Introduction to the Eyeball Guy

 

Hi there! I'm Clay Buchanan and I am a senior (kind of I am going to take an extra semester...) at OU! I am a Biology Pre-Optometry major and am going to start applying to Optometry schools Summer 2021! You probably can agree with me when I say that eyes are really weird, but at the same time I think they are super interesting and am excited for a future in optometry. I chose this as my major because I knew I wanted to both interact with and help people, and after working at a clinic in Norman I knew it was the job for me.

Outside of my school life, I am a pretty predictable guy. I am a proud Christian, I live and breathe sports, and love time with my friends and family. When I am not working or dealing with schoolwork, you can probably find me on the couch watching whatever game is on, no matter the time of day. I don't care if it is foreign soccer in a language I don't even understand, I love following, watching and playing sports. If I could sit down and have a meal with anyone in the world I would have to choose Baker Mayfield, he has turned a random kid from Moore, Oklahoma into a diehard Browns fan. Okay yes I love sports, but they aren't my whole life... some of the time.

The Best QB in the NFL via Soonerwire

My family is pretty tight knit. I have 3 brothers, 2 older that are twins and 1 younger still in high school. One of my older brothers relocated to Wisconsin for work, and the other older brother is still here at OU. While we all bleed crimson, my younger brother will soon be starting school at OSU. My parents live in Moore, so an easy 25 minute drive from my college house in Norman. While we are all in different phases of life, my family is super close.

Not much more to say about me, besides this. I was born a Sooner, I love binging Law and Order, and all I drink is Coke Zero. 

Comments

  1. Hello Clay,
    Eyes are definitely an intriguing topic, and a lot of my eye doctors like to say that I am a fascinating case for younger Optometrists, still finishing up their education. I have one eye due to circumstances when I was younger and had most of the components of my remaining eye replaced, so you just might see my case during your education (I've obviously given my doctors permission to do so)! I myself have never been really big on sports, I occasionally watch them, but I haven't participated in a sport since I was in single digits. However, I have a younger sister who is in middle school, moving up to high school next year, who has always been big on sports, currently doing power lifting.

    I am kind of the opposite of you in terms of siblings, as I have three sisters, I have two older half-sisters and then my younger sister who I previously mentioned.

    I wish you the best of luck on your journey to mastering the art of eyes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Clay!

    First of all, eyes are definitely fascinating. I took anatomy this past summer, and eyes are one of the most intricate body parts. So cool how each part of the eye works together seamlessly to give us the clear and colorful vision that we have. Plus, just how everything is relayed to the brain. So cool that you're going for optometry and I hope the school search and application process goes well! I totally am with you on everything Baker Mayfield. Like he is the sole reason I am a huge Browns fan today. Amazing how he has left that big of an impact on Sooner nation. I am also a Christian who loves sports! Super cool. Soccer is my favorite sport to play, but football is my favorite to watch. Thanks for sharing about yourself, and have a great 2nd to last semester man!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Clay!

    Nice to meet another senior biology major! My eyes basically gave out in middle school so I've been going to an optometrist since. It seems like a fulfilling career and I wish you the best of luck!

    I'm also a pretty big fan of football- mostly just CFB though. I remember watching Baker at all the games in the 2017 season and he was just amazing! I was there when he planted the flag in Ohio State's stadium!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good evening Clay,

    I'm not sure why I was expecting something weird when I first read "eyeball guy," but I'm glad to hear you're on the optometry path and you find it interesting learning about this stuff. I took biomedical engineering for two years in high school. We dissected frogs and sheep eyes in the lab, and I gotta say it was pretty cool. I think it's amazing that we have so much knowledge about how these extremely complicated things act. Hopefully you can contribute to that knowledge and improve eyesight for people like me (I'm a 2.75 in the left and 4.25 in the right eye. Have some pretty thick glasses lol)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Clay,

    I think it is wonderful that you are going into optometry! An acquaintance of mine is an optometrist here in Norman and she is great. It is important that we take care of our eyes.

    Being close with your family and having them live nearby is nice. My sister loves in California and I wish she was closer. I haven't seen her since December 2020.

    I am a fan of Law and Order as well but I mostly watch SVU.

    Best of luck to you on your path to graduation and becoming an optometrist!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Clay!
    Good luck applying to optometry schools! I just finished the medical school application process, so I can relate to everything that goes into the whole process. I'm sure you'll find a great fit!
    I really like and respect that you are so proud of your faith and also that you don't discriminate between sports! While I love a good football game, I personally think gymnastics and volleyball are some of the most underrated and overlooked goldmines out there. Soccer is super top-notch too, and it's popular in most places except the US, but us Americans still need to learn!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Clay,
    I'm a senior too this semester and just gotta say you are way more positive about senior year than I would have expected! Most seniors, myself included, are way down on their senior year: no spring break, all classes online, and a family miserable football season compared to our previous years' standards! But, you seem really positive despite all that and I am taking that as a breath of fresh air! I was wondering if you were involved in any college ministry here on campus? I have been involved in the BCM since my freshman year and now am on leadership there, and I would love to have you come by for coffee some day to chat! Praying for a great semester and start to your grad studies!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sweet intro Clay! I'm a senior bio major also. Baker is something isn't he? I'm not a huge football guy but it seems like whenever I turned on the TV in 2017, he was always making some INSANE play. Really brought the sport alive... and campus corner, from what I hear, lol. Awesome that you're wanting to go into optometry! Don't knock OSU too hard, they did an alright job of preparing a friend of mine for optometry school at NSU;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Clay!

    You sound so driven and happy about what you want to do with your life and I think everyone should be that excited about their careers! I also thought it was so funny reading about our love for sports. I love that you're down to watch whatever, whenever really. I also wonder what is the weirdest sport you've found yourself watching? I found your introduction into your family life kind of funny too because of how everyone is pretty much a die hard sooner fan, but you have to have one rebel in the family. What is he thinking going to OSU?! I think it'll make sports even more interesting in your household though!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Howdy Clay!
    I gotta say Optometry sounds wild - I know that the history of optics is a pretty rich source of intellectual debates and some pretty weird theories about how sight works, but I'm sure now it's much more mechanical. What about eyeballs besides their weirdness do you like so much? Hope you end up writing about some mythological eye-stuff...

    ReplyDelete
  11. You won me over with the title of this post, Clay! Optometry is a miracle in my life, and ophthalmology too. I will spare you the list of my many eye woes, but the short version is that I've worn glasses since I was four, and every time I go to the optometrist to get new glasses, it's like a miracle that brings the world back into focus for me. I actually had to get new glasses just a couple months ago and it is the best pair I have had in a long time; my biggest problem lately is double vision which is hard to correct and incredibly annoying... but the optometrist tried a new strategy with this pair of glasses and, wow, I am so happy with it! Suffice to say I would make a terrible soccer player because I would see two soccer balls on the field and never be quite sure which one to kick, ha ha. Anyway, I am always so glad to meet future eye professionals: you will be doing something so important that makes people's lives better all day, every day. Yay for all the eyeball guys!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Clay!
    Good luck on becoming an optometrist! My eyes are actually pretty terrible, and I have been wearing glasses since first grade. My twin brother also wears glasses (although he only had to wear his after me). My little brother has avoided having to get glasses so far. He is very smug about this. Happy (almost!) last semester at OU!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Clay!
    Optometry is such a cool major that I feel like I don't hear very often! I bet it is very interesting to learn about eyes and understand how amazing they truly are! My brain cannot comprehend how we can just see the way we can!
    I share your love for sports. I will watch almost any sport that comes on, except the NBA. I don't know why, but I just never can get into it. Sports are so much because they bring together so many people who may not have anything but the passion for sports in common!
    It is really nice that your parents live so close! I would love to be able to go home for a home-cooked meal so easily!
    I enjoyed getting to learn a little bit about you and am excited to continue interacting with your posts throughout the semester!
    Brooklin

