Personal Narrative: A Career In My Career

Wow, its senior year! College, scholarships and what am I going to do with my life? These were just a few of the various thoughts running through my mind of all the things this year is about to indulge me in. This thinking lead to college and I starting pondering all the professions that interested me and narrowed the choice of paradox down to two; dentistry and veterinary care. I knew the only way to determine which career was the one for me, would be to experience these professions first hand. I had internships placed into my schedule for first and third trimester; first trimester would be with Thompson Dental Care, and third trimester with Sylvan Lake Animal Clinic. Little did I know, that by the end of my first trimester of my senior year,

I am usually an independent person and have always been one to try to get my work done by myself. Although I get along great with other people, I never realized the impact cooperation would have on me. My internship didn’t consist of me standing in the corner watching every move Dr. Jones made, it consist of me helping him and the assistants whenever they needed, even if it was something simple such as cleaning. I was constantly offering assistance to everyone within the office and the workers within the office were constantly offering assistance to one another. I saw that cooperation, especially under stressful situations, is key to being professional and creating positive relationships with people. If the front desk was hectic with phone calls and patients, either an assistant or hygienist would come help out. The dental assistants would also involuntarily clean other assistants’ rooms along with cleaning their tools as well. I’ve always been well aware that cooperation is necessary in the workforce, but after interacting one on one with dentists, assistants and hygienists working together as a whole team, my life perspective has completely changed. I can now look at situations from multiple points of views and find a way to incorporate and benefit everyone. In order for life to seem easier everyone needs to be cooperative; and in respect

They allowed me to come into their workplace and give me more than I could ever imagine--completely changing, along with adding, to my life values. My responsibilities at my internship included; cleaning the rooms after patient visits- which involved cleaning equipment and tools, setting the rooms back up for the next visit, learning their software program so I could help log patients oral information, paperwork at the front desk, and even hands on procedures. My dentist allowed me to perform my very own amalgam filling on a patient which demonstrated to me how devoted and determined he is to teach younger students about the profession, and how I need to be that devoted and determined to get to where he is. My internship has confirmed for me that dentistry is the route I want to go, which changes my life forever. I have welcomed values into my life that shape me into a professionally mature, hard-working and loving person all thanks to twelve weeks at a dentist