A series of articles written by SCCO Student Ambassadors. This article is right on theme as we come up on Thanksgiving and the season of gratefulness.

Seeing Opportunity as a Privilege

by SCCO Student Ambassador, Zoe Bui

UCLA’s infamous Enormous Activities Fair welcomed me to campus during my first week of college. This Fair lived up to its name with the chaotic flurry of fliers and enthusiastic pitches from hundreds of student organizations. I was fascinated by how passionate people were about their club’s mission. I didn’t know which career I wanted to pursue at that point and quickly felt overwhelmed by the number of choices. However, looking back, I can clearly see how saying “yes!” to opportunities (even when they were daunting) is what brought me here: absolutely thrilled to be starting optometry school.

Extracurricular activities truly enriched my undergraduate education – from volunteering with a community health club to conducting low-vision research and more. Each opportunity helped me grow and find community. Yet, in the middle of the busy midterm season, these responsibilities can start to feel like a burden if your heart isn’t in the right place. This article is about how seeing an opportunity as a privilege can help you put your whole heart into a role, knowing it is a gift. Starting with the perspective of being grateful for the chance to serve/lead/research/etc. will help you overcome the inevitable challenges, believing the goal is not to be perfect but to give it your best and learn from every experience.

What does this look like for me? It means looking for silver linings. One example I can share is from the challenging COVID-19 year. I worked for the Community Programs Office as a mentor for high school students from underserved schools. I love teaching, but after a full day of online lectures, discussions, and assignments, it was hard to look forward to another 3 hours of hosting Zoom tutoring and peer advising sessions. However, as I saw my students light up with understanding after I explained a math problem and as I listened to their excited conversations about goals and hobbies, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. In addition to helping with homework, I chose to see this time as a chance to grow my students’ enthusiasm for learning, demonstrate how hard work will pay off, and give them a boost of confidence. I often logged off the site with more motivation for my own studies, recognizing that I am in a place that many of my students are striving to be in.

It is easy to go through the motions and think “This is just a job” or club. But when you are intentional with your thoughts and words, when you try to be a light, you can really change the atmosphere and make someone’s day.

I am not perfect by any means, but reminding myself of this principle has only brought me more joy. Personally, knowing the sacrifices my grandparents made when they immigrated to America is an extra push to appreciate and make the most of opportunities. My grandma wanted to be a nurse but had to choose a different path when she needed to support her younger siblings. It’s a gift to become the first healthcare professional in my family and embark on this journey toward my dream profession!

As I conclude, I would also like to remind all the students out there to honor themselves with enough sleep, nourishing meals, and a true break when you are running on empty – your well-being should come first.

Best of luck on your journey! I have all the confidence that you CAN make a difference in your corner of the world. If you’re looking for guidance on applying or just a little encouragement, feel free to reach out at zoebui.scco27@ketchum.edu.

Click here to read Student Ambassador bios on our website!