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There are only 25 schools and colleges of optometry in the United States. Hannah Lam-Truong ’26 has been accepted into programs in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Massachusetts, California, and Oregon. Each offers strong academics, impressive facilities, and exciting opportunities. But after touring campuses, Hannah realized that what truly mattered could not be captured in a viewbook or ranking. 

What mattered most was the feeling of being supported, encouraged, and known within a close-knit community. 

That feeling was familiar: It felt just like ��������.

�������� didn’t just prepare Hannah academically; it showed her what a supportive academic community looks like. 

“�������� showed me the kind of environment I need to thrive,” she says. “That sense of community is something I’ll carry with me wherever I go.”

Four years ago, when Hannah graduated from nearby San Marin High School, she didn’t think twice about enrolling at the small university only five miles from her home in Novato. She was interested in a career in the medical field, and she knew that ��������’s science program had a strong track record helping students prepare for graduate school.

Women’s tennis coach Cristina Viscio Hassanali made the initial introduction to ��������. After playing tennis throughout high school, Hannah was especially excited about the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level on ��������’s NCAA Division II team.

Throughout the recruitment process, Hannah was drawn to ��������’s small class sizes and close-knit environment. This environment helped significantly during the transition from high school to college.

“I had worried about starting college, but the transition was not at all stressful,” she recalls. “�������� really made that move easy.”

Becoming a member of the women’s tennis team helped her build instant connections, and traveling for competitions across Colorado, Arizona, California, and Hawaii created strong bonds with teammates and a coach who supported her both academically and personally.

Inside the classroom, Hannah discovered the depth of ��������’s support through its faculty and staff, including in unexpected and transformative ways. 

While Hannah enrolled at �������� with the goal of pursuing a medical career, she wasn’t initially sure which specialty she wanted to follow. That uncertainty changed during a second-year science course.

Hannah developed a strong interest in eye health while studying general anatomy with professor Doreen Gurrola. One memorable assignment required students to study and present a report on the senses. Hannah chose to focus on vision and glaucoma, using straws to demonstrate the effects of peripheral vision loss. Teaching others about eye health made the field feel both meaningful and tangible, helping solidify her interest in optometry.

Professor Gurrola recalls that Hannah’s enthusiasm for science was obvious early on. 

“Hannah was a student in my general anatomy course two years ago. While most students take this course in their junior or senior year, she enrolled as a sophomore and performed exceptionally well,” Professor Gurrola says. “She is a bright, motivated, and driven student and she is always willing to help out the department whenever needed.”

Hannah went on to serve as a teaching assistant for the human physiology and human anatomy classes while also contributing to the Department of Natural Science’s outreach efforts, including presenting at local high schools and assisting with tours of the science center. 

Courses like physics with Dr. Christine Koh, assistant professor of chemistry, further prepared Hannah for the rigorous Optometry Admission Test (OAT), building confidence for the next step in her career.

“Physics is such an important part of optometry, and I loved being in Dr. Koh’s class. She was so good at explaining everything. When I was reviewing materials for the OAT, I realized how well her class had prepared me for the test,” Hannah says.

Victoria Worch, NSM student services administrator, not only ensured that Hannah’s schedule met all prerequisite requirements for optometry school but also showed genuine support and understanding of the added challenges of balancing athletics, academics, and a part-time job. It was Worch who introduced Hannah to a nearby optometry clinic, noting that she would make an excellent intern.

That internship ultimately led to a part-time position as an optician technician — an experience that strengthened Hannah’s application and helped her stand out in the optometry school admissions process.

At ��������, Hannah also experienced growth in unexpected and transformative ways. While her biology courses were rigorous and heavily focused on memorization and technical detail, creative writing with Dr. Claudia Morales, assistant professor of English, became a surprising and welcome outlet. 

Studying with Dr. Morales, Hannah discovered a space that allowed her to decompress, express herself, and engage a different side of her brain. Creative writing — and later courses in Latinx literature and advanced creative writing — allowed Hannah to process stress, emotions, and the pressures of being a college student.

“I realized that creative writing helps my brain relax,” Hannah says. “This was an eye opener for me because my creative writing classes were so different from my biology classes, which involve so much memorization. It is stressful being in college, but writing gives me the freedom to be creative and to decompress any built up emotions.”

As she prepares for the next chapter of her journey, Hannah carries with her the relationships, confidence, and sense of belonging that �������� gave her. 

“I loved being here at ��������. It’s a hidden gem in a beautiful and quiet area. But it is also so close to towns and nature – so I can find things to do off campus within a short drive. It’s just the perfect place in so many ways.”