A first-year leader who listens

As the first-year class president, Om Parekh is using active listening, one of his greatest strengths, to build a strong student community

By Kavya Piraba

As the class president for the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science Class of 2029, first-year student Om Parekh is building a strong, connected cohort through empathy, active listening and leadership. He’s focused on creating a supportive environment where students feel heard, valued and inspired throughout their optometry journey.

I landed on optometry after lots of shadowing and exploring different opportunities following my neuroscience undergrad at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. I’ve always been passionate about health care, and optometry was the right balance between technology and hands-on work. The field is constantly evolving with new technology, which keeps things exciting. Plus, I love that you can build long-term relationships with patients through routine eye exams.

I’d love to return to Alberta and eventually open my own clinic. Private practice really appeals to me, and it’s super helpful that the School hosts talks from FYi Doctors and Eye Recommend informing us about our future careers. I used to work at a clinic affiliated with Eye Recommend and appreciated their approach compared to larger corporations.

I’ve held many leadership roles before: co-president of the Fitness Club and founder of the Plasma Care Club at the University of Lethbridge, and board member at a hospital in Lethbridge. At the Fitness club, we promoted health and well-being on campus, which included activities other than the gym such as rock climbing and runs. I founded Plasma Care Club to advocate and raise awareness for plasma donation. We did this by recruiting volunteers to set up booths around campus to answer questions about donations, eligibility, and more.  These experiences taught me the value of communication, teamwork and helping others leverage their strengths. Our class is diverse in experience but united in mindset, and I felt I could help connect everyone and make this journey memorable.

Definitely the cohort. Everyone is kind, driven and not just focused on optometry – the students have fun personalities and unique interests like sports and music. Their energy and diversity make this program special.

As president, I act as a liaison between students and faculty. My vice president, Justin Wong, and I mainly relay concerns to the appropriate faculty members. I also help students bring ideas to life by pointing them toward resources and support. For example, if they have concerns regarding the weight of course assessments in a certain week, I connect with the faculty members involved to see what we can do to alleviate the burden. I see myself as a bridge, connecting students with each other and with faculty.

My father is a huge role model. He immigrated from India and worked his way up to a managerial position at a manufacturing facility. His grit and persistence inspire me. He also taught me the importance of communication—how to adapt your tone and approach depending on who you’re speaking to. Respect, dedication and empathy are all values I’ve learned from him.

Academically, the biggest challenge will be balancing a “work hard, play hard” lifestyle—staying disciplined while making time to recharge. I enjoy photography and hiking, so I’ll lean on those hobbies. As president, I feel supported by my cohort, who are great communicators. Challenges may arise when coordinating with faculty, especially if a concern affects multiple classes. That’ll require persistence and problem-solving. Thankfully, my classmates are proactive about voicing concerns, which makes my job easier.

Getting to know everyone in the cohort, since I haven’t had a chance to connect with every single person yet. I’m also excited to dive into clinical learning since our current classes are theory-heavy. As president, I want to organize events that help us bond and decompress. Whether it’s a sports night or group activity, I want to create spaces where people can relax and feel supported, especially after tough exams.

Active listening is essential to my role. It allows me to understand the concerns of our class, foster a safe and open environment, collaborate effectively with my executive team, and develop thoughtful, empathetic solutions.

To support this, I’m currently working on an anonymous online form where students can share their thoughts and concerns freely. So far, most conversations have happened in person since this class is incredibly social. People often come up and ask, “What can we do about this?” or “Is it possible to arrange that?” themselves.

I’ve already received several requests for events we can organize together. If I can already feel this strong sense of community just one month into the semester, I can only imagine how much it will grow over the next four years.

We all made it here for a reason. Trust yourself, but don’t hesitate to reach out when you need help. Lean on the cohort —we’re in this together. And if you ever have concerns, I’m here to listen and support you wholeheartedly.