored different modes of optometric related research. I would be happy to answer any of your questions.

Andy Mu
amu@berkeley.edu

I was born in Taiwan, but grew up in Southern California. As an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, I studied law and business administration and spent a year and a half studying and working abroad in Germany. Shortly after I came back from my stay abroad, I decided that the strict business law environment was not for me and began exploring careers in the health profession, namely optometry. At first, it seemed almost impossible to fathom such a drastic career change: switching from a liberal arts background to embark upon studies of the hard sciences. But luckily I had the guidance of both business colleagues and optometric professionals, including former Berkeley Optometry Ambassadors, who helped me better understand how business and law are in fact integral to the successful practice of optometry. Are you facing a similar situation? Contact me and I'll share with you diversity of the optometric profession and how Berkeley Optometry's renowned optometric education, rich clinical training, and pre-eminent vision science research is the best place to achieve your career and personal aspirations.

David Murakami
David.murakami@berkeley.edu

I once asked a friend to describe me in three words. In return, I got: funny, friendly, and boisterous. I grew up in Walnut, a small town in Southern California, but have since lived in a variety of locales. As an undergrad in UC San Diego, I majored in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, with a minor in History. During my third year, I studied abroad at the University of Sussex, in Brighton, England. There I developed a great love of traveling, discovering new cultures and drinking tea in the afternoon. When I graduated, I decided to pursue my Masters of Public Health, with an emphasis on International Health at Boston University. It was during that time that I put together two interests — global health prevention and vision care. I volunteered in Southern India working with Unite for Sight, visiting nearly two dozen villages and screening hundreds of patients in need of glasses or surgery. It opened my eyes to the incredible need for more help in developing countries — something that has helped drive me to pursue optometry. UC Berkeley has given me the chance to start my own road towards working as a medical professional to provide care not only to communities in the U.S., but also abroad. This past year, my friends and I volunteered in Nicaragua, where after only four months of school, we managed to perform full eye exams. With several more years yet to come, I'm eager to further my career in optometry and hope you are able to make your dreams come true at UC Berkeley, too. If you love to travel, have any questions about working abroad, or want to know more about Berkeley Optometry and the Bay Area, I would love to hear your questions.

Raeann Murray
r.murray@berkeley.edu

Growing up I moved around a bit. I have lived in Boston, MA, Seattle, WA, San Luis Obispo, CA and Austin, TX. In May 2008, I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (UT) with a BA in Biology and a BS in Psychology. While at UT, I loved both my majors, but did not know what to do with them. I bounced around the health professions for a while until I eventually started attending the Pre-Optometry Society meetings and working in a private practice office. I loved working there, seeing patients and getting to learn from the doctors. I applied to Berkeley Optometry because of its reputation for clinical and academic excellence, but I chose to come here because of the people I met during my visits to Berkeley Optometry for Interview Day and Admit Day. The students all seemed to really love the clinical education they were receiving and the professors seemed excited about teaching. Now that I am about to begin my second year at Berkeley Optometry, I could not be happier with my education, the people I have met, or the city I live in! Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions!

Annie Wan
annie_w@berkeley.edu

Hi!! My name is Annie Wan. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, so I have lived here ALL my life. That being said, I still love it here! I attended UC Berkeley for undergrad, majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in cellular developmental biology and minored in Asian American Studies. As an undergrad, I volunteered at hospitals, tutored students, conducted research, and helped with on-campus organizations. At one point in my life I thought I was going to be a teacher, but my experiences at an optometric research clinic opened my eyes to a new world. The idea of helping people with their visual needs was very appealing and I loved the fact that the profession was hands-on. I am glad that I decided to stay here at Cal. Not only will I get very rewarding clinical experiences, but I am part of a family of staff, students, faculty, and researchers that enjoy school involvement.

Kathleen Yang
katyang@berkeley.edu

Born and raised in San Jose, California, I attended UC Berkeley for undergrad and majored in Molecular and Cell Biology. I spent my first two years of undergrad not knowing what to do with the rest of my life; I went through phases of wanting to go into bioengineering to pharmacy to teaching and who knows what else. I was in such a confused state of mind. Somehow everything led me back to Optometry. I have always had a good relationship with my optometrist and had the opportunity to shadow her. To pursue my knowledge and curiosity of the profession, I interned at a private practice. There, I discovered that this was the profession that I would enjoy for the rest of my life. Returning to Berkeley for Optometry is a dream come true. I love the diversity, school spirit, food, and, of course, the people. If you have any questions about our school, the area, or anything at all, feel free to contact me or visit!

Daphne Chan
chandaphne@berkeley.edu

Hello! As an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, I majored in Public Health and minored in Education. I was once "extremely undeclared," discussing career choices with anyone and everyone! Things changed after second year, when I joined Foresight Pre-Optometry Club, realized that I loved working directly with people, shadowed several great optometrists, and discovered that optometry is a rewarding health field that allows plenty of personal, one-to-one attention with patients ... Perfect! As president of Foresight my senior year, I dedicated myself to educating students about optometry: I expanded the mentorship program, emphasized the diverse and progressive nature of optometry to members, and organized the first Berkeley Foresight visit to the Southern California College of Optometry! Now, as a Berkeley Optometry Ambassador, I hope to utilize my experiences and continue to mentor others who are interested in this field (so email me!). Two of the reasons I chose Berkeley Optometry are the tangibly deep sense of community here and the myriad of opportunities students have to get involved in the profession. In my free time, I like to watch movies, eat yummy things, hang out with friends and family, practice Taekwondo, and volunteer at my church in San Francisco, my hometown. I look forward to your email—I'd love to help you if I can! Go Bears!

