Education
Optometry Student’s Chance Encounter Sparks Career Journey
Samya Haque, a pre-registration optometrist, shares her inspirational career journey that was sparked by a serendipitous encounter in a coffee shop. Haque, a winner of CooperVision’s 2023 Optistudent competition, reflects on her early introduction to the profession and the influence of a conversation with an optometrist.
Haque discovered her passion for optometry at the age of sixteen while exploring various career paths. A chance meeting with an optometrist who generously bought her a drink led to a transformative conversation about the profession’s impact on people’s lives. This encounter motivated Haque to attend university open days and pursue optometry as a career.
Throughout her journey, Haque has gained valuable experience through placements at Optical Express, Newmedica, and shadowing orthoptists at a children’s hospital. These experiences have highlighted the diverse and expanding opportunities within the field of optometry and the importance of collaborative patient care.
Looking ahead, Haque envisions exploring specialized areas within optometry, such as special effect and cosmetic contact lenses. Her interest in pop culture and media fuels her curiosity about the potential applications of contact lenses in film and entertainment.
As she navigates her pre-registration period, Haque emphasizes the significance of taking things at her own pace and fostering relationships within her professional environment. She acknowledges the need for resilience and a growth mindset in facing challenges within the field.
Reflecting on her participation in the OptiStudent competition, Haque expresses gratitude for the opportunity to engage in research and connect with optometry students across Europe. The project on meibomian gland impact in contact lens wearers provided valuable insights into the research aspect of optometry.
Winning the OptiStudent UK & Ireland 2023 event alongside her teammate Mohammed Fardin, Haque values the experience and the validation it brought to her career choice. The support of her supervisor, Dr. Debarun Dutta, and interactions with industry professionals like Tom Elliott and Professor James Wolffsohn have further enriched her educational journey.
As Haque continues to embrace her passion for optometry, she highlights the importance of distinguishing between wants and needs and prioritizing self-care amidst her studies and work commitments. Her dedication to the field and enthusiasm for future possibilities underscore her promising trajectory as a budding optometrist.
