How I Became - an Optometrist w/ Ally Xue.

Welcome to the ‘How I Became’ series where Billie talks to girls across New Zealand who are killing it in their chosen career and see how they got there!

Trying to decide what you ‘want to be when you grow up’ is hard enough as it is and your careers counsellor probably won’t have all the answers you need.

HIB aims to give you a bit of insight into different career paths and what it takes to get there.

Name: Ally Xue

Age: 33

Job title: Optometrist

Current job: Locum optometrist (slash voiceover artist for The Poo Files and actor/co-creator for Creamerie)

Firstly, what drew you to optometery?

The stereotype is that Asian parents want their kids to be doctors, I guess my mum was progressive and said optometrist haha. Of course, I wasn’t convinced - I wanted to study architecture. But after I had my first eye test during my final year of high school, I walked out of that exam room with a new pair of glasses and a new career plan.

What subjects did you take in high school that you think helped?

The Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and Maths. But I also snuck in my passion subjects like Drama and Graphic Design because secretly I wanted to be an actor.

What did your pathway towards starting your career look like?

Entry into Bachelor of Optometry is competitive. I didn’t have a backup plan if I wasn’t accepted, so my first year at Auckland Uni was pure tunnel vision - study, eat, sleep. Looking back, it was not the best approach mental health wise. A lot of late nights. A lot of caffeine. Not a lot of fun.

What did you study/where/how long did it take?

Bachelor of Optometry and Doctor of Philosophy in Ophthalmology. I did both degrees at Auckland University. It only took me 10 years!

What’s the best thing about your job?

I am locuming at the moment, which gives variety to my routine, and the flexibility to pursue my creative goals.

What’s the hardest part?

Dealing with unhappy customers.

What surprised you most about your job once you started working?

The importance of people skills. I’m a huge nerd. And had to learn that good grades are meaningless if you can’t communicate what you know effectively with your patients.

What does an average day look like for you?

If I’m locuming, then it’s a typical 9-5 day performing eye exams. If I’m on a creative job, it could range from prepping for an audition, to script writing, to procrastinating script writing, to recording voiceovers in the studio…

What advice would you give to those looking to follow a similar career path?

Be prepared to study hard, optometry is a challenging degree. But also don’t neglect other parts of your life - you are only young once.

What are the biggest challenges in your opinion to getting into optometery?

Once you graduate, it takes a few years to build up your clinical confidence. Most new grads are mentored by a senior optometrist in their first 2 years of practice. A good mentor is hard to come by. So make sure you interview them as much as they interview you to find the right fit.

What kind of skills does your job require?

Communication, attention to detail, perceptiveness.

What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

Like all healthcare, optometry uses evidence-based practice. It’s always evolving with new technologies, techniques and innovations, so it’s very satisfying to be able to offer new hope to patients.

What has been an absolute highlight of your career?

Getting my doctorate degree. Thankfully I had a wonderful supervisor who shepherded me through those dark times of self-doubt.

What’s an unexpected element to your job that people don’t realise you have to do?

Managing people’s emotions. It’s a life skill you can only get better at after making a few mistakes.

Describe your job in three words

Enriching. Evolving. Rewarding.

Ally is also one of the incredible voice talent behind season 2 of the animated kids series The Poo Files, available weekdays at 3.30pm on TVNZ2 and TVNZ+.