A Lesson in Getting Un-Stuck

Sometimes, things don’t always work out the way you expect them to. I chased the dream of being an optometrist, but there were a few points in time when I didn’t think I was going to make it. I thought I had made it after graduation. My life was finally beginning, but after a few short years, I was living a life I didn’t enjoy. How was this possible? I was so sure optometry was the career for me.

Keep reading to learn about my career journey, in which I refused to let setbacks define my path and figured out how to make an optometry career work on my terms.

BACKSTORY

I attended the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. After graduation, I spent the first 6 years of my career immersed in the conventional route of private practice in Philadelphia. When I look back on that time now, I think of it as my “quarter-life crisis.”

I worked tirelessly in private practice settings, juggling various responsibilities, but I didn’t feel fulfilled. I realized that despite all my schooling (during which I built up astronomic student debt, might I add), I absolutely hated what I was doing. I spent 5 days a week at my full-time practice and took fill-in jobs 1 to 2 days a week.

Despite my best efforts in the field, I found myself in a cycle of exhaustion that I needed to end. The feelings of discontent that had been bubbling beneath the surface for years had reached an alarming point that I could no longer ignore. This marked a new chapter in my life where I realized I had invested years into something that wasn’t bringing me the joy I so dearly craved. So, I gave myself a choice: continue winding down a path of unhappiness and dissatisfaction for the next 30 years or gather enough courage to explore a new avenue for myself and redefine my career path. I chose the latter, fuelled by my longing for change and a strong sense of self belief.

A LEAP OF FAITH

Moving to Little Rock, Arkansas, wasn’t a decision I took lightly. Saying goodbye to Philadelphia was difficult—not just because I had been there so long, but also because I was leaving behind a thriving city built on rich history, art, and culture. I was also abandoning the stability of a consistent income to meet day-to-day expenses and solid job security, which offered peace of mind and access to benefits such as health insurance, a retirement plan, and continuing career development. My whole professional career had been anchored in Philadelphia. Although the security of my conventional optometry career kept me in practice for so long, I couldn’t ignore the unexplored, nagging question: “What if this new career path works out?”

Leaving behind the traditional modes of optometry was probably the boldest and scariest decision I have ever made, especially as I was moving halfway across the country at the same time. I had no professional network to fall back on here, although the move meant I would be living closer to my sister and to breaking from the confines of burnout.

Dr. Noh (left) at the grand opening of her practice, Noh Eyes, with her husband, Timothy Pici (right), plus a view of the calm and inviting waiting room at Noh Eyes (inset).

After all, I knew that ignoring burnout was a bad idea. This can have severe consequences for both your physical and mental well-being, not to mention your professional performance and personal relationships, and I was starting to feel it. Looking back, I’ve since learned the criticality of detecting the signs of burnout and taking proactive action to address and hinder its effects. Working out a healthy work-life balance for myself and prioritizing my quality of life helped me break free from the consequences of burnout and ultimately assisted me in creating a more fulfilling life.

HOW IT’S GOING NOW

Having left a traditional career in optometry, which I’d previously believed I’d been destined to excel at, I decided to open a practice solely dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease. Developing a new practice from the ground up required levels of perseverance and resilience that I had not known before. I did have moments of doubt along the way, but my mental trajectory was always looking up. Slowly but surely, the dry eye clinic started taking shape. With each patient I assisted and each success story I embraced, my confidence and passion swelled. I’ve been open since October 2022, and the practice is still going strong.

I find satisfaction in knowing that I make a meaningful difference in my patients’ lives, and that’s why I don’t regret my journey to becoming a practice owner, despite my slight (hopefully short-term) pay cut. The fulfilment I gain from my career has escalated to a level I never thought possible, and I actually look forward to going to work in the morning (imagine that!). Every new appointment booked and each positive review gained takes me one step closer to becoming as successful as I had dreamed of being while I was stuck in my previous career path. Now, I can progress in a fulfilling career without the burnout—a win-win situation!

BE WHERE YOU’RE MEANT TO BE

I’m so thankful I took the leap despite the unknown, as it led me to a place of purpose. I encourage anyone dealing with job burnout and dissatisfaction to rethink your professional journey and summon the courage and determination to reach for what makes you happy. You’re only trapped in whatever confinements you allow yourself to be trapped in.

I now embark on a career path of passion and purpose, knowing that what I’m doing is what I was truly meant to do. If you feel as though you’re not living the life you’re meant to live, take the steps to correct your trajectory—I believe you can do it!