An Unconventional Occupational Therapy Student

I graduated from Temple University in 2017 with a major in Tourism and Hospitality Management. After graduation, I accepted a position with a company and moved to Washington D.C. to work at the Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals (hockey) and Washington Wizards (basketball). I was quickly immersed in the business world as manager of premium clubs and suites, working long event-based hours, managing employees, writing contracts and selling different products.

In 2018, the Capitals were contenders for their first Stanley Cup, and work got increasingly busy. As exhilarating and invigorating as this experience was, I was quickly realizing that this was not a fulfilling career. Yes, it was exciting when I got to see the city come together and win its first Stanley Cup. Yes, it was exciting in the moment when fans were cheering, confetti was streaming down, people were crying, and when I was given my very own Stanley Cup ring from the team. But it wasn’t fulfilling.

I started looking for a new job, one that may feel more “like me.” I stumbled across an opportunity at a hotel in Philadelphia. My job was fun, I got to create relationships with clients, help plan events and create wonderful experiences, but something was still missing. While all of this was going on I was recovering from an injury. That past winter I had a skiing accident and tore my ACL and meniscus, and I had to undergo surgery. The surgery was unsuccessful, and after intense physical therapy, I underwent another surgery seven months later, and another four months after that. During my experience as a patient and seeing my own recovery process unfold, I was inspired and intrigued. I started doing research. I saw both Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) at work and fell in love with the rehabilitation field. I began shadowing, talking to my own physical therapist, interviewing friends in OT school, and decided that OT was the career for me.

While still working at the hotel, I continued shadowing occupational therapists. I also started classes to complete the many missing science-based prerequisite courses that I needed. I researched schools that stood out to me and began filling out my applications. I had a long road ahead of me, and applications were due in a few months. Every night after work I was either in class, studying for the GRE, or shadowing.

In February I got the call from Salus, my top choice, that officials there wanted me to come in for an interview. I was over the moon! I showed up to my interview in a full knee brace and on crutches. The tour guides were wonderful, accommodating, and answered all of my questions. The campus was beautiful, intimate, and charming. I loved the small feel, especially in contrast to the large community at Temple. The staff and faculty who interviewed me were passionate, professional, and full of knowledge. I knew the moment I stepped (crutched) onto this campus that I belonged here.

The biggest draw to Salus is that it took a chance on me. I did not have a science background, my GRE score was average, and I was still taking my last anatomy class so my transcript was incomplete. I told them my story and promised that I would finish my last class in good standing and that I had an unmatchable drive. I received my acceptance letter weeks later.

Fast forward, and now I am in my last didactic semester of OT school. I am a member of the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association and was treasurer of the Student Occupational Therapy Association for four semesters. I am currently president of my class and am a work-study student for two different departments. I also had the opportunity to attend a healthcare service trip to Guatemala over this past summer as the only occupational therapy student, along with nine other Physician Assistant (PA) students from Salus. I have made wonderful, supportive, and caring friends and developed great relationships with my professors. I truly believe that this school is where I was meant to end up.

I am here to tell you that your past does not define your future, that you are capable of whatever you put your mind to. Just because you don’t have a science background does not mean that you cannot be successful in a healthcare graduate program. It is worth it to chase your dreams, no matter how scary the first step or road may seem.

- Robin is a second-year occupational therapy student at Salus University

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Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Optometry School

In just a few weeks, I will officially become a second-year student! Crazy how quickly time has flown.  

Although looking back, the days seemed to never end. With constant schoolwork and studying, it still doesn’t feel real that I am so close to finishing off my first year. I am filled with so much excitement, but also a sprinkle of fear. It seems super overwhelming, but I already made it this far. With my study techniques and motivation, I am ready to tackle another year head-on. 

Getting adapted to my first year of graduate school took a lot of trial and error. I changed up my study techniques several times, but I think I finally found what works for me. 

So, here are a couple tips that I wish I knew before I started optometry school; 

1. Know your “Why” 

Having a strong purpose for going into a rigorous four-year program is a huge necessity. You will be making numerous personal sacrifices that require a lot of self-control. Many weekends may need to be spent buckling down on schoolwork or studying; grad school waits for no one, so you don’t want to be left behind. By having a strong reason to be there at the back of your mind at  all times, this helps to really bring you back and recognize that all that you are doing is worth it.  

2. Be open to change 

When all is said and done, everyone has the end goal of becoming an optometrist. But you must be aware that there are many paths to take even after you become an optometrist. Will you be in a private practice or corporate? Will you take a residency or become a fellow? Where do you want to practice, since every state has different regulations? Your goals will shift or become more and more specific as you continue through schooling, so you must not have tunnel vision. Be open to different paths and the possibilities are endless. Even as a first-year, the future I have imagined has changed so many times already. This is completely normal.  

3. Don’t compare yourself to others 

Everyone in your class will have the exact schedule as you, so you will all be experiencing similar stresses with exams and practicals at the same time. Don’t get obsessive over a grade or your GPA — at the end of the day, once you graduate you will ALL be doctors. Don’t be ashamed to reach out for help because the number of resources is endless (professors, mentors, tutors, peers). 

4. Buy a cute water bottle and take many breaks 

You can only get so far as your body and mind will take you. Don’t push yourself to put 110% of effort into your studies constantly without sprinkling in other activities to keep a balanced lifestyle. I found that having several water bottles and cute reusable straws really help remind me to stay hydrated. I am more of a night owl, so I like to sleep in but stay up late to finish up my tasks. Do what works for you and try to create a balanced routine. Find ways to refresh your mind, like taking a nap, watching a quick show, or even checking out a few TikToks. Make sure you’re eating properly, getting enough sleep, sticking to an exercise routine, and socializing with friends and family through video calls. Breaks will be your best friend to avoid burning out. You may think it is impossible to put all those aspects in, but just know, you do have time and you are doing just fine.  

5. Have a “to-do” list and try to complete it by the end of the week 

It is completely okay to fall behind with lectures for the week as you always have the weekend to catch up. If you find yourself falling more and more behind, make a study group with a  designated study spot. You may find that just being around productive people would be helpful.  Change up your study locations, have a tidy space, use new writing utensils — sometimes your mind just needs a change of pace to find the motivation to be productive again.  

6. You are not alone 

Even if you start off your experience virtually, you will find your pod. Don’t be hard on yourself if you are unable to find a group of friends from the get-go; everyone is very busy getting acclimated to the new environment. Just be yourself and have an open mind with everyone you meet. Reach out to anyone in every section for lab if you need a partner, as it is a great way to meet a wide range of people in your class. If anything, attend new clubs, join the mentorship program, or form other study groups—there are infinite amounts of chances to put yourself out there.  

It is important to note that these helped me personally, but everyone is different! Do not be afraid to reach out to upperclassmen, your professors, or even your fellow classmates. We are all in it together and everyone is there to help and support you. Always remember to take a  deep breath and get it done!

- Michelle is a first-year optometry student at Salus University

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Why I’m All for Taking a Gap Year Before Graduate School

The decision to take a gap year (or years) can be a very difficult decision to make. Upon receiving your bachelor’s degree, you have to make a very quick decision on whether to find a full-time job or continue onward to graduate school. Of course, there are other paths to take upon graduation, but with the mindset of continuing education like I was, here are my two cents on this situation.

After facing so many different viewpoints on why it is a good or bad idea to take a break, I’ve never once regretted my decision in taking a year off.

A lot of people tried to talk me out of taking a gap year – they would say things like:

• “If you take a break now, you won’t be able to get used to being back in school again.”
• “If you stop school now, you won’t want to go back.”
• “If you don’t apply now, you are missing your chance.”
• “If you don’t try now, it is not certain it will work out later.”

While it is easy to fall into the trap of agreeing with everything everyone else has to say, it is important to recognize that only you have the ability to do what you want with your life. Your life is precious, and making the decision that shapes your future should not be taken lightly. So instead of looking at the what if’s – start asking why not? 

You have been in school for the past 12 years, complying with the rules and regulations of the educational system – you never truly experienced the world to help guide you on what makes your life purposeful. Sure, you may have had part-time jobs, volunteered with different organizations, or held leadership positions with school clubs, but you were never able to give it 100% of your focus since you had to balance it with school.

