A series of articles written by SCCO Student Ambassadors.

My International Journey to Optometry

by SCCO Student Ambassador, Janki Desai

I was born and raised in a country called Zambia. Growing up in Southern Africa gave me an amazing childhood, where many of my passions developed. Most of my education was structured through a British education system. I was exposed to many different cultures, nature, and lots of animals (elephants are my favorite). Through that exposure, I realized that I really wanted to help others and be involved in my community. Throughout this process, I also realized my sense of adventure and wanting to know more about the world. So, naturally, as a 17 year old I took the leap of faith and moved across the globe to the Midwest; Ohio.

I attended an American university called Kent State University in Ohio. Leaving my family behind and learning to live by myself was a whole new adventure I was excited about! As an international student, I had my fair share of challenges too. Those challenges were what made me a better person today. I learned to step out of my comfort zone and embrace new opportunities. Those opportunities led me to decide on a career in optometry.

I took two gap years as I graduated during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. That was a tough time for everyone, especially for those away from home. But I decided to continue my journey and discover what was in store for me. I completed a master’s program at Kansas City University, another great Midwest university! That program helped me realize that I really wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, more specifically optometry.

I began seeking out different healthcare professionals, but optometrists really resonated with me. I shadowed and worked with some great optometrists across Kansas City. I enjoyed the responsibilities that came with the profession of optometry. Soon after, I began applying to different optometry programs. The process was a little more challenging as an international student. Reaching out to people during this journey really helped me throughout the application process.

I know I wanted to go to SCCO right after my interview day! I wanted to experience something new, and I also wanted to attend a school I knew would set me up for academic success. The program was exactly what I was looking for, perfect class size, interprofessional learning environment, and small school creating meaningful bonds between students and faculty. Many things played a factor in my decision to attend SCCO but what sealed the deal for me was the positive attitude of everyone I interacted with at SCCO. I want to be in a supportive environment that I know will help me succeed!

I believe that SCCO will pave the way for my career in optometry. Zambia doesn’t have many practicing optometrists and I hope to change that one day! Since moving to southern California and beginning optometry school, I have been so happy with my decision. I am very excited to see what the 4 years have in store for me!

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