NOA 2024: NOSA reflects on convention's networking and mentorship opportunities for students

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For the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA), the National Optometric Association (NOA) Convention provided a busy week of events, lectures, and continuing education opportunities this year while preparing for future semesters of school. Every year, the convention also allows optometry students to build on invaluable relationships with practicing eye care providers to help them take as much knowledge as possible into the field they are entering, according to Babirekere Bakama, corresponding secretary for NOSA.

“The NOA Convention is very different from the bigger conventions because it’s more so like a family reunion, but it just so happens that everyone’s in optometry,” Bakama, who is also a fourth-year optometry student at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry, said. “I really hope that students are taking advantage of the doctors who are so eager to speak to them.”

Bakama said that one of her favorite events at the convention is a student speed netting session, hosted by Black Eyecare Perspective, which allows eye care provider representation from most, if not all, modalities in the industry to chat with students. She said that it provides an important opportunity for students to reevaluate what specialty they may want to enter and to foster mentoring relationships.

Another highlight of the convention for Bakama is the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examination prep sessions for students. She said that that knowledge gained from mentorship is particularly important for students to gain before taking the NBEO. “You really need to think about what you’re doing and reevaluate as many times as necessary,” Bakama said. “If the plan changes, the plan changes, and that essentially is what they go over. It’s an awesome meeting. We have that every year.”

Additionally, the NOA Convention shines a light on grant and scholarship opportunities available for optometry students. At NOSA’s business meeting every year, a Chapter of the Year grant is awarded to a school or college of optometry chapter based on how active its members have been. This activity is usually based on community and service events put on by the chapter, according to Bakama. “That’s what NOA is about, so that reflection in our student chapters is always great,” she said.

As far as what NOSA is working up for the next year, Bakama said that the organization is working on revamping its mentorship programs to improve students’ access to information on the industry, whether it’s feedback on studying habits or advice on career path. “The field is very small and very tight knit,” Bakama said. “So if you don't have access to that very small, tight knit program, you can sometimes feel miles and miles away and you don't know what you're going to do when you graduate, or you end up in the trial and error process.”