Instead of enjoying the last few moments of college and your early twenties, and before being propelled into ‘adulthood’, you had to devote your latter years in undergrad to trying to find ways to impress your future graduate school. The effort in trying to be the most well-rounded student you can be should not cause you more distress than joy. Mental and physical health should be at the forefront when it comes to determining what you want to do for your future.

My biggest reason to take a gap year was that I wanted to finally take control of my own life. I wanted to take time to recognize that my hopes and dreams were truly my own and not what society had tried to force onto me. I wanted to make sure that I would enjoy the field that I plan to be in until I decide to retire and that I looked into all the possible paths as opposed to having tunnel vision. I wanted to make sure that my end goals would allow me to have genuine happiness and that the biggest reason for even doing it, is for me. 

If you want to take a year off, why not? Just make it purposeful. 

I loved every moment of my gap year. And here are some things that I was able to do in just a year:

• I took on my first full-time job.
• I established connections within the field of my dreams.
• I shadowed professionals with more intention.
• I experienced what it’s like to pay off student loans.
• I spent time with my brothers and grew closer to them after being away for the past 4 years.
• I reunited with my blind dog, Chubby, who is actually a major reason why I want to become an optometrist one day.
• I attended family events/parties.
• I discovered new hobbies.
• I traveled.
• I learned more about myself.
• I found my purpose in life.
• I was able to breathe.

All the sacrifices I made while being in school were no longer sacrifices I had to make. I became more comfortable with my independence and my future goals became very clear. I came out of my gap year with the mindset of going to graduate school and to thrive, not just survive – with the excitement of finally getting into my future career with no regrets that I made the wrong decision.

At least when it’s all said and done, I can look back and appreciate that taking one year off from school (especially in my early twenties) is the best decision I could make for myself. The amount of personal growth I achieved is something that I am very proud of.

- Michelle is a first-year optometry student at Salus University

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Learning How to Juggle in Graduate School

Hello, I am a second-year Optometry student at Salus University and I am going to show you how I juggle multiple workloads, extracurriculars, and hobbies while in graduate school, and hopefully inspire you to take your first step towards juggling too. I apologize if you were expecting an actual juggling how-to.

Starting with One

As a first-year, I focused just on tossing the ball labeled “academics.” Taking the time to understand how to toss this ball and catch it every time was vital. Entering graduate school and handling the difference in workload and pace was already difficult, so really spending the first semester focusing on and understanding what I personally needed to do to maintain my academic goals was very important. I adopted many new and refurbished old study habits that helped me get a good grasp on academics. I consistently relied on my weekly planner and Google Calendar to stay organized in classes and used a mixture of digital and handwritten notes depending on the course and content. I also realized that sitting down and creating Quizlets is very time-consuming, and many times if you just search the topic matter (i.e. Anatomy of the Cornea) in Quizlet, you will most likely find a Quizlet already created by another student. Of course, what worked for me will not work for everyone which is why I believe it is crucial to spend at least one semester focusing and understanding what you need to do to achieve your academic goals. If you do not master tossing and throwing one ball, it becomes very difficult juggling two, three, or more. Not to mention, many times we enter graduate school already juggling personal life, health, hobbies, social life, etc. so really knowing how academics will fit into your juggling act is key!

Now Add One More

In my second semester of first year I decided to sign up for a leadership position. I knew that being a student leader would help me with public speaking, time management, communication and learning to be resourceful. So, when the opportunity arose in December, I ran for the Assistant Treasurer position on the Salus University Student Council. This was my second “ball” that I added while already juggling the “academic ball.” Luckily, being in a leadership position is - in my humble opinion - easier to handle than academics because there are many people you can rely on or ask for help when you get lost or fall behind. I was very lucky to be working alongside an amazing team and with Ms. Monae Kelsey’s guidance, which easily allowed me to learn how to juggle two balls simultaneously. So, if you are at this point where you have gained a handle on academics and are struggling with the idea of whether or not to sign up for leadership, I say trust yourself and your abilities and go for it! It can seem intimidating, but you will not be alone in your position and there is help at every corner if you need it.

