My Education, My Plan

In ten years, I see myself working happily as a Dentist. Dentistry is the only career I really want to pursue. Dentistry just fits for me in many ways. If I’m not able to become a dentist, my dreams would be crushed. I know that I have a ton of hard work in front of me, since dentistry is a very competitive field of study.

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a dentist. One day, over the summer, I was pondering over my options and someone suggested dentistry because I would look good in a lab coat. I had, at the time, just laughed, but as I thought about the idea, it sounded like the perfect career for me for many reasons. One reason being that in high school I really enjoyed and excelled in science courses. I’m also a very investigative thinker; I like to solve problems and come up with solutions. It’s important to me, to be able to help others and, also, work with others. I want a career that brings me some kind of accomplishment at the end of every day.

The very first thing I will do to get closer to my goal, is to do well in my classes at UNCG. To prepare me for dentistry, I’m taking several science and math courses over the next four years and I am enrolled in the pre-dentistry program. I really want to take advantage of my education because I know that everything taught to me now, is only going to improve my life later.

After graduation, I will, sadly, leave UNCG to attend UNC Chapel Hill, where I will enter into the dental school. It will be wonderful to finally be able to dive into courses that will be directly related to my profession of choice. That’s when my education will probably be the most thrilling and fulfilling for me. I have not decided if I will specialize in a given area of study yet, but I have a while to make my mind up.

The next step in my plans, after receiving my degree, is to pass written and practical examinations that are required by the state to obtain a license to practice. Then I will finally, and happily, be able to go out and seek a job in dentistry. I am not yet sure if I want to establish my own office or not. As long as I get to practice, I’ll be happy.

I have recently been throwing around the idea that someday I may want to travel to poverty stricken countries and provide dental care to those who cannot afford it. I have this passion to help others in need, especially the less fortunate. If I can use the dental skills I obtain to improve someone's life, it would be extremely rewarding. After reading Enrique’s Journey and personally knowing a mother whom had left her son in Mexico to pursue a better life, I’ve been inspired to become a dentist even more, so that I can provide dentistry to those who struggle just to feed themselves each day.

When I think about my future, I get excited. There is a lot of good I can do with my education I obtain. The excitement I have is my motivation. When I struggle, get frustrated, or get discouraged, I’m going to picture where and what I’m going to be doing in my future if I just keep on working diligently. I want to be a dentist, no doubt about it.