Dental Hygiene Personal Statement

While in the Dental Hygiene program here at USD, I hope to learn and accomplish a lot in the next couple years. Right now, my main goal is to take the program day by day and week by week. Since the program has started, I have realized that it requires a lot of compromise as well as time, which sometimes I do not have. With that, another one of my short term goals is to figure out how to better manage my time. With the start of school, there has been a lot of excitement over getting together and catching up with friends, as well as celebrating Coyote game days! Lately, it seems as if there are not enough hours in the day. I also want to work on keeping a positive mindset, even when I start to become discouraged and apprehensive. I think with
One of my long-term goals for myself is to land a job at a clinic right after or soon after I graduate. I want to be able to earn a living, pay off any college debt that I may have, afford a new car, and a few other finer things in life. Right now I do not desire any specific geographic location to practice. I would like to stay around the area, though, as I do not want to be too far away from my family and friends. After working in a clinic for a while, I would love to travel to a third world country and work on people that are less fortunate. I would help show them how to properly take care of their teeth and achieve healthy oral hygiene. With that I also want to establish immeasurable patient care. No matter what kind of clinical or technology changes we may experience in the dental office, I believe that the respect we have in caring for our patients must always remain of utmost importance. Patients come to us when they are in need or looking for help and they trust that we are knowledgeable and capable of taking care of any and all of their dental needs. Personally, I find it rewarding to be able to provide such basic needs throughout medical treatment. After establishing my career as a dental hygienist, I would not mind exploring the dental therapy scope of practice and see where that takes me. The legacy that I want to leave on the program is one that has touched and changed many lives for the better. I hope to inspire those around me with enthusiasm and passion as well as empathy and understanding. As dental hygienists, we have an opportunity to make a difference, to inspire others, to build, empower and grow and that is exactly what I want to be able to