Now Add Another

I wanted to “add another ball” during the summer, but due to the pandemic many of us were forced to relearn how to juggle ball number one (academics) since we were now learning and testing virtually from the comfort of our home. So, I took the time over the summer to adjust to the new setting and waited until the fall semester of second year to sign up for yet another thing - this time it was a work position as an Ophthalmology Technician. There were many things to consider with this position: the commute, managing it with my academic schedule, and student council responsibilities. But, over time, this also became easy to juggle because I had already learned how to juggle two other things so this one came even easier than the last.

Continue Adding, While Being Realistic

I am now at the point where I have juggled three large and time-consuming activities alongside juggling life, staying social (virtually), exercising, cooking at home, reading, etc. Since I am in my second year spring semester, I am completing my optical clerkship and starting to prepare myself for clinic. Now the question is, should I keep adding more responsibilities to juggle or should I swap certain activities out for other beneficial experiences? It is important to remember that there are certain things you should not swap out for the sake of your health and well-being. Your sleep, healthy eating and exercise are crucial to how well you are able to manage multiple roles in graduate school. If your body is not healthy and you are tired and burnt out all the time, chances are you are not going to juggle multiple things, let alone just one. 

I hope this how-to and personal examples help illustrate how you can do more than just study while you are at Salus University, and maybe inspire you to take on juggling as well. Remember, you just have to start with one thing, and when you are comfortable you should trust yourself and add other things that will support your education and goals. If it becomes overwhelming, you can always go back to just juggling one - but you will not know what you are capable of unless you give it a try. Good luck with the upcoming semesters and stay safe!

- Jemi is a second-year optometry student at Salus University

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The Graduate School Transition

Starting Salus University directly after completing my undergraduate degree, I knew that being a professional graduate student would be different. Throughout my time exploring graduate schools as well as from my visit and interview here at Salus University, I knew that graduate school was going to be more “hands-on” and more “applied” than undergrad. As reiterated during Orientation week, the goal of graduate school to become a professional. Prior to starting my coursework, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what we would do in class and what the assignments would look like to help me meet that goal. 

Now that the semester is well underway, I realize that graduate school is not just about sitting in lecture and memorizing and understanding lots of material, as was the case in most of my undergraduate classes. To be an effective practitioner, across all programs offered at Salus, other skills must be learned, too. It is in this sense that graduate school teaches you how to be a professional. In other words, graduate school is job training, where we build upon, apply to, and use the knowledge we have obtained in a practical way. The classroom work is preparation for, and an essential companion to, the clinical fieldwork that will we be completing in later semesters. 

Coming from a fairly large state university focused on the health sciences and talking to friends there already in their respective health graduate programs, I expected certain logistical differences between undergrad and grad school once I began my career at Salus. Of course, all programs and all schools vary, but from my conversations, I expected that my classes would be structured such that all students in my program year would be with me in each class; that all of my classes would be held in the same building; that the classes would meet less frequently throughout the week; and that I would complete many projects and presentations, including group projects. No longer would I take classes from a wide variety of disciplines, scampering from one end of campus to the other to make it to the next building in time for the next 50-minute class, where there I would often only know a fraction of my classmates. This different school structure I was told about has been true and has provided very beneficial learning experiences. 

As a first-year Occupational Therapy (OT) student, my class consists of 50 students. We are in class with each other for all of our courses, except we split up into smaller groups for labs. Through this set up, we really do have the opportunity to get to know each other. Additionally, the claim about group work has rang true as well. Often times, in class, we have discussions in small groups and also have class-wide discussions. This interactive format helps us to learn by collaborating with each other and sharing different perspectives, which are important aspects to our future careers in healthcare. During our lab time, we complete hands-on activities. We also have many group projects assigned outside of class that make up a large part of our grade. Working in teams, communicating, and respectfully sharing ideas are all necessary professional skills we must develop and the classroom set-up as well as the assessments foster these attributes.

Another note about class scheduling- for the Occupational Therapy program, we only have about two classes per day, and we only have each class once a week. This means that when we are in each class, the class is several hours long. At first, when I heard that this is how many graduate programs are set up, I wasn’t sure how I would like sitting in the same room concentrating on one subject for such a long time, especially if the class was strictly a lecture, as I didn’t prefer this type of class schedule in my secondary school years. However, despite having long classes, from the start of my first week at Salus, I have gotten so much out of these classes for several reasons. First, because the classes are interactive, whether through discussions, group work assignments, or through the professor asking questions throughout the lecture, being in one class for one block of time has kept my attention and stimulated my thinking. Additionally, having a larger block of time allows for completion of more hands-on activities which allows us
to hone in on skills that will be needed as a professional occupational therapist. During our time in the College of Education and Rehabilitation (CER) Lab, we work in pairs at different stations completing different tasks in order to assess the skills needed to perform such tasks – such as putting beads on a string to assess a preschool educational benchmark relating to patterning. We’re usually given short five to ten minute breaks periodically to break up the time and allow us to get up and stretch our legs, so the class feels like it is divided into smaller time frames. Lastly, our classes are scheduled back-to-back, with a lunch hour in between, which makes for an efficient day. The classes are engaging, and I’m surprised by how quickly the time has passed when we reach the end of each class.

The logistics of graduate school have met my expectations and I have seen the benefits of why graduate school is set up this way. Having longer class times with our entire class enhances our learning, and takes us one step further in becoming a professional. 

- Kaylin is a first-year occupational therapy student at Salus University

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Local Eats

Nothing brings together a couple of strangers trying to navigate a new school and city like a good restaurant. Here at Salus, we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by so many local cafes, restaurants, and bars. Starting graduate school, the first thing you need to know is where your closest coffee shop is located. For those early morning lectures, stop by the White Horse Coffee Creamery for a cup of coffee and something sweet. If you’re in a rush, the Daily Grind is just minutes from the Elkins Park campus. For those late night cram sessions, most big chains are open later, and, fortunately, we have both Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks. 

Photo Credit: Bernie's Glenside

The best time of the day is dinner, and the options are endless. If you’re want something quick, grab some Chipotle or Jules Thin Crust Pizza. But if you have some time, and you just finished a big exam, grab some friends and head on over to Iron Hill Brewery in Huntingdon Valley or Chestnut Hill or Bernies in Glenside – both just a few minutes away. In the summer, the outside patio at Iron Hill is the perfect local spot for a class social. Another all-time favorite for Salus students is Drake Tavern, and they’ve got specials every day of the week! The list of restaurants near Salus University are endless and you’ll always find something to satisfy your cravings. 

- Niki is a third year optometry student at Salus University

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A Day in the Life: Doctor of Audiology First Year Graduate Student

My name is Marisa Fassnacht, and I am first-year student in the Salus University Osborne College of Audiology. I went to Temple University for my undergraduate school and received a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders. Fortunately, I knew that I wanted to study audiology going into college. 

I have been involved in audiology almost my entire life. I was born with a growth called a cholesteatoma in my left ear in front of my eardrum. It was not found until I was about 7 or 8 years old. I had one surgery to remove the growth, and a second to put prosthesis in place of the bone that I lost. Since then, I have always wanted to become an audiologist. My main goal is to help children who may be experiencing hearing difficulties like I have in the past. I want to relate my story to them, so they will feel comfortable sharing their worries and triumphs with me while growing and developing with their hearing disabilities.

So now that we are properly acquainted, let me bring you into a day in the life of a first-year Doctor of Audiology graduate student.


6:30 a.m. I usually start off the day by pressing the snooze button about three times. 

7:00 a.m. I check my phone, going through my Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and e-mail.  Then, I roll out of bed (finally) and get myself together.

7:30 a.m. Breakfast!  Probably my favorite thing to make besides eggs benedict – Ezekiel toast with avocado and an over-easy egg on top. While cooking my egg, I pop a K-Cup into my Keurig and select the biggest cup setting possible (because coffee=survival).  I re-check my class schedule on Typhon (our online clinical scheduling portal) just to make sure nothing has changed. After this, I relax while I eat and watch an episode of Friends on Netflix (my favorite TV show ever). 

7:50 a.m. After inhaling my breakfast, it’s time to pack up and head out to school. I always make sure I have my ID, laptop, lunch and coffee before I leave the house. I commute to school, so I always try to give myself about 45 minutes to get to there. My route to school is pretty easy; thankfully, I don’t have to take any major roadways. 

8:20 a.m. I arrive at school and grab a great parking spot right in the front. If you get to school any later than 10 a.m., you either have to park in “Guam” or tail anyone that looks like they’re pulling out of a spot. 
I like to get to campus early to give myself time to drop off my lunch in my locker, get to the classroom and set up my laptop. When I get situated, I pull up the lecture needed for the class and chat with my friends.

