Dr. Yessica Cañas, a 27J Great Grad from Vikan Middle School, (left) achieved her dream of becoming an optometrist in part through the mentorship of local optometrist Dr. Rod Fair (right).
Many kids will tell you what they want to be when they grow up, but very few of them turn out to be correct. (Becoming a literal superhero rarely seems to pan out these days.)
Drs. Yessica Cañas and Rod Fair are members of the small percentage who ended up being right. From a young age, they knew they wanted to become optometrists. And thanks in part to the guidance of those who came before them, both were able to make their dreams come true.
While 27J Great Grad Yessica Cañas and long-time Brighton resident Dr. Fair ended up in the same profession, they took contrasting journeys to reach that point.
Dr. Yessica Cañas poses with optometry equipment in her office.
Their inspiration points were different. Growing up, Cañas was intrigued by the science behind the services she and her family received at the eye doctor.
Fair’s father was an optometrist, so he grew up seeing his father deliver services to families like Cañas’.
Rod’s father, Dr. Ron G. Fair, had been practicing in Brighton since 1959. After Rod followed in his footsteps and became an optometrist, they practiced together for thirty years at Brighton Eye Associates. During this time, the two Drs. Fair also developed a mentorship program for high school students in Brighton.
Dr. Rod Fair in a still from an interview the doctor gave from his clinic, Brighton Eye Associates, in Brighton.
“My parents always taught me to be involved, which led me to see how important it is to give back and make one’s community better,” Dr. Fair said. “Between my father and I, we have employed and mentored around 25 high school students throughout our careers.”
Just before Yessica started high school, Dr. Fair hired her to work at Brighton Eye Associates. Yessica had remained dedicated to the career goal she’d wanted since elementary school. The mentorship Dr. Fair provided Yessica reinforced her drive to become an optometrist.
“If it would have not been for my time in Brighton Eye Associates, I would have never discovered how much I love optometry,” Cañas said.
Dr. Fair gave students real-world experience in a field they were interested in. Students would come in daily and prepare patients for doctors after spending a considerable amount of time training with Dr. Fair.
Dr. Cañas was not the only one who went on to become an optometrist after this learning opportunity. Dr. Danny Sanchez, an Eagle Ridge Academy graduate, became an optometrist after working at Brighton Eye Associates since age 14.
“Many people supported my education in 27J and my children’s education when they were in school,” Dr. Fair said. “It is the American way to do the same for the next generations.”
Dr. Fair is proud to know his involvement and mentorship helped students like Yessica and Danny go on to build successful careers. He remembers when Yessica was a patient of Brighton Eye Associates and what an asset she became, as a bilingual student, when he hired her as a high school student. Throughout the years he worked with her, he watched her grow and become more confident in the optometry field.
Seeing first-hand the positive impact he’s been able to make on high school students by offering real-world work experience has affirmed Dr. Fair’s decision to support local students. Now in his 40th year of practice, Dr. Fair is proud to continue to live, work, and contribute to the community of Brighton and 27J Schools.
“Many people supported my education in 27J and my children’s education when they were in school,” Dr. Fair said. “It is the American way to do the same for the next generations.”
Community members’ support of their neighborhood schools, like the support mentorship Dr. Fair has provided, is essential to creating meaningful opportunities for students and producing successful graduates.
Our students and what they do and become after graduating from our schools represent the future of our communities. With support from community members, we can be #BetterTogether and prepare them to be leaders, contributors, and good citizens of these communities.