Student Focus on Olivia Pyles

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Name: Olivia Pyles
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Point Pleasant, WV
High School: Point Pleasant High School
Undergraduate Institution: University of Kentucky
Undergraduate Degree: Human Health Sciences 
Anticipated #OSUopt Graduation Year: 2026

Q&A

How old were you when you received your first eye exam? What was the experience like for you?

I had my first eye exam at eight years old. The experience was life changing for me! I was completely amazed to see individual leaves on the trees and to be able to read road signs on the way home! I remember going to school the next day and trying to get all my classmates to try on my glasses to see if they could help them to see as well! It’s pretty cool to look back on that desire to help others see clearly and see how it became a career for me!

When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in optometry?

I decided in high school! I had shadowed some other careers and realized none of them would leave me as fulfilled as a career in optometry would.

Why did you choose Ohio State Optometry?

There are a ton of factors going into an optometry school decision, but I would say the most important one to me was community. Four years is a long time to spend in a new city and in a demanding program, so I knew I wanted to choose a program where community was valued. My interview day solidified that Ohio State was the perfect community for me. The students who took us to our interview lunch were hilarious and incredibly personable. In talking about their classmates, I could tell that there was a strong bond there. They told me about all the clubs I could be a part of including EYE, the optometric fraternity where a lot of fun memories were made. The entire interview day I felt incredibly at home with all the staff and students. I was able to fully envision my future at Ohio State - and it was a bright one.

What was your first impression of Ohio State Optometry?

Going into my interview day I knew Ohio State was my top choice based on board passage rates. (Go check them out, they’re impressive!) On top of that, I knew Ohio State had a great reputation for producing some of the best optometrists in the country! I now feel so lucky to be a student at THE Ohio State based on the great reputation our school has built. Ohio State students are strongly sought after by hiring optometrists and many of our fourth-year students have jobs lined up by January!

What surprised you most about Ohio State and/or Columbus?

The most surprising part about Ohio State Optometry has been the relationships with professors! I was used to a stereotypical student/professor relationship from undergrad, so I was very pleasantly shocked to see professors grabbing drinks and hanging out with students at tailgates and at our yearly Eye Ball! The faculty treat us as their colleagues, which helps grow that community aspect of my education that I so desired!

Which clubs/organizations have you joined at Ohio State?

I shamelessly have joined almost all of our clubs at Ohio State! I love that you can be as active as you want to be in these clubs. I am most involved in FCO (Fellowship of Christian Optometrists) and hold the position of president for the 2024/2025 school year. I’m so grateful to have this club to help prioritize my faith during the stresses of school! I have had some incredible experiences through each club I’m involved in. To name a couple examples, I got to travel to DC for “Optometry’s Meeting” with AOSA and I’ve helped host interview lunches with Optometry Ambassadors. This May I’ll be joining SVOSH on a remote area medical trip to help provide care to those in need! Being involved in clubs opens the doors to so many opportunities and I can’t recommend it more! Oh, and a bonus of being involved in so many clubs is that you get lots of free food at the meetings! :)

Who has most positively affected you during your time as an optometry student so far?

My classmates 100%. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I knew optometry school would be filled with lots of studying but I didn’t know just how much fun I would have throughout it. We’re really all in this together, which makes the long nights of studying so much more doable.

What was your favorite part of optometry school so far and what are you looking forward to in future years of the program?

My favorite memory would have to be from Optometry’s Meeting in DC. Exploring the city with my classmates, going to fun optometric events together, and cramming 20 of us in a hotel room to play card games together has been a highlight of my experience so far. Looking to the future, I’m excited to see what a summer semester in Columbus looks like! I foresee lots of poolside studying and patio hangouts in our future.

What advice do you have for future optometry students?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to current optometry students to ask questions! The majority of us are more than happy to help!