Seeing the Person, Not Just the Patient by Jadelyn

Seeing the Person, Not Just the Patient by Jadelyn - April 2026 Scholarship Essay

Growing up in a town where everyone knows your name I found the idea of moving to a big university to be really exciting and scary at the same time. The thought of leaving behind the comfort of faces to pursue my dream of becoming an optometrist was a big deal. To become an optometrist you need to know a lot about science and be able to communicate with people well. In the next few years I want to get better at communicating with people in a way that is active and empathetic which is a crucial skill that will help me connect with my patients and make them feel comfortable in the future.

In my town talking to people was easy and casual. However as someone who wants to be an optometrist, I know that patients often get nervous about their vision. To be an optometrist I need to be able to explain complicated eye health information in a way that is easy to understand so my patients know what is going on and can follow my advice. Being able to listen, pick up on non-verbal cues and make patients feel heard is just as important as being able to diagnose a problem.

I plan to work on this skill at the university by taking some steps. First I will join some -optometry clubs to meet older students and attend workshops that focus on communicating with patients. Next I will look for volunteer work at health clinics or hospitals. These places will push me out of my comfort zone. Make me communicate with all sorts of patients while being supervised by professionals, which will help me get better at talking to patients.

I also want to make sure my patients understand what I am telling them so I will ask them to repeat back what I said in their words. This way I can make sure I am explaining things clearly. By asking my mentors for feedback I can find out what I need to work on before I even start optometry school.
Moving from a town taught me how important it is to connect with people. By changing the way I communicate from conversations, to professional talks I will be able to handle the challenges of a big university and also become an optometrist who sees the person, not just the patient. I want to be an optometrist who really cares about my patients and can communicate with them in a way that makes them feel comfortable and heard.