Eye on the Future by Abery

Eye on the Future by Abery - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

My dream of becoming an eye doctor began at age 10, sparked by my fascination with a Build-A-Bear named Beary who wore pink glasses. I wore her tiny unprescribed glasses daily, feeling sophisticated and intelligent. As the only child in my family of 5 who doesn’t wear prescription glasses, I noticed how troublesome they were for my family. This realization sparked a deep sense of gratitude and led me to a desire to help them and others who relied on glasses. That moment marked the beginning of my interest to pursue a career in ophthalmology.

Growing up with my grandmother, I’ve spent much of my life surrounded by older adults, which further fueled my passion for providing care to this population. Through reading books to elders at Heartis Senior Living, playing games with the seniors at Interlochen Health and Rehabilitation Center, and making peanut butter sandwiches at The Phap Quang Temple on weekends, I developed a greater sense of humility, empathy, and connection for the seniors. Through my interactions with older adults, I became aware that their vision impairments limited their daily activities and diminished their quality of life. These impairments also contribute to falls, a leading cause of injury-related death in older adults. Witnessing these challenges firsthand has reinforced my passion for ophthalmology and deepened my desire to help mitigate these challenges.

My career aspirations were further solidified through shadowing optometrists and working as an optical technician at Optimum Eyecare. One memorable experience was when I comforted a patient anxious about a potential glaucoma diagnosis and surgery. While I could only offer words of encouragement, it was a pivotal moment that strengthened my resolve to pursue a career where I could directly impact my patients' vision and well-being. By gaining hands-on experience with the diverse needs of each patient, I discovered the significance of being understanding and empathetic. Conducting examinations goes beyond just administering tests; it involves fostering a comfortable environment and building a relationship with the patients. The Medical Technician major I am pursuing allows me to remain intrigued with the various tests I can perform while equipping me with the technical skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful eye surgeon. Through my optical technician experience, I have learned to work alongside the anxieties of young children as well as the slower pacing of older adults. I constantly wear a smile because I am truly passionate about elevating the lives of others through improved visual clarity.

With my unwavering determination and enthusiasm, I have both confidence and clarity in my professional aspirations. My vision is to become an ophthalmologist dedicated to improving the quality of life for the underserved communities and older adults by restoring sight, addressing vision-related fall risks, and alleviating the emotional and physical burdens that accompany the natural decline of vision.