9:00 a.m. Class time - from now until 11:00 a.m., I’m in Molecular and Cellular Processes.

11:15 a.m. I’m just hanging in the classroom doing some school work or a collaborative study, as well as eating lunch with my friends. We’ll stay here until we have to head to lab or clinic.

12:45 p.m. I’m heading over to the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) for clinical. From now until about 5 p.m., I’ll be observing and interacting with patients in their hearing appointments with my faculty preceptor. 

5:00 p.m. Time to head home, but first: traffic!

5:45 Dinner time! Honestly, it’s my favorite part of the day. I love coming home after a long day to a great home cooked meal and hanging out with my parents. It’s nice to catch up and see how their days were.

6:15 p.m. I get changed into comfy clothes and start another round of homework and studying. Homework and studying takes about four to five hours depending on my upcoming schedule of assignments combined with exams.

11:30 p.m. *Belly flops onto bed because my bed is the greatest thing ever, and I missed it!* At this point, I’m exhausted and ready to go to sleep. I settle in, check my social media for a little, and watch some vlogs and tutorials on Youtube of one my favorite Youtubers (Sarah Day, Jaclyn Hill, Chelsea Trevor, and Danielle Mansutti to name just a few). I think about upcoming classes, clinic and assignments, but then I feel my eyelids getting heavy and I’m out. Grad school will do that to you!

  -Marissa is a first year audiology student at Salus University

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To a New Beginning in Healthcare, Our First Steps

Orientation in the Hafter Center

I wanted to come to Salus University since I was 14 years old with a dream of becoming an optometrist. With eight years of anticipation and diligent preparation, orientation week began. It took a solid hour just to choose an outfit for the first day. Even though orientation started at 8:30 am, I, along with numerous others, arrived before 7:30 am. We waited in our cars anxiously for someone to get out and walk in first. As we walked in, I could feel the excitement and nervousness in the air.

What should have been an hour wait, felt like mere minutes. Students poured into the Hafter Center dressed professionally and ready to become graduate students of a heath profession. Dr. Michael H. Mittelman, President of Salus University, greeted us and offered inspirational advice on becoming great healthcare professionals. He stressed empathy, which I found to be a very insightful tip that I hadn’t previously considered.

Dave & Buster's in the
Plymouth Meeting Mall

Orientation week was full of resources meant to aid us in our preparation for our respective fields. This included a resource fair full of clinics, banks, information on The Eye Institute, Learning Resource Center, and military programs. We had a session on financial planning that opened my eyes into the world of investing and reminded us to still live like students the first few years out of school. We were also introduced to budgeting apps and debt calculators. I found the session on cultural awareness to be very interesting and insightful. Coming from a rural town in Pennsylvania, I was not used to much diversity, while Philadelphia is rich in other cultures. This session went over how to be sensitive to patients and intuitive to the various cultures one encounters when working in the healthcare field.

While it was nice to spend our days in orientation, it was wonderful having the after-orientation events. These included trivia and a trip to Dave and Busters. I was quite worried for trivia, as it was entitled, “Pop Culture Trivia” and I know very little to nothing about this topic. All and all my team didn’t do too shabby. It was a great way to interact with our classmates and make some new friends. Dave and Busters was a great time too -- their Dance Dance Revolution machine was far harder than we had anticipated but we made it out alive. Just as my card ran out, I miraculously hit 1,000 tickets. It was a nice end to a long day!

President Mittelman speaking at
theWhite Coat ceremony

While orientation week was exciting, I was itching to start classes. But first, we had the White Coat Ceremony. This year it was held in the Kimmel Center in Center City, Philadelphia. This was the first time I had taken a subway into Philadelphia, but alas, I made it unscathed. The venue was absolutely beautiful, with glass windows surrounding us and wood paneling coating the theater. The ceremony was very inspirational as it welcomed us into the world of health professionalism. With our white coats on, we recited in unison the Oath to Professionalism. It felt like a graduation in a sense, like we were ready to take on the world. In reality, we are just getting started to take on the challenges of graduate school. It was a great way to begin our new journey! 

