The final push before the big test
Part one of the national boards exam is during the spring of your third year in optometry school. Studying for this exam consumes every bit of free time for the better part of four months. It’s difficult to remain focused and productive for such a long period of time with such an enormous scope of material. The way I have always handled the weight of optometry school is to balance hard work with the spoils of Oregon. So in an effort to maintain sane in the days leading up to the test, along with one of my closest friends, we took a trip to the coast.
Studying was a priority, but the location helps to balance the anxiety and maintain hope during stressful times. The drive is about an hour to the closest coastal town of Ocean Side. The view was breathtaking, full of ocean waves, and haystack rocks.
We headed to Cape Lookout for our yurt. They are inexpensive permanent tent structures that can be found all along the coast. They are roomy, dry, and perfect for a quick getaway.
The day we arrived it was a calm clear evening perfect for fire in the evening. With the test only days away, we quizzed each other and continued to study until we were exhausted. However the atmosphere made it feel so far removed from “work” that is was rather pleasant.
At around midnight, the moon was hidden behind the hills that line the coast; the ocean had crept up the beach and pounded the wall of stones that separated sand from forest. It was quite a sight. In the morning, we drove back refreshed and ready for the week ahead as we made our final push before the biggest exam of our careers. It was a much needed breather that really helped frame a calm and focused state of mind for the test. I will always remember my time here as a breathtaking, life giving, and exhilarating adventure.
By Daniel Cleveland, fourth year Pacific University College of Optometry Student Ambassador.