Best Buds

Optometry school has been more than what I had expected. In some ways that's good, while in other ways it isn't. I am glad to be enrolled in optometry school and I do enjoy what I'm learning in most of my classes. I certainly don't enjoy all of them, and do not see the relevance of a few of them. I wish that there were fewer classes though. The course load is a bit much. Despite that, I do think that attending optometry school is one of the best things that has happened to me.

Anyway, my intention today is not to write about school. I wanted to write about my best buds in school. I didn't think that I would have any close friends prior to beginning the program due to my advanced age. Most of my classmates are fresh out of college. There are some that are older than that, but they have families. I didn't think that I would have anything in common with anybody. My 2 best buds in school are Matt and Corey. They are a couple of fun, smart, and wild boys. I knew that we would be close since our trip together to Rockaway Beach last September. The morning after drinking and socialising at the beach, we got dressed and all 3 of us had on red T-shirts. I predicted then that we would have some special bond and I was right. They are quite different from me, especially Matt, but I see a little bit of myself in both of them when I was 23. They are like little brothers to me.

Matt is a rough and tough Wyoming boy. He has said that we are polar opposites, but I don't think so despite our numerous differences. I remember his introduction during the 1st week of classes. He said that he liked football and drinking beer. The entire class bursted out in laughter. I remember adding him as a Facebook friend last summer. He was in groups like "Hillary, make me a sandwich" or "Stop Hillary Clinton." I never thought that I would be close friends with a guy like that. Now, after watching my 2nd ever Superbowl and many alcoholic beverages later, I must say that I was wrong. Matt is a bit of a paradox. He doesn't seem to study much, yet he aces every class. He is a bit crude, macho, egocentric, and sexist, but the girls seem to like that. Despite his faults, Matt is a good guy and I'm proud to have him as a buddy. He's a bit of a bad boy, but I've seen worse. I do question his ethics though. I've seen his vulnerable and sensitive side before, and I feel touched. He is fun, clever, and highly gifted. If I had his mind, I would be in med school.

Corey is different from Matt, though not as different as Matt and I. Where Matt is crude, Corey is smooth and gentlemanly. Where Matt is macho, Corey is sensitive. Where Matt is egocentric, Corey is thoughtful and altruistic. Corey is also a very gifted, fun, and clever young man. In many ways, he seems more like a boy than a man. He always makes silly, goofy expressions when his picture is being taken. He likes to do things like play paintball and video games. He loves little kids and is very mischievous, fun-loving, and youthful. However, he certainly has a sense of maturity and responsibility that's impressionable for someone of his age. I really admire Corey's altruism and thoughtfulness. He can act tough, crude, and macho like Matt, but I know it's all an act.

To conclude, I could not have asked for more memorable and great friends as Matt and Corey. We aren't so different despite our age difference and different home states. For instance, we all are nonreligious and come from working class households. I care about these boys as if they were my little brothers. I look forward to seeing them develop into sophisticated gentlemen one of these days. It will certainly take a while longer for Matt. They both have tremendous potential and will certainly become dependable doctors.