Hannah Armstrong

Biology & Spanish

“Do what you love, and success will follow. Passion is the fuel behind a successful career.” – Meg Whitman

There are so many variations of that quote, including the concept of choosing a job you love, focusing on one’s passions, and loving what you do. Let me tell you about what I love. My name is Hannah Armstrong, and I love life. I love listening to music, dancing, painting, and working out. I also love to learn new things and contribute to the well-being of myself, others, and the world around me. Lately, my pursuits have included advancing my knowledge through my studies of biology, Spanish, and the Bible, along with involvement in volunteer work through The Backpack Project: Durham and Duke Help Desk.

As an African American woman having lived in the United States my entire life, I have learned and re-learned what I thought I knew about the medical system, and how it disproportionally affects marginalized groups and communities. Diversity in the medical field is so important in making sure that patient’s voices are heard that their needs are attended to, and that they are seen for who they are as people, and I will contribute to that growing diversity. 

I intend to pursue a profession in optometry, working as a healthcare professional to provide comprehensive eye exams to patients to improve their ocular health and their vision overall. I have worn glasses full-time to assist me with my vision from a young age, and shadowing my optometrist this past spring allowed me to gain a more thorough glimpse into the kind of work I would be doing as a person working in optometry. I found myself enjoying the routine of the day-to-day life and interactions with patients. I believe that in this profession I will be able to explore my fascination with ocular health while providing patients with an experience with someone who knows what it’s like to struggle with ocular health.