“Peeling back the onion” is an expression that describes the continued self-discovery of this optician. I stumbled into the field right out of high school in 2003, with no direction as to where my life was going. In retrospect, it was serendipitous. I didn’t realize the receptionist job I landed right out of school would end up being the beginning of my career in opticianry.

Lifelong learning, what does that mean? It can mean a variety of things, depending on the professional. Continuing education is a requirement for many of us, but it also allows us as professionals to expand our knowledge and contribute to the growth of opticianry. As an educator, it is important to encourage students to continue lifelong learning by attending quality continuing education. It can allow a professional to improve himself or herself by increasing knowledge. It can also help advance a career and stay ahead of the competition.