Wednesday, November 30, 2016

DENTAL HYGIENE SCHOