Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa Narke.
Hi Alexa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always considered myself to have a Type A personality. When the discussions regarding career path came up in high school, I decided I needed to make a plan for myself. I knew I wanted to pursue a profession that made me feel good about the work I was doing. I also wanted to fully love my work, the schedule that came with it, and the environment I would be working in. So, I decided to start shadowing. I shadowed a few related professions, but optometry was the one that kept standing out to me. It seemed as if everyone I talked to had great things to say about their Optometrist, and every Optometrist I talked to had great things to say about their profession. So, it was in high school that I had determined I would dedicate my undergraduate years working towards an acceptance to optometry school.
I attended Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO for my undergraduate education. I knew I wanted to pursue optometry, but I didn’t have a clue of what to major in. Majoring in biology didn’t sound very appealing to me, and I didn’t want to find myself lumped in with all of the pre-med track students. Optometry is a dynamic profession, so I didn’t want to pigeon-hole myself to focusing only on the science aspects. I ended up pursuing a major in Physics of Medicine, and a minor in Business Administration. My course load was dynamic, and fulfilled all necessary requirements for Optometry school. In addition, it made me stand out as an applicant. Junior year of college, I started working for a practice in Kansas City as an optometric tech. I loved going to work and learned more about the profession every day, which confirmed I was on the right track.
I applied to a few optometry schools all across the map right at the start of my senior year of college. These applications were followed by in person interviews, and then the decision of which school was the best fit for myself and my goals.
I ended up at UMSL College of Optometry, and am currently in my second year. I will be earning my white coat in May of this year and will start seeing patients as a student clinician immediately after!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has never been a smooth road, but it has always been worth it. Anytime you are applying for a program/position with limited spots available and a large applicant pool, you start to doubt and compare yourself. Although I had worked hard in school to set myself up to be a competitive applicant; while I was applying to schools, I never felt like my grades/experience/background were enough. I experienced a lot of anxiety and self doubt throughout this whole process. It was right around this time that I got a puppy, and he helped calm my feelings of anxiety and uncertainty immensely.
I still contribute a lot of my mental health while in school to my dog. After a long day, the best feeling is coming home to him and being able to take a walk. Any professional program comes with a lot of pressure and optometry is no different. The course load is very heavy, and on top of that, we are learning new clinical skills. I find myself putting a lot of pressure on myself because I want to be the best doctor I can possibly be for my future patients.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In addition to school, I work at an Optometry technician at an optometry office. I work on Saturday mornings, and I have found that it has helped me to work during school in so many ways. I get the opportunity to have clinical conversations with doctors and build upon what I learn in school. I find that learning by experience helps put me at a great advantage in the classroom in many different scenarios.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as growth. While I want to do well on exams, it is toxic to put an unreasonable amount of pressure on myself. Therefore, with each exam or skill proficiency, I remind myself that I am only “competing” against myself. I try to improve upon my previous score, etc.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: how_eyeroll