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey Clay,
    Hahaha I really enjoyed opening your intro and seeing your a Baker Mayfield fan, I'm hoping the browns can give a better run next season. I am also a biology major but going into pre-dentistry, I wish you look on becoming an optometrist. I also wish the browns luck next season, personally I want to see the Cardinals do something with their new team. Do you play fantasy at all? Good luck on the rest of the semester.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Clay,

    I have enjoyed reading your introduction as I found that we have a lot in similar! I am also just a regular guy who goes to school and watches a ton of sports in my spare time. I love that your a biology major as I am a microbiology major, pre-pharmacy. I actually wrote a couple microfictions with tweets about Baker Mayfield as he is one of my favorite football players as for a lot of OU fans. It must be pretty nice to have the family live close by especially when you're going to college. Good luck to you in your last semester and I hope you get into Optometry school!

    ReplyDelete
  16. What up, Clay. What about sports attracts you? I've never cared all that much. I moved around a couple times, and I used it as an opportunity to stop playing them. I didn't hate them when I was involved, though. I also did track later on. Even though I didn't like it, it set me on the path to weight lifting, which I do like. I think I've gotten more competitive as time has gone on. Not in the traditional sense...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hey, Clay! That is definitely an interesting choice for a major! I admire it, as I can't imagine being a doctor at all. I don't do well with the grossness of it, lol. I see you are a sports fan. So are all my family, pretty much. I'm the outcast that isn't that much into sports, except for basketball every now and then. But I like how you said you can watch pretty much any sport and be entertained. Do you watch things like horse racing and olympic sports too? or do you like the ones that are more traditional for our state? I also like Law and Order. My sister got me into it. My family (biological and the ones I've "adopted") are pretty tightly knit too. Do you go see them a lot? I bet it's a lot easier with them being in Moore and Norman being so close. Anyway, I hope you have a great summer/ rest of the semester! Good luck with getting into Optometry school!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Clay, nice to meet you! I think being an eye doctor sounds really cool—all my eye doctors have been some of the friendliest people I know and the science behind everything is super interesting. Before I came to OU, I wasn't much of a sports person, but all the hype surrounding football converted me a little. I do love playing intramural sports!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Clay!
    I am actually about to move to Wisconsin myself, as I am going to medical school there and my husband is going to be a software engineer for Epic Systems, which is a huge medical software company. My husband and I also watch a lot of sports! We really missed not being able to attend games this past season. Optometry is an interesting field that is obviously really important! I remember when one of my friends got colorblind glasses, he literally cried! Best of luck to you as the semester comes to an end.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hey Clay!

    I hope that one day you will get to have a meal with Baker! That would super fun! That's awesome that you know what you want to do in the future! How did you first discover that you had a passion for optometry? Do you know anyone in that field? I love spending time with friends and family as well, but I'm not as much into sports. Sorry, I know! I hope your having a great semester!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Clay! First, you won my heart saying that you would eat with Baker Mayfield. I adore that man and I think his story is just incredible. I am a die hard sooner fan myself, but I agree with you that I will basically watch any sport that is on television. Congrats on almost making it through school! I think it is awesome you want to go into the field of optometry! As a contact wearer with a stigmatism I thank you (lol). Wish you the best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Clay, I enjoyed reading your introduction! I agree that eyes are quite fascinating but personally, I could not be an optometrist. However, I believe that optometrists are super important as I have been going to an optometrist since I was a little kid, so I really respect your decision to go for Optometry. I hope you finish out the semester strong!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi there, Clay! Congrats on almost being finished with college! I hope your final semester goes well and you find yourself at a great optometry school. I think being an optometrist is a super respectable career, especially since eyes are such an important aspect of our lives and people forget about optometrists since they're not a flashy or glamorous job.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 3 Story: The Chosen Ant