Starting to wear glasses at the age of 7 due to a hereditary disease changed my life and the way I see and think about people that wear glasses, especially young children. When I started wearing glasses my prescription was in the high +4s for both eyes. My family being a low-income family and at that time living in Colombia, it was hard to get spectacles that were of higher standard and quality. I had to use really thick lenses for a long time and it was very hard for me. Working in the optical field now and going to school to get my optician license is helping me understand the field so much better and learn about so many more things that affect our vision today. I'm in my second semester of school right now and I'm loving everything there is to learn. being able to work on the field that you are learning about in school gives me a connection and understanding that I like a lot. I plan to make a positive impact through my career as an Ophthalmic Support Service Professional by staying honest to the trait, helping and educating colleagues and patients and continuing to improve in any area I might need. I have always loved to help people, from previous jobs I had, my biggest joy was to be able to help someone and positively impact their life. In this profession, I am blessed with the opportunity to help people every day by helping them see better. From children who are just starting to live, all the way to the elderly that have seen so much and want to continue seeing the best they can. Living in Kissimmee/Orlando Florida I also have the opportunity to impact people from around the world. We are frequented by a lot of tourists that come across problems with their spectacles or contact lenses and I'm very pleased when I'm able to help them. I am committed to continue to become the best optician I can at this moment and plan to let people know how rewarding this profession is, in the optical center I work, sometimes we are short-handed and I want to let people know that this profession offers a lot of benefits and is a great one to be part of. Just like I have been lucky to have great coworkers and mentors that have helped me along the way I want to be able to help and be there for upcoming Opticians in the future. Helping people see better is an amazing feeling and I plan to continue doing it with integrity and dedication because behind every pair of eyes is a life full of stories and we should treat them the same way we would want ours to be treated.