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Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Posted by on Dec 27, 2012 in Blogs | 0 comments

shopping

Some of my holiday shopping purchases

It’s break time again at ICO and I’m so glad to be home with my family. Break started after an exam on Friday in one of our harder courses–ocular anatomy–and once it was over it was so good to finally be able to breathe again. Minutes after we completd the exam, taxi cars were pulling up by the Residential Complex to take home several of my colleagues and friends. I headed home after a celebratory lunch and shopping trip with friends. We tried a restaurant called Opart Thai that had a cool vibe, yummy food, and a location near campus. Our shopping trip took us to Michigan Avenue where we conquered the holiday sales and deals.

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Dyes and Dilations

Posted by on Dec 11, 2012 in Blogs | 0 comments

It’s week four of the quarter and the amount of factual information we’ve received and practical skills we’ve learned so far is extensive. The days are longer this quarter, with classes from afternoon through the evening. The ocular anatomy lecture meets for five or more hours each week. Mornings are filled with one of four commitments: PAP observations and labs for optometry, ocular anatomy and vision science. We’ve had two weeks of optometry lab thus far, coupled with additional days in the “lanes” to practice and refine our newly learned skills on each other while completing homework. While we spent the bulk of optometry lab last quarter understanding and ironing out case history and HPI (history of present illness), this quarter we jumped right into entrance testing. So far we’ve learned how to properly assess visual acuity, read spectacles using a mechanical lensometer and measure pupillary distance (PD) for distance and near vision.

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School Again

School Again

Posted by on Nov 28, 2012 in Blogs | 0 comments

I had last week off from school to celebrate Thanksgiving and returned home to spend time with my family, eat delicious food and do some shopping. Prior to Turkey Day, I was reluctant to break up the relaxation period with schoolwork, so I didn’t hit the books much, studying just a little every other day. I got around to studying more diligently after Thursday. Although since we’ve only had a week of classes this quarter thus far, the coursework hadn’t piled up yet and by Monday morning, I was back on top of my game.

I’m loving how jewelry with glasses are on-trend and in stores.

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Winter Quarter Begins

Winter Quarter Begins

Posted by on Nov 14, 2012 in Blogs | 0 comments

Though I have lived in Chicago for over 14 years, the first sight of snow each year always puts a smile on my face. From the prevalence of cute and cozy cold-weather wear to the yummy seasonal drinks at Starbucks to ice skating in Millennium Park, the change of weather brings a simple promise of novelty. And the cold weather usually keeps me indoors longer, which is perfect for studying.

This week marked the end of fall break and the start of winter quarter at ICO. With classes starting anew, I have a fresh focus on classwork and a renewed mission to stay on track and study (and play!) hard. I was also on the quarter system during undergrad, and I liked how swiftly each quarter passed and how quickly everything restarted. Like last quarter, I’m expecting exams every other day and assessments along the way, but I’m eager for the changes that come with winter quarter.

Monday morning, my fellow first years and I attended the orientation for the Patient Advocate Program, which begins this week. Along with the new commitment that PAP brings, this quarter boasts two long recesses for Thanksgiving and winter break. After this first week in school, I’ll be heading back home after my first PAP session on Saturday. And while the course load promises to be difficult this quarter, I await the days when we can escape for some skating at Millennium Park’s McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which opens Friday.

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Three Down, Three to Go

Three Down, Three to Go

Posted by on Oct 31, 2012 in Blogs | 0 comments

We’ve been immersed in finals this past week and a half, and while I’ve definitely been studying, I’ve also been able to enjoy time with family and friends. My classmates and I have three final exams to complete by this week’s end, but we enjoyed a break after the first set of exams. With the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting taking place last week in Phoenix, we had a week off from school during which we mixed studies with recreation. I returned home for a few days that included minimal studying and the celebration the Muslim holiday of Eid ul’Adha. That the holiday coincided with the irregular break was perfect timing, and I was keen on getting dressed in traditional garb for a day of celebration and significance. The holiday honors the faith of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and the importance of the pilgrimage. After holiday festivities, I slowly returned to studies and schoolwork.

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