The Illinois College of Optometry Student Blog

As many of you know, at ICO, we get the summer after our first year off. What we do with this time is entirely up to us. Once we return for second year, however, we have classes and clinic year-round until we graduate. Most students use the summer after their first year to go home to spend time with family and friends, but others travel, or stay in Chicago, or go on their own unique adventures. Here is a short list that reveals how the class of 2019 is spending their summer o

First off, I’m not from Canada. When I’m here at ICO, I’m surrounded by a lot of Canadians and lately, my vocabulary has expanded a bit. Sometimes, I accidentally slip in the word washroom when I actually just want to use the restroom and/or bathroom. My Canadian friends give me a hard time when I say the word “restroom.” They ask me, “Do you rest in that room?” I look at them with a puzzled face. I’m not going in there to rest, but what can I say? They are right; they are AL

Goodbyes never play out the way I expect them to. How can I tell someone that I’m going to miss them? That I’m grateful for everything they’ve done for me, and that I’ve enjoyed and appreciated their company? …and how do I do that without creeping them out? Goodbyes are my weakness. I’m the kind of person that needs to think about the words I want to use and the way I want to say them. I can’t string complex thoughts in the moment, and goodbyes deserve better than my poorly t

There are a few differences between The United States and Canada. While visiting my boyfriend (a fellow student) in Windsor, we started a list of things that are different between our two countries: 1. Alcohol, but mostly beer. Apparently, American beer is too light and watered down. Americans also like their IPAs and craft brews, which some Canadians do not like. Also, alcohol is cheaper in the States. A case of Budweiser was $40 in Windsor this summer! 2. Official Languages

Let’s start this off with an apology. Sorry guys, I’m Canadian. Born and raised. I like hockey. I drink good beer. I speak French, the language of love and separatism. I’ve seen Anne of Green Gables so many times I know the camera angles. I voted for a prime minister. I learned my provinces and territories in grade 1, not first grade. I coloured Dr. T’s notes with my pencil crayons and throw in a “u” wherever I damn well please. Sorry I said damn, I didn’t mean to offend anyo