A series of articles written by SCCO Student Ambassadors.

How I Became a Certified Risk-Taker

by SCCO Student Ambassador, Ivie Osazuwa

When I first researched Optometry schools, I thought I would end up playing it safe and choose a school in the Southern United States. I spent most of my life in Atlanta, Georgia, so I was used to that environment, and I became extremely apprehensive about even applying to SCCO, although it was my first choice. Things that clouded my brain were “People like you may not belong here” and “That school is out of your league.” I finally realized the worse they could say was “no,” and that if I truly wanted a shot, I would have to AT LEAST try. Trying was one of the best choices I ever made.

When I got my acceptance letter, I reviewed my admissions experience and decided that although I would probably be quite different from my classmates, SCCO was the perfect choice. The interactions I had with faculty, peer advisors, student ambassadors, and some of my future classmates made me feel like I fit right in. The people at this school truly are amazingly empathetic and make it clear they care about our success; the feeling of family is strong here, and you never really feel alone despite how you may look, where you are from, or what you may believe. I was soooo excited about this.

Moving across the country was a bit frightening because I left everything other than two suitcases and my cat, Lucky. I found a roommate through the class Facebook group, and we both moved into one of the apartments in June, which was a bit early, but I wanted to acquaint myself with the area and really get settled before school started. I live about five minutes from campus and absolutely LOVE living in Fullerton. My roommate and I were able to do a bunch of fun activities in downtown Fullerton before orientation. I can’t lie, it is very, very different than Atlanta, but change is good, and I don’t regret my choice!

My final parting words are, don’t be afraid! Fear often holds us back from doing our best. Let the fear of rejection go and use that energy to improve competitiveness. Let that fear of change go, and you’ll never be mentally unprepared for what’s next. I’ve already had experiences here that I never would have had if I had played it safe. I truly feel like I’ve started a new chapter and can’t wait to make new friends, find new favorite restaurants, eat a lot more churros, and learn to be an eye doctor!

Click here to read Ivie’s bio and meet other Student Ambassadors at Ketchum.edu.