Before you can apply to an optometry program, you need to complete an undergraduate degree. Most optometry schools require coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, English, and mathematics. A pre-med degree or degree in biological science will help prepare you for med school. Get a well-rounded undergrad education and work hard to get good grades! Medical schools will want to see that you take your education seriously. Tell your advisor or counselor that you’re thinking about becoming an optometrist and ask what courses you should be taking. Check the requirements at the optometry programs you plan on applying to so you don’t accidentally miss any courses. Shadowing is a great way for you to get hands-on experience in the field of optometry. This will give you a feel for how the career works and what an optometrist does. There’s no better way to find out if optometry is right for you than to watch a real optometrist at work, so take advantage of your opportunity and soak up all the wisdom you can!  Some people will observe optometrists with patients, and others may assist around the office. Try to get a sense of optometry from all perspectives, from the waiting area to the examination room. You can try to get a job or volunteer your time. Don’t worry if you can’t find a practice to work for on your first try. Keep looking and meeting as many optometrists as you can and an opportunity will come up. Your program will include both core classes in a classroom setting and hands-on experience through clinics. These programs will need to be completed at an accredited optometry school and take four years to complete. It sounds like a long time, but if it’s your dream to be an optometrist, you’ll be done before you know it and out helping people in no time. Get ready to take courses in biological sciences focused on the eye.

Summary: Obtain a bachelor's degree in pre-med or science. Get experience through shadowing. Complete a Doctor of Optometry Program.


Ask your partner what they think they are entitled to out of life and from you. If they answer in a way that demonstrates that they view relationships as a partnership, then this is a positive sign. If they emphasize what they “deserve” from other people, including you, then they may be a gold digger. Another warning sign is if they feel entitled to the best of everything, no matter the effort they've put in. For example, they might request jewelry almost immediately into the relationship. As you are browsing through dating profiles, watch out for those persons who list only pricey hobbies, interests, or preferences. It's perfectly fine to enjoy expensive wines, for example, but this could indicate a problem if they only enjoy it because of the price tag and not the quality.  For example, a gold digger profile might say, “I love shopping when somebody else pays for it.” A gold digger may be unaware how they come across, and therefore won't try to hide their greedy behavior. However, some are more sophisticated and stealthy. People usually hang out with like-minded individuals. If all of your partner's friends are gold diggers, then it's highly likely that they are as well. If their friends constantly talk about looking for rich men or women, then you can tell that's what they value. If you are concerned, you might ask your partner, “I've noticed that your friends talk about money a lot. Why do you think that is?”

Summary: Notice a sense of entitlement. Look for online profiles with expensive preferences listed. Pay attention to their friend's attitudes.


Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen provide very effective pain relief for cramps. NSAIDs tend to work quickly, easing the pain within half an hour or so. They are available over-the-counter in most countries. Follow the dosing instructions on the bottle. Generally, you can take 400-600mg every four to six hours as needed.  Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is another option that can help with the pain of menstrual cramps. It can be used in addition to NSAIDs as they work via different mechanisms in your body. Tylenol and ibuprofen should be alternated and not used together at the same time. If over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen are insufficient to control your pain, you can speak to your physician for a prescription-strength alternative which may be more effective in controlling your menstrual pain. Do not take aspirin if you are under 19-years-old without first consulting your doctor. Aspirin may cause a rare but serious condition called Reye's syndrome. Menstrual cramps are located in the uterus, which contracts to release its lining when you have your period. The uterus, like any muscle, relaxes in response to warm temperatures, so applying some heat to your abdomen may help relieve cramps.  Fill a hot water bottle and lay it across your stomach while you are resting. Let it sit for as long as you'd like. Make sure you do not fall asleep while the heating pad is on you.  Another option is to draw a warm bath and soak for about half an hour. Try to relax your muscles in response to the warm water. Massaging your abdominal region and lower back is a great way to loosen the muscle tension and to relieve cramps. Place your hands over your stomach or back and gently knead the area. A vibrating self-massaging tool applied to your back can also help, or you could ask a partner to massage you. Depending on how you feel about having sex while on your period (and also what part of your period you are on — for instance, it is easier to have sex in the final few days when your blood flow is lighter), consider having sex to relieve pain from menstrual cramps. The chemicals released in your body during sex act as pain-relievers, and can also help to relax the muscles in that area of your body. Tea can help to settle your stomach and to relieve aching muscles. Certain types of tea have properties that can relax the uterus and help to get rid of painful cramping. Brew yourself a pot of one of these types of tea:  Raspberry leaf, which eases muscle cramps Cramp bark, which relaxes the uterus Dong Quai, which soothes the nervous system.

Summary: Try pain medication. Apply heat. Massage the area. Have sex. Drink hot tea.


After you have inserted the elastic all the way through the fabric, you will need to sew the fabric and the ends of the elastic together to close the pieces. This will allow the elastic to gather the shoulder and dress pieces at the top of your dress. Sew the fabric and the ends of the elastic piece together leaving a ½” seam allowance. Make sure to sew the fabric on the wrong side so that when you turn the pieces inside out, the seam allowance will be hidden. After you have closed up the back of the shoulder and dress pieces, you will need to hem the bottom of the pieces. Fold and pin along the bottom edges of the shoulder and dress pieces to create a ½” seam. Next, line up the back seams of your shoulder piece and dress piece and pin the pieces together at the elastic in the front and back. When you are happy with the positioning of the pieces, stitch a line down the front and back of the elastic at the very center of the front and back to secure the pieces together. You can simply stitch up and down the width of the elastic pieces two or three times to ensure that they are secured.  Use a thread color that will blend in well with your fabric. This will help to ensure that the stitching is not as noticeable. Make sure that there is an even amount of shoulder piece fabric on either side of the dress piece. Otherwise, your dress may end up looking lopsided. Make sure to sew through both layers of the elastic and fabric. After you have sewn the shoulder piece and the dress piece together, your dress is ready to wear! Try on your new dress and see how it looks.
Summary: Sew the elastic and fabric together. Hem the bottom edges. Secure the shoulder piece to the dress piece. Try on your dress.