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Victoria Baram

945

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

Being the first generation in my family to graduate college, I am super grateful to have had both my parents migrate from underprivileged communities in Russia to give us a better life. I am currently a 3rd year at the New England College of Optometry and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in my 2nd year of Optometry School during the finals week of my fall semester. No one in my family has T1D, so I had no knowledge of how to manage it, let alone the time to figure it all out. With school becoming increasingly demanding, I made the scary but necessary decision to put my health first at the beginning of my 3rd year. I decided to take medical leave for a year, and it was the best decision I could have made for myself. I finally had the time to attend my endocrinology appointments, diabetes education, and nutrition classes to learn how to properly manage the disease. It took this life-altering situation to help me find my strength again, and I am so thankful for it. I have my ups and downs, but I can proudly say I have made strides in my diabetic journey and plan to continue improving and persevering past any obstacles that stand in my way. I am pleased to say I am re-enrolled as a student and am continuing to learn and grow every day. Although this diagnosis has been challenging, I am thankful and excited to be able to offer some extra love, empathy, and understanding when treating patients living with Diabetes now as a student and future Doctor of Optometry.

Education

New England College of Optometry

Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
2019 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Optometry

University of Central Florida

Bachelor's degree program
2015 - 2019
  • Majors:
    • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
  • GPA:
    3.8
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Optometrist

    • Dream career goals:

    • President

      Pre-Optometry Association at UCF
      2017 – 20181 year
    • Vice President

      Pre-Optometry Association at UCF
      2016 – 20171 year
    • Secretary

      Pre-Optometry Association at UCF
      2015 – 20161 year
    • Ophthalmic technician

      Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston
      2021 – 20221 year

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      VOSH Southest — Sorting, cleaning, collecting, and organizing glasses for shipment of donated glasses to underprivileged communities and to be taken on Mission trips.
      2015 – 2019
    • Volunteering

      Mustard Seed Clothing and Furniture Bank — Organize the warehouse and get furniture and clothing boxed up for delivery to under-privileged communities.
      2017 – 2019

    Future Interests

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Skin Grip Diabetes Scholarship
    Winner