Building up to my Future Career
Throughout my undergraduate experience, I've had countless opportunities to take part in activities that will prepare me for my future career as a dentist. I would not be able to have achieved what I have without the resources provided by IU Indy and the community around me. The honors college has pushed me to reach my full potential and has set me up for success in the future. Below are reflections on three very important experiences in my life that have prepared me for what is to come.
Experience 1: Shadowing
To be a competitive candidate for dental school, it is essential to have a great amount of shadowing hours. I spent a lot of my 2024 getting those shadowing hours in at plenty of different practices; I was able to see shadow over 5 different specialties and even got some hands-on experience at some of these offices. This experience was truly invaluable to developing my passion for dentistry. As someone who was unsure going into her first day of shadowing, I was shocked to realize so quickly upon my second day of shadowing my general dentist that this is what I wanted to do with my life. Every dentist I met solidified my choice even more, ensuring I was set on the right path. I learned so much through shadowing and for that I am grateful for!
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Experience 2: Jewelry Making & Metalsmithing
This is a class I am currently enrolled in for the spring semester. I chose to take this class last year when I heard it was recommending for aspiring dentists who want to improve their manual dexterity skills. I am also taking this class for honors credit and am currently working on my project right now! I have learned so much in this class and have enjoyed getting to practice new skills. Dentistry is an art, and I can see how important dexterity is to the practice. Making jewelry takes the same delicate detail along with precision. I was very excited to choose an honors project that was different than writing a paper. I am a huge fan of the detailed nature of the class and cannot wait to show everyone my complete honors contract!
Experience 3: Volunteering
I'd say this is the key experience that has led me to where I'm at today. When I started volunteering at Riley Children's Hospital, I never thought it have the impact on me that it did. Every time I left volunteering I was overwhelmed with joy and fulfillment from my shift. This made me realize my want to serve others and be a part of the healthcare world in some shape or form. I loved helping others and the feeling both I and the other person was left with. I am so thankful to have had friends who introduced me to the children's hospital and inspired me to try something new despite being hesitant and nervous in the beginning. This experience prepared me for working with patients specifically. It also helped sharpen my problem-solving skills, organization, interpersonal skills, and professionalism. I will need all of these traits as I enter the world of dentistry.
Reflection
I was not set on dentistry from the start. I actually made a huge decision to switch my career path just during winter of my junior year. I was truly terrified of changing my mind as someone who loves to have a plan. These three experiences reassured me that I made the correct choice. The way I felt when shadowing and seeing how the dentists interacted with their patients was identical to how I felt every time I was volunteering in the hospital. Patient care became a passion of mine. Using my hands in intricate manners in my jewelry class along with getting to practice some orthodontic techniques during my shadowing showed me that this career path would always excite me. I am so pleased with my decision and am proud of my hard work that got me to this point!