Mentor

**shirlynn** · 12-03-2008, 09:49 PM

Hi, looking for a mentor
I am in the San Diego, California area. I'm trying to find someone who is interested in helping me to further develop my skills as an Optician.

**rbaker** · 12-03-2008, 10:32 PM

Find the person that you would like to be when you grow up and ask them. You have to select a mentor rather than have someone volunteer. Good luck.

**For-Life** · 12-03-2008, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by shirlynn

Hi, looking for a mentor
I am in the San Diego, California area. I'm trying to find someone who is interested in helping me to further develop my skills as an Optician.

I think it is great that you are looking for someone to help cultivate yourself into being a great optician. Maybe go to different optical stores and even labs to see what type of people are out there.

**MarcE** · 12-04-2008, 10:39 AM

Optiboard was my mentor. Just read everything on here and try it. Screw up and try again. I passed the ABO after 6 months of working in the field.
I really feel like I'm a very good optician for a non-surfacing lab, and I only have 3 yrs experience, and no formal schooling in opticianry.

I don't say that to brag, just to thank everyone on optiboard. It's a great resource!:cheers:

**Jacqui** · 12-04-2008, 10:47 AM

I would go the lab route first. Learn what goes into making them (surface, finish, and if possible AR) and then continue on with dispensing.

**NavyChief** · 12-04-2008, 11:20 AM

If you're interested, see if you can locate a phone number to the Naval Hospital Optical Department. They will have opticians that have both dispensing and lab experience. They also have a lab located there. Tell them Chief Laurie Grivel (Torres) told you to call.