|
|
|
Personal Statement:OptometryTSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Personal Statement Library > Optometry
Optometry Personal StatementImagine a life without sight. As a photographer this is an alien concept to me, as I am always amazed by what there is to see through the lens of a camera. Imagine the feeling of being skilful enough to allow a child to see clearly for the first time or to drastically improve the life of a person with low vision. So why optometry? As an enthusiastic scientist, during my first eye examination, aged 12, I couldn't help but wonder about the methods and reasons behind the different tests. I pursued this interest by undertaking work experience with an optician in Years 10 and 12, where my passion for the vocation grew. I have worked part time in my local pharmacy for the past four years and have completed my NPA pharmacy interact course. This has allowed me to develop interpersonal skills working with the general public in a professional and medical capacity; a skill I can go on to apply in optometry. At the beginning of Year 12 I was given the opportunity to help at Windermere Manor, a hotel for the blind and more recently to work with South Cumbria Society for the Blind which has involved working with people of varying age and visual ability. It has been through working with SCSB that I have met some truly warm, kind and funny people and I can say without doubt that I had an amazing time working with them. Here I have come to appreciate how important retaining independence and continuing to lead as active a life as possible is to people with low vision. I am an eager climber, which has surprised many people, including myself, due to my fear of heights. I feel that this shows a determination to persevere and overcome challenges. I am also working towards my John Muir Conserver Award. Climbing and completing the Conserver Award has meant that I have had to think of new ways of addressing unfamiliar problems that I face with a degree of flexibility, something I feel I can go on to apply to my studies and work. I play the piano and I am working towards grade 5 in clarinet, which I play in a wind band. In my band I also help the younger clarinettists with their music. I believe this shows my ability to work with others of different ages. In addition, I recognise that a key skill for an optometrist is manual dexterity and perseverance with difficult tasks and believe that my music demonstrates that I have such skills and the discipline to develop them further. My quieter hobbies include quilting and embroidery. I have recently finished a full size quilt that has taken me a year to complete; this has required determination to see a task to an end. Quilting and embroidery require great attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy, along with a certain amount of manual dexterity and repetition of tasks. I believe all of these are skills I can put into practice in an optometry degree and as a trained optician. Last year I took on the role of head of wardrobe for my school play. Not only did this involve fixing outfits but also a great deal of organisation and administrational skills that I have gone on to apply to my studies. Completing the International Baccalaureate has allowed me to study a diverse range of subjects that has meant that I have gained valuable and varied skills in my studies; not only am I able to analyse statistical data but I can also write a well-worded essay and examine texts. As part of the IB I had to write a 4000-word thesis based upon my own research idea. I chose to conduct an experiment to investigate the effect of age on the accommodation of the eye. The opportunity to study at an in-depth level of research has secured my belief that I wish to read for a degree in optometry, that I can cope with university level study and that this is the profession I wish to engage in for the rest of my life. Universities Applied to:
Grades Achieved:
Total of: 37 Points CommentsGeneral Comments:Comments on the statement: |
|
|||||||||||||
