Love of the College inspires a major career boost

New ABDO College lecturer Callum Wills was so inspired by his experience as a student at Godmersham that it led him to apply for, and achieve, his dream job after just six years in optics.

“I have attended the College several times and it took my breath away every time,” he  revealed. “It’s a gorgeous building, with beautiful wildlife and greenery surrounding it. Each room is memorable, and you can feel the history around it. I hope everyone who visits has the same feelings.”

Callum’s career began with his first job at Boots Opticians where he fell in love with optics. He wanted to advance further, so he moved to Specsavers and took the ophthalmic dispensing course to become a dispensing optician.

“Since finding a passion for optics I’ve been on a mission to learn as much as I can and to enrol on as many courses as my stores would allow to increase my knowledge and help people day-to-day, whether colleagues or patients,” he explained.

Attending the College made Callum realise there was a potential for him to get involved with education at a different level. “I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures while on the DO course and each lecturer brought such warmth and personality to their role. It inspired me to help with training at my own practice and to do mini lectures on the fundamental basics of optics,” he said.

Callum is now hoping to put his own character into each lecture, to help college students get the most out of their course and to inspire them to go further once they have passed. “Optics has such a range of opportunities for everyone, and I want to help them get there,” he emphasised.

“I’ve wanted to be a lecturer from my first block at the College,” he added. “As a recent student I know exactly what the students are going though and the pressures they may feel on the course, or from outside. I believe I can relate to them and will be able to help them with this.”

His advice to students is: “If you have a passion for what you do, show it. Not every opportunity is going to present itself to you, so go looking for it. Every practice is going to have a training programme or course, so get involved with that which will give you inspiration.”