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- Oct 1, 2006
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Hello all opto eye care friends..I as hoping I could get a little guidance or perspectives on my wanting to go into optometry. I've been out of undergrad for a few years and have lately basically been planning on doing optometry, but I've kinda got some cold feet about starting the whole process....getting experience, and then taking the plunge and going back to school.
Basically, I think I want to do optometry because, after talking to about 5 optometrists, reading a lot of the posts here, talking to a couple of students, and just thinking about it and the alternatives a lot, my image is that it's a good, respectable job with good income (I think I'm pretty modest, anything over 60K, with the option of trying to get more if I think I want it, seems plenty for me as far as money goes). And I can kinda choose where I live and practice, and have enough time/peace of mind to have a generally well-balanced life, hobbies, family, etc.
For context, I'm comparing it to something else that appeals to me, and that's teaching science (some form of biology) in small university or community college. But the major drawbacks are that there are not so many jobs (if I want to, say, live near family, I may not have that choice. I may have to pack it up and go to some other state chasing jobs). And also that, of course, to teach in University, you have to have a Ph.D. and, more recently, even for community college jobs if you want to stay competetive.
That's a lot of school fro not so much security. It comes with other headaches/burdens too. and the pay is not great. But it has the 'rewarding' / 'interesting' factor. giving interesting lecutures, and helping people learn something cool like biology can be fun.
So, I guess my question is do you all find enough day to day satifaction/enjoyment/'interestingness' in your jobs? I've read some posts mentioning the good points. I like that it's not a cubicle or lab job, and that there's some human contact. I'm the kind of person that likes meeting poeple and having a little chat, getting to know different people. Even if just briefly. I always liked going to see my eye doctor. I recently went to a physical checkup for work, and the nurse (not really attractive or anyting) just seemed cool. Nice, amicable, and I thought maybe she too enjoys being nice and amicable to people that walk in, and maybe being an optometrist is similar. Do you all find some joy in this? Are your visits just too brief and routine? Or does just that fact that different people walk in your door add some variety to your experience?
I've had many physicains, for routine checkups and things, and most of them seem pretty freindly, happy, like they enjoy their jobs overall. Or maybe it's that they're stressed like anyone else, and seeing me as a patient added some diversion, which casued them to seem happy. Either way is good to me. It seems that optometry wouldn't be too different. What do you think?
I know sometimes its hard to see the good sides to jobs we do everyday, but please let me know if there is at least some truth or reality in my image.
I've done some different jobs, and I know sometimes little things can make a big difference day to day. Just for example, I worked for the Air Control Board, it was okay, but I often had to write tickets to people for breaking rules they didn:t know about. That was tough, and prettymuch made me hate the job. And all the engineers there spent all day at thier desks writing rules, and really only ever got to talk to each other. I think I would have prettymuch hated that too.
I was kinda surprised not to see any other general, feeling around in the dark posts like this. hopefully it's not out of place, thanks for reading, please let me know what you think, and hopefully I can join your ranks before too long.
Basically, I think I want to do optometry because, after talking to about 5 optometrists, reading a lot of the posts here, talking to a couple of students, and just thinking about it and the alternatives a lot, my image is that it's a good, respectable job with good income (I think I'm pretty modest, anything over 60K, with the option of trying to get more if I think I want it, seems plenty for me as far as money goes). And I can kinda choose where I live and practice, and have enough time/peace of mind to have a generally well-balanced life, hobbies, family, etc.
For context, I'm comparing it to something else that appeals to me, and that's teaching science (some form of biology) in small university or community college. But the major drawbacks are that there are not so many jobs (if I want to, say, live near family, I may not have that choice. I may have to pack it up and go to some other state chasing jobs). And also that, of course, to teach in University, you have to have a Ph.D. and, more recently, even for community college jobs if you want to stay competetive.
That's a lot of school fro not so much security. It comes with other headaches/burdens too. and the pay is not great. But it has the 'rewarding' / 'interesting' factor. giving interesting lecutures, and helping people learn something cool like biology can be fun.
So, I guess my question is do you all find enough day to day satifaction/enjoyment/'interestingness' in your jobs? I've read some posts mentioning the good points. I like that it's not a cubicle or lab job, and that there's some human contact. I'm the kind of person that likes meeting poeple and having a little chat, getting to know different people. Even if just briefly. I always liked going to see my eye doctor. I recently went to a physical checkup for work, and the nurse (not really attractive or anyting) just seemed cool. Nice, amicable, and I thought maybe she too enjoys being nice and amicable to people that walk in, and maybe being an optometrist is similar. Do you all find some joy in this? Are your visits just too brief and routine? Or does just that fact that different people walk in your door add some variety to your experience?
I've had many physicains, for routine checkups and things, and most of them seem pretty freindly, happy, like they enjoy their jobs overall. Or maybe it's that they're stressed like anyone else, and seeing me as a patient added some diversion, which casued them to seem happy. Either way is good to me. It seems that optometry wouldn't be too different. What do you think?
I know sometimes its hard to see the good sides to jobs we do everyday, but please let me know if there is at least some truth or reality in my image.
I've done some different jobs, and I know sometimes little things can make a big difference day to day. Just for example, I worked for the Air Control Board, it was okay, but I often had to write tickets to people for breaking rules they didn:t know about. That was tough, and prettymuch made me hate the job. And all the engineers there spent all day at thier desks writing rules, and really only ever got to talk to each other. I think I would have prettymuch hated that too.
I was kinda surprised not to see any other general, feeling around in the dark posts like this. hopefully it's not out of place, thanks for reading, please let me know what you think, and hopefully I can join your ranks before too long.