White Coat Ceremony
at the Kimmel Center

 ~ Sabrina is a first-year optometry student at Salus University

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Planning for the Weekend

Salus University Learning Resource Center

When you think of what a typical week at Salus University will look like, it may not be too different than what you’re experiencing in undergrad. There’ll be classes most days, labs that go a long with most of these classes and then you have time in clinic where you go from observing, to performing some of the skills you learn in lab, to finally performing full comprehensive exams. That’s the part of your schedule that usually doesn’t change a whole lot. Most days I bounce from class, to the library, to the café, to lab, back to the library before I crawl into my bed hopefully by midnight. It’s a long grueling week, but the time you have in the clinic and lab really help break up the monotony of lectures – so take advantage of them! The biggest difference in your schedule from undergrad/real world working life/whatever you have been doing until now is your free time on the weekends.

In undergrad I never had to organize or even think of what I would be doing on the weekends. It was always some combination of time lounging around my fraternity house during the day mixed with a little studying at the library. Nights were always reserved to unwinding with friends or going out on the town (which was in middle of nowhere Pennsylvania so it wasn’t much). However, when you start graduate school your weekends are a lot more valued because it’s the only time you have full days of uninterrupted free time. You don’t have to worry about trying to read an article before your next class or how much time you have to eat lunch before you need to rush off to The Eye Institute. That’s why I learned pretty quickly that planning out how you’re going to utilize your weekends is vital to maintaining self-care, catching up on the tasks you never got to during the week, and preparing yourself for the busy week ahead.

Salus students at Hafter

My biggest tip or advice for Friday nights might sound a little lame, but I’m telling you it’ll be worth it if you listen. Whether your last class on Friday gets done at noon, 3 PM, or 5 PM try to get in two or three hours of solid studying before you let your brain enter “weekend mode”. Chances are you have a test, quiz, or practical the following week, so why not get a jump start? That way, when you have time to relax later that night or that weekend, you can do it soundly with no guilt weighing on your mind. After some studying, I try to leave the rest of Friday night to unwind and give my mind a break. Whether that involves grabbing dinner with friends, catching a movie, or having game night I try to do something social. In the Salus optometry program we’re split into sections so our labs and clinic schedules differ among classmates. Friday nights are the perfect time to catch up with friends and hear about the interesting things they saw in clinic that week or you do what I do and try to talk about anything but school (leave that in the confines of Salus). Sometimes we have Saturday clinic that goes until the late afternoon, but if you’re lucky enough to have Saturday off try to start your morning with something productive that will jump start your day and get you in a positive mindset. For my friends and I that usually involves playing volleyball at the Hafter Student Community Center, or I’ll try and do some cooking to prep for the following week (because who has time to cook), or catch up on the mountains of laundry I have been avoiding. After that, hit the books! If you can commit a few hours of hard work during the day, with productive breaks in between, you’ll feel a lot better when you’re binge watching your favorite show you’ve missed later that night.

Kitchen Bar | Photo Credit: Kitchenbar.net

I’m sure you have all heard of the "Sunday scaries" and I’ll let you know they don’t end in graduate school. But hopefully you’ve been so productive all weekend that Sunday can be more relaxed and you can chase away those Sunday blues with brunch at Kitchen Bar, right down the road from school. Sundays are the day I save for getting all my lectures printed, quizzes studied for, and clinic outfits picked out for the week. I try not to stress myself out too much (unless I have an exam the next day) but get all of those tasks done that will make my week go smoother. And Sunday mornings are always perfect for the dreaded chore that is grocery shopping. If you commit to forcing yourself to get things done during the day you won’t have a worry in the world when you’re relaxing later on.

Weekends are always welcomed as a relief to the stresses of the week, and in graduate school they’re relished even more. By all means everyone’s weekend is going to look different and not everyone has quite the plan like I do, but I truly believe that if you think ahead to what your weekend goals are, it’ll make the next school week free of headaches. You may not think of it if you’re used to being on a meal plan, but trust me cooking takes far too long and is the last thing you want to do after being at school for eight hours. Thankfully weekends offer the hours you need to take care of yourself and your school work so you can continue to be the best student possible and get the most out of every day at Salus University. 

- Chad is a second year optometry student at Salus University

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