D'Souza, Rachel-Sample Essay 3

SampleEssay3 DentalSchoolEssayWrittenfor2010Matriculation Mosttoddlersstopthumb-suckingbytheageofthree.Istoppedthumb-suckingatage15, ontheverydaytheorthodontiststrappedwiresacrossmyteeth,leavingmewiththeshiny metallicmouthofanadolescent"braceface."Imusthavebeenanexceptionamongmy peersforIhadbeeneagerlyawaitingbracesforseveralyears,sincethedayInoticedthat myfifthgradeteacherhaddifficultyunderstandingmywords.MissSkolnikwould sometimesfrowninpuzzlementatmyspeechandbeforelong,Iwasattendingsessions withtheschoolspeechtherapist.Bythenyearsofnightlythumb-suckinghadleftmewitha slightprognathism,misalignedteeth,andaspeechimpediment.Igrewincreasingly consciousofmyteethastheyearspassed:becauseofmyprognathismIadoptedaclosed mouthsmile;toreducemylispIatonepointundertookthesillyresolutiontoavoid"s"and "t"wordswheneverpossible. Iwasthrilledthen,whenmyparentswerefinallyabletoaffordorthodontictreatment duringmyhighschoolyears.DuringthattimeIhadbeenactivelyinvolvedinmyhigh schooldebateteamandthuswasalltooawareoftheimportanceofthespokenword:asa debatermyspeechwasmyweaponofchoice,yetIfoundmyimpedimenttobeahindrance tomyself-confidence.Bysenioryeartheorthodontictreatmentwascompleted?bothmy prognathismandlispwerereducedandspeechbecameanaturaltaskinsteadofan excruciatinglyself-consciousprocess.Itisthisexperiencethatnowinspiresmetopursuea careerindentistry:Ivaluetheimportanceofdentalhealth,ofitshealthandsocialimpacts, andIwanttoprovidecompassionateandmeaningfulservicetopatientswhomayfacethe challengesandconcernsIoncefaced. Mydecisiontopursuedentistryistheresultofalongandthoughtfulprocess.Ientered Dukewiththeintentionofbecomingaphysician,anintentionthathaddevelopedthrough yearswatchingmymomstruggleagainstfourdiseases.Somewherealongthewayhowever (probablyduringanOrgotest)Ibegantoquestionthisintention?IrealizedthatIwanted toworkinadifferenttypeofhealthcareenvironmentandthatIwantedtoworkinaless emotionallydrainingfieldwhilestillprovidingimportantcare.MyinvolvementasaDuke LillyScholaraffordedmetheopportunitytotalkwithbothmymentorsandmyfellow studentsaboutmyhesitations.Onceamonthfornearlytwoyearsweattendedour discernmentgroups,toeatdinner,todiscuss,tolisten,butmostimportantly,toreallystop andthinkaboutourvocationalpaths.Atourlastdinnerafriendofferedapartingquote: "Yourvocationiswhereyourgreatestdesiremeetsagreatneed." ItwasduringthetwomonthsIspentworkinginaRussianhospitalthatIbegantobetter understandmyselfandmygreatestdesire.IlearntthatalthoughIadmirephysiciansthe professionwouldnotbeabestfitforme,thatIenjoyeddevelopingarelationshipwith patientsandseeingthemregularly,thatIlikedworkingwithmyhands,andthatIwantedto beofservicetoothers.IstartedvolunteeringattheMissionsofMercy(MOM)dentalclinics whenIarrivedbackforthestartofthesemester.Theclinicsprovidedaylongfreedental caretolow-incomeNorthCarolinaresidents,andIwasallowedtohelpdentalstudentsas theyperformedtheirworkonhundredsofpatients.Myfirstexperiencewithdentistrywas watchingandhelpingwithafull-mouthextraction?asIpassedinstrumentstothedentistI wasamazedthatthiswomanhaddriventenmileswithhergrandkidstogetallherteeth

Dan Scheirer! 1/3/10 8:00 PM Comment: Excellentopeningvignette.It tiesherexperience(s)toherinterestin dentalmedicine.

Dan Scheirer! 1/3/10 8:01 PM Comment: Motivationfordentistryis clearlystatedhere.

Dan Scheirer! 1/3/10 8:01 PM Comment: Furtherrationaleforpursuing dentistry.

Dan Scheirer! 1/3/10 8:02 PM Comment: Careerpathisfocusedby experiences.

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pulledout.Irealizedthenthattherewasagreatneedfordentalcare,especiallyamonglow- incomefamilies. SubsequentlyIhaveenrolledinanosteologyandanatomyclassandhavediscoveredthatI thoroughlyenjoylearningaboutbones,andthatmyloveforsketchingisusefulin visualizingbonearticulation.Additionally,myinterestindentalstructureaswellasmypast withprognathismandspeechimpedimentsledmetodevelopanindependentstudyproject onoralandmaxillofacialstructureformandfunctioninprimates.Itisrefreshingtobeable toconcentrateonanareaofparticularacademicinterest?theoralstructure?andmoreso tomakeaconnectionbetweentheacademicinterestandclinicaluseatthevolunteerclinics. Iamfullyconfidentthatacareerindentistryisrightforme:ifmygreatestdesiresareto providepainrelief,todeveloppatientrelationships,toutilizecreativityinworkingwithmy hands,andtoprovidecareforothers,andifthereisagreatneedforgooddentalcare,then dentistryis,indeed,myvocation.

Dan Scheirer! 1/3/10 8:03 PM

Comment: Strongconclusion,passionately stated.

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