Mark Landig
mark.landig@berkeley.edu

Spending my early childhood in a small province in the Philippines, I knew and understood hardship. I was fortunate to have moved to the United States and start a new life open to opportunities. In 2008, I received a Bachelor's of Science in Physiological Science from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, I participated in many organizations: BruinLife Yearbook, mentorship programs, Mortar Board Honors Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Undergraduate Research Consortium, and volunteered at the UCLA Medical Center and several optometry sites hosted by the Lion's Club and UCLA's Pre-Optometry Club. I wish to continue my willingness to give back to the school and community at Berkeley. In 2006, I started the ARC Medical Program in hopes to promote awareness of the importance of communication and interaction among patients and resident doctors to the undergraduate and professional communities. ARC's mission and protocols are easily applicable to any healthcare profession, especially in optometry. My interest in optometry grew after taking Neurophysiology and visiting the Philippines in 2007. I witnessed the country's lack of optometrists and vision care. I am pleased to be part of the diverse, bright, hospitable class of 2013 at UC Berkeley for my optometric studies. With the knowledge that I will receive from renowned Berkeley professors, faculty, and staff, I will be well-equipped and ready to give back. Thank you for stopping by and feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

Andrew Mangum
andrew.mangum@berkeley.edu

I grew up just outside of Portland, Oregon, but have spent the past 12 years of my life in San Diego, California. After graduating from the University of San Diego with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Spanish, I worked for nearly five years within the finance industry. Despite my success, I was unsatisfied with my career path and the unrewarding nature of the work. I knew that I needed a much more fulfilling career. I always had an interest in the sciences, mathematics, and working with underserved communities, so I began looking into different healthcare professions. After many hours of patient interaction within a hospital setting as well as volunteering with and observing optometrists working in private practice, I knew optometry was the career for me. I decided to attend Berkeley Optometry because of the amount of faculty involvement, the welcoming and open environment, the great balance of classroom learning and clinical experience, and the rich cultural diversity of the Bay Area. I hope my background and non-traditional path to Optometry school can be of some help to prospective students. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

Albert Nguyen
albertnguyen@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in Stockton, CA. I moved about an hour north to attend CSU Sacramento, where I received my degree in Biology. For the majority of my undergrad I was struggling between choosing optometry and teaching until I decided I want both. Ideally, I would like to be a clinical professor for fourth-year optometry students or work directly with patients in private practice during the day and moonlight at the local community college teaching a physiology class at night. Picking which optometry school to attend is a completely personal choice. At any of the ASCO member schools you are going to receive an excellent education and training. With my own family being the principle part of my life, I was looking for a college with a strong sense of community. At Berkeley Optometry, you can sense the camaraderie immediately. Be it staff, faculty, or students; everyone wants to see you succeed. Whether that means volunteering their time for campus events or waking up extra early to play a 6am game of basketball with the instructors, we're all in this together. Visit as many schools as your wallet allows, seeing which school matches you and your values. If Berkeley Optometry sounds like it may fit, email me; or better yet, come to our Friday Visitation or Opto-Camp and see for yourself.

Cecilia Tong
ceciliast@berkeley.edu

I was born in Hong Kong, but have spent most of my life in the Bay Area. I went to Berkeley for undergrad where I majored in Integrative Biology and Molecular and Cell Biology. My volunteering experience in high school and college motivated me to pursue a career in healthcare. I chose Optometry out of all the health related disciplines because I felt like it had a great impact on my life. Besides the fact that I had been dependent on glasses ever since I was a child, my sister was also diagnosed with a form of intermittent strabismus. It was with the help of an optometrist who provided early diagnosis and prompt treatment that allowed my sister to overcome her condition. To gain valuable insights into the field, I interned at a general private practice and a pediatric vision therapy office. My experience at the two practices solidified my desire to become an optometrist and motivated me to continue my education at UC Berkeley. It's a comfortable environment filled with diversity and awe-inspiring people. I encourage you to explore Berkeley Optometry and feel free to contact me with your questions!

Greg Wingren
gwingren@berkeley.edu

I grew up in the Bay Area, but moved to southern California after high school. After graduating from UCLA with an Anthropology degree, I quickly returned to the Bay Area where I pursued careers in outdoor education and education research. Though I enjoyed both professions, something was missing. I found that optometry built on the attributes I enjoyed most about my previous careers and filled in the gaps where they were lacking—optometry is intellectually stimulating, has a high level of one-on-one interaction with patients, and is inherently beneficial to individuals and communities. I returned to school and spent two years completing prerequisites at San Francisco State. I consider this to be one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I'm thrilled to study Optometry at Berkeley—its academic reputation is unquestionable, but more than this, a sense of community resonates through the halls. I felt welcomed by the students, faculty, and staff long before my first day of orientation. I'm happy to extend this community by sharing my experiences with you.