Complete Story
09/30/2025
New Perspectives: Celebrating Carley
OAO is proud to spotlight Carley, who recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming a licensed optician. We asked a few personal questions about her path, what this accomplishment means to her, and where she's headed. Her hard work and passion led to this milestone, and we couldn't be happier. Here's a peek into her journey, and what's ahead.
Q. Carley, what first sparked your interest in becoming an Optician?
A: About 10 years ago I worked customer service for Hoya. I took a break after I left them and stayed home with my daughter. When it was time to return to the workforce, optical seemed like a natural path for me to take. I already had a pretty solid base of information.
Q. Along the way, was there someone who really encouraged or inspired you to keep going?
A: Absolutely my family. I constantly want to be working towards being the best version of myself I can be, and I want to be a role model for my daughters to look up to as they grow up.
Q: Who pushed you the hardest when preparing for the boards?
A: My husband. He was great at pushing me past my executive dysfunction, and anxiety, and reminding me that I could do this.
Q: Did you learn anything during the process that surprised you or changed the way you look at the profession?
A: There are a lot more nuances to the practice than I had initially anticipated. I went into it from the lab perspective, having a different view on what to expect. There were some things I knew were important, like fitting heights and pd measurements. It was not until I was working it day to day did I learn WHY those things were so specific and important.
Q. Can you take us back to the moment you found out you passed- what was going on through your mind?
A: Oh boy. It said I passed, and I thought it was a practical joke. I half expected a pop up to show up and say, "just kidding." Obviously, that didn't happen, so when it was processed that it wasn't going to happen... I just sobbed. I was so relieved.
Q. Now that you've earned your license, what does that accomplishment mean to you personally and in your career?
A: I knew before I passed that I knew what I was talking about, but this gave me justification in that confidence. I only hope to grow as a person, and an optician. I want to continue to serve my community and grow alongside the optical field!
Q. What is one piece of advice you would share with someone just starting their own journey?
A: This process is a marathon, not a sprint. Everybody kind of learns at their own pace, and whatever your pace is? It's exactly correct. Also never be afraid to reach out with questions! When I didn't understand a concept, I would ask someone else. You may have to ask a couple different people to find someone who phrases things in a way that clicks for you, but that shouldn't stop you from asking!
Q. Looking ahead now that this big step is behind you, what's your next goal you're excited to explore?
A: I look forward to growing with my career. There are a lot of opportunities in our field. I look forward to riding the wave and seeing where it takes me.
Q. How do you see yourself making a difference for your patient and for the profession?
A: I will always do my best to keep up with the ever-changing optical world we live in, and I look forward to educating and helping my patients within that space.
Congratulations, Carley! Earning you license is just the beginning; we can't wait to see where you go from here.
