About Me
Hello! My name is Quora Neff and I am a senior undergraduate biology student at IUPUI. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in both biology and medical sociology. I am on a pre-optometry track in hopes of attending Indiana University’s School of Optometry in the fall semester of 2024!
Why Optometry?
Growing up I have always known that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. One of my earliest memories was spending every summer taking care of my diabetic grandmother helping administer insulin and accompanying her to her dialysis appointments. She had a significant impact on who I am today and what I have strived to become. After she passed away I made a promise to myself that I would honor her by entering into the medical field. I had initially entered college with the idea that I was going to pursue pediatric medicine due to my passion for working with kids. I was a two sport athlete throughout my highschool career, and had spent so much time coaching, training, and tutoring kids. I have always been told that my calling is to work with children in some capacity.
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Freshman year of college I entered IUPUI on a mission to find what place in the medical field I wanted to pursue. I had shadowed so many people from family practitioners, pediatricians, podiatrists, and physician assistants. However it wasn’t until I went home for the summer and had an eye exam with my family optometrist that I sparked my interest in the field of optometry. Dr. Kristina Jordan is an optometrist in Mishawaka, Indiana that I had been going to since I was little. She always remembered so much about my life and the importance of my vision in regards to contacts in order to facilitate my high school sports career. I had been wearing contact lenses since I was around 15 years old in order to accommodate my active lifestyle. After talking to her about my struggles to find what career path I wanted to pursue, she invited me to have lunch with her at her office and shadow her for a few days. I instantly fell in love with the career and knew that it was a perfect fit for me.
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Optometry is so special to me too because vision is something that I think many people take for granted. I can one day help a child see their mother’s face clearly for the first time, or help a patient with severe diabetes or cataracts be able to once again see clearly the trees and the little things outside that bring life joy. Ocular health and maintenance is extremely important, and essential for maintaining a quality of life that so many people strive for and deserve.
