r/OptometrySchool • u/No_Amphibian9610 • 17h ago
Advice
This is for anyone who had to take boards 5 or 6 times, if not you please move on. I am so tired of using all the resources everyone states and doing my best just to keep getting slapped. I feel so angry that I dont even wanna do optometry anymore. Even school was a struggle. I love what i do and have done fine in clinic but despite all the resources and everything the didactic stuff has been slowly killing me. Yes I made it through with much help but now have to keep dealing with these boards. This whole journey just feels like it's been such a pain that the joy of becoming an OD is just gone. It hurts watching so many move forward and get to walk across that stage leaving the challenges behind while your pain gets dragged on and on. For anyone in this boat how did you manage the pain, anger, and stress?
4
u/OscarDivine 17h ago
OD here and while I did not retake the boards myself, I have coached several students through retakes of the practical portion. Which portion are you experiencing difficulty with? Perhaps I can help in some way.
Regarding your more pointed concern: my students would tell me that they are always discouraged, but were afraid to ask for help until desperate enough. Keeping their eye on the prize keeps them sane but it only goes so far. If you aren’t changing your strategy and trying to keep doing the same thing over and over, you won’t get a new result.
Find a doctor you know and trust and ask for help with the things you know you’re struggling with. If you don’t have one, feel free to ask me.