Hi, I’m Beth and I am a first-year optometry student at Teesside University.
The last 12 weeks have been very full on but enjoyable, with a mixture of lectures and practical lessons. No two days have been the same!
It takes me around an hour and a half to travel to and from uni, so I often take this time to listen to my favourite music and podcasts. Once I have arrived, I usually have lectures in the morning. I download all of the slides and make rough notes ready to write up when I get home. After lunch, we usually have practical lessons, where we go to the clinic and practice what we have recently learned in class. I find these sessions fun and engaging as we get to practice and help each other with each new skill. After this, I make my way home.
Once I get home, I have my tea and then settle down at my desk to write up my notes from the day, and watch YouTube videos on the skills we have learned and practiced.
One key piece of advice for anyone starting university is to not fall behind on your notes. My days at uni are all very different – some days I am in full days and others I am only in for half a day, which allows me to complete more hours of independent study either in the library or at home.
Every other week, I have been attending a placement at an opticians, which has given me a good understanding of how different practices run. I currently work part-time in a high street practice. My days on placement are all different – I have observed dispensing, carried out pre-screening checks and my favourite part, observed multiple sight tests.
I am very excited for next semester and to start a new placement and new modules.
By Beth
