Meet our inspiring alumni
Meet Ally Forman
After graduating high school, Ally was undecided about her future career. While passionate about sciences like biology and chemistry, she also enjoyed history. To explore her diverse interests before specialising, Ally opted for a Biomedicine undergraduate degree as it seemed like the perfect starting point. The degree allowed Ally to keep her options open and combined her scientific interests with the appeal of working in healthcare and treating patients.
Ally found the practical components of the degree challenging yet enjoyable and they helped solidify concepts through hands-on activities like dissections and research. The course structure allowed for specialisation after building a foundational knowledge base while studying linguistics as a breadth stream provided diversity.
My peers were from all over Melbourne and around Australia, so getting to meet so many through the different subjects and form close bonds was fantastic.
From Biomed to Optometry
Today, Ally is studying a Doctor of Optometry and credits her Bachelor of Biomedicine with laying the groundwork. Subjects like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and pathology gave her a solid foundation. Even her Infection and Immunity major, which initially didn’t seem relevant, turned out to be helpful during microbiology and immunology units in the Optometry degree.
Practical work, such as dissecting an eye during her early Optometry studies, allowed Ally to draw upon her experiences from the Biomedicine degree. Undergraduate skills like developing study techniques, creating scientific posters and working in groups, were also valuable.
Outside of study, Ally is a puzzle enthusiast with a particular love for escape rooms - though she admits she and her friends don’t always make it out in time! She’s also a big musical theatre fan and recently saw Hadestown and Moulin Rouge on Broadway. As a former high school stage manager, Ally is keen to return to the theatre world once her Optometry degree is done.
Ally keeps busy with volunteer work too - helping organise a national optometry student conference and running the optometry side of the beloved Teddy Bear Hospital program.
If you’re unsure what to do—that’s okay...it will fall into place.
Her advice? Be curious, ask questions and don’t be afraid to change direction. Ally lives by one guiding motto: say yes to opportunities. Whether it's trying something outside your comfort zone or diving into something new, those moments lead to the most rewarding experiences.
Ally’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out right away. With curiosity, openness and a willingness to get involved, the path will often reveal itself - and may often lead to somewhere amazing.