I grew up not knowing how important teeth are to a person.
As far as I can remember, my mother has always instilled in me the value of having a healthy set of teeth. However, my siblings and I were not impressed. Because of this, I grew up with some oral problems. These problems were actually ignorable until I entered the military and was forced to visit a dentist. Until then, I had no idea why dentists are important in our life. I graduated from high school in 1995.
After that, I served the U. S. army for three years and at the same time, attended a University of Maryland University college.However, I must admit that I did poorly here because I found it hard to intermix military work and studies. I had to train in the military frequently, hence my inferior academic standing. But I learned a great deal about responsibility and leadership along the way.
To prove this, I received several leadership and work ethics awards for being an outstanding soldier. After serving the military from February 1995 to December 1997, I enrolled at the Northern Virginia College where I also did very poorly, earning a grade point average of only 1. 09.My only excuse here is that I really had to work full time to financially support myself. Besides, I had a hard time cooperating right after military, thus my studies had to take a backseat. After a while, I moved to New York and I am now attending the New York Institute of Technology.
Even here, my dream of becoming a dentist has not waned. I am actually taking up some additional credits that are needed so I could enter dental school. At the same time, I am also into distance learning, working my way to get a degree in Criminal Justice.I know that I did very poorly in my previous academic endeavor, but circumstances back then were not favorable to me.
I was young, I had to fend for own needs, and along the way I was sidetracked by several obstacles common to young people. However, I have learned my lessons very well. I guess my stint in the military helped me define my own future. It was during my military service that I met the dentist who made me dream the kind of dreams I have today.
Since then, my life has gradually changed.Initially, I thought that my passion for dentistry would fade as time goes by. This is the main reason why I allowed myself to be diverted again by other things. Time has proven me wrong, though.
Years after my military service, I still want to become a dentist. In fact, I recently worked as a dental assistant at a dental clinic for about six months. There I learned more about dentistry; watching and assisting patients with various oral problems actually gave me confidence that now I am sure what I want to be in future.I know a lot of people are wondering why I want to go to a dental school. Why don’t I want to go to a business school instead? Why don’t I want to be an engineer, or an architect? Don’t I want to specialize in computers? All these questions were initially insulting to me and my chosen field of endeavor.
Gradually, however, I learned to brush them off as something people usually utter in their ignorance. Today, after charting different roads, I finally found out that this is what I have always wanted to be. This has become my one big passion in life.Cliche may this sound; I really am ready to face the odds, no matter what, in my pursuit of this dream. For me, wanting to be a dentist is a noble dream. I want to pursue a career in dentistry not for the fame and fortune.
I want this dream just because. I know that many dental schools will find it very difficult to take me in, considering the very poor academic records I have, but I really am appealing for another chance to pursue something I dearly love. As I said earlier, I have already learned my lessons from my past mistakes.I do hope these mistakes will not hound me forever. On the professional side, I know that dentistry offers many rewarding career options. It combines science and technology in helping people enhance and maintain their oral health.
In fact, it has been said that future dentists will be on the cutting edge of advanced technology; thus making the practice of dentistry even more thought-provoking and gratifying. This is one challenge I want to take, if this school will allow me.Consequently, according to the U. S. Census Bureau, the demand for dental care is projected to grow in the coming years. As baby boomers age, they will continue to need preventive services and many of them will require maintenance on existing dental work.
Moreover, a large numbers of dentists are expected to retire in the next 20 years, creating a huge vacuum that needs to be filled up by new dental professionals (ada. org). Recently it has been reported that dentists are often the first health care providers to recognize and identify a number of illnesses, which includes cancer and cardiovascular problems, among others.Medical research also suggests an increasing number of links between oral diseases and other health concerns. In effect, the role of dentists in the over-all health of an individual has been increasing. Ultimately, I think that the most important role of the dentist is educating people about the importance of oral health.
I have always believed that prevention is better than cure. In other words, it is imperative that dental professionals should play a leadership role in implementing community-based preventive programs, such as community water fluoridation, sealant programs or oral cancer screening.This is something which I never really experienced when I was growing up. Today, I want to be instrumental so that young children will grow up healthy in all aspects. In the end, I am appealing that I be given the chance to pursue a career in dentistry by being accepted in this dental school. Right now, I am doing my best to meet certain requirements and have been aggressively polishing my academic life to be worthy of this dream.
Notwithstanding my previous academic records, I am certainly hoping that my intensive preparation for dental school will not be in vain.I just wish to be given another shot at academic life. I also know that entering and studying in a dental school is not a walk in the park. This is why I have long been preparing myself for the challenges that may come my way, in case I’ll be accepted. In other words, I have come fully prepared so as not to humiliate and disappoint the people who may want to give me a chance here. Hopefully, the above-mentioned reasons are more than enough for me to merit a chance in this institution, and eventually, in this profession.
