Industry professional turned Student Optician
Hello, my name is Nik! I am a student in Stenberg College’s Licensed Optician Diploma program. I’m excited to share my journey to becoming a Licensed Optician with you. I began the program in October of 2018 and have already learned so much.
How I fell in love with Opticianry
Initally, I was not interested in Opticianry as my career. After graduating from high school in 2009, I went to a university and got my diploma in business management. Then I continued my education. Working towards a BBA in human resources management, but quickly realized that it was not for me. Around that time my parents opened our Optical store. At first, I was very hesitant to run the business with them. After working a couple of odd jobs, I finally understood the benefit of owning your own business and being your own boss.
My interest in opticianry began as soon as I started there. I had no idea how diverse and engaging it is to be an optician. It is part science, part medical, part fashion and part technology. This makes the job very different every day! You are using a combination of all four of these aspects to solve the problems of people who are having a hard time with their vision. This is why it is truly important to find yourself a great optician who cares about your needs!
Becoming a better Optician
Owning a store and working towards being a Licensed Optician has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Even though I have prior experience in the industry, the knowledge I’ve gained from Stenberg College’s Licensed Optician Diploma Program has been very valuable. The education I have received in the past seven months has already made me well-equipped to go above and beyond for my patients.
The biggest change I noticed is that my patients have come to trust me much more than they did previously. They come to me with questions, concerns, and want to know my input when helping with their eye care needs. This can be anything from finding the right types of lenses for their needs to how a frame looks on them. Creating solutions to fit their needs is like solving a puzzle, which is what makes this career so much fun. Knowing that people rely on you and trust you with something as important as eyesight is very rewarding!
Why I chose Stenberg College
We highly depend on our vision. This is why ensuring that the Optician who is helping you is knowledgeable, reliable, and most importantly, understands how to help you. It’s one of the reasons I decided to become a Licensed Optician so I can ensure that I am the most qualified person for my patient’s needs.
Stenberg College’s Licensed Optician Diploma program is created and taught by working professionals who own their own stores. They are very much involved with the College of Opticians of British Columbia (COBC).
Most importantly, it is a condensed 13-month program. It has been recognized by COBC, making it one of the most effective programs in the province. This gives students like me a great opportunity to learn from people with real experience and who are shaping the future of this dynamic industry. I wanted to learn from the best, which is why I chose Stenberg.
Follow my blog to learn about my experiences as a student Optician who is a working professional. If you want to know why a makeup artist would become an Optician, keep an eye out for my classmate Preet’s blog!
