"Attitude is a Choice"

Although I love Dentistry, I can't honestly say that I've loved dental school thus far. Maybe if I were younger, or less influenced by life's experiences this place would be a little more palatable. Or maybe, I should just change my attitude and smile about it.

I applied to dental school for several reasons. The most important one: knowing that if I were successful at accomplishing such a daunting task, I would never have to work another day in my life. It might sound cliche to you, or even unrealistic, but as stressful as practicing Dental Hygiene could be, I never woke up thinking, "I don't want to go to work today." I loved my job. I loved my patients. I loved being trusted, having people depend on me, taking care of others, making people smile. My goal was to never feel comfortable in my work, but to continue to master it everyday and to continue to grow as a person and a clinician. That's how I ended up here. The ladder was only so high and although I knew there was still a lot of ground to cover, I also knew I wouldn't be satisfied. So I wrote this:

     I once read a short story about a man who encountered a young boy while walking on the beach.  The boy was tossing starfish off the beach and back into the ocean.  When the man asked the boy what he was doing, he told him that the tide had gone out and that if he did not get the starfish back into the ocean they would die.  The man responded and asked, "There are hundreds of starfish along the beach, what makes you think you can make a difference?"  As the boy tossed yet another one back he replied, "I made a difference for that one." This story is an example of why I want to be a dentist and why I am applying to dental school.  I am applying because I desire and anticipate the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people I encounter throughout my dental career. 

     I began my career in the dental field when I was accepted to the Dental Hygiene Program at Indiana University-Purdue University of Fort Wayne in July of 2003.  After completing the program with a 4.0 GPA and graduating with highest distinction, I obtained my dental hygiene license from the Indiana State Board of Dentistry in June of 2005.  I then began working as a dental hygienist in two general dental practices.  After spending a short period of time in these offices I was fully aware that I was not satisfied with limiting my dental career to hygiene.  It was not long before I began obtaining information on applying to dental school. Today, I am submitting this application for the 2009 admittance cycle with perseverance and great determination.

     As a practicing dental hygienist I find the greatest pleasure in my work comes when I am able to make a profound difference in my patient’s lives, by providing them with care that will last them a lifetime.  I achieve this by educating them on the importance of oral hygiene, changing their outlook on the purpose of dentistry, motivating them to make their oral health a priority, and by providing the best care I am able to provide them every time they are in my chair.  I enjoy establishing personal relationships with my patients, challenging cases and patients of all ages.  I ensure that my patients receive the kind of care that I would expect for myself or my family and I take pride in my work.

     Although I have a great passion for dentistry and for the people I encounter in it, I am also passionate about many other things in life.  For example, I was recently married in May of this year and am excited about my role as a wife and future mother.  My husband and I have two dogs, a yellow lab we call Luke, and a yorkie named Leia.  In the summer I enjoy camping, fishing, riding my LTZ 400 Suzuki ATV, and most of all boating where I enjoy my newest and most challenging summer hobby, wakeboarding.  We take at least two snow skiing trips a year and love to go ice fishing in the winter.  However my favorite activity is one that I enjoy year round.  It is my ongoing training in Brazilian Ju-jitsu.  Training in Ju-Jitsu fighting keeps me in shape, helps me to relax, and provides me with a means of self-defense and self-discipline.

     I am currently a full time hygienist at Lifetime Smiles Dental Care in Marion, Indiana who is eager to continue furthering my dental education.  I will continue to practice dental hygiene with care and concern as I await acceptance into the dental program where my true passion lies.  I will strive to make a difference for each and everyone of the people I encounter in my dental hygiene career.  As a person who is compassionate toward others, I will continue to help those in need whether it be a patient or coworker, a church member or even an elderly person at the grocery store.  As a person who finds self satisfaction in helping others, I will continue to search for satisfaction.  I am submitting this application with great hope and high spirits that I will someday be able to provide the highest quality of lifetime care to all those in need.  Someday I will make a difference in more ways than I can even imagine. 

I submitted this, along with my application, and after nearly a year of anticipation, I recieved the good news. News that I was going to dental school. News that my dream was going to become a reality. News that in four short years, I was going to be back to work, treating people, making a difference everyday and loving every minute of it. The problem: I forgot to consider the time in-between. All that mattered was that I was in and that my hard worked had paid off. However, now that I'm here, I have to admit that the challenges I expected to find, are the smallest hurdles I've had to jump; the dead lines, exams, projects, time constraints, hours and hours of studying. These are the necessary evils I signed up for by coming here. The REAL challenges have be the ones involving my personal life; moving away from my family, quitting my job, moving in with a stranger, abandoning my comfort zone and exploring the zones of learning. The real challenges are the ones that I've let control my attitude for far too long now. I've refused to enjoy this place, to be happy here, to roll with the punches and soak up the experience. Instead, I've chosen to focus on the end, telling myself this is temporary and that it will all be worth it someday. 

Getting into dental school is the kind of good news that changes your future, but I've got good news that is going to change the present. It's changing, because I'm changing my perspective. Training for the mini marathon is reminding me of how much I truly enjoy life.  It is reminding me of why I am here in the first place, how hard I worked to get here, and the fact that I deserve to enjoy it.  After all, it is more than just four temporary years, it's four years of my life.

I've decided that it is time to stop dealing and start living, so today I'm making a choice. A choice to believe that attitude, is in fact, a choice. "Attitude is a choice, and I'm ready to choose the best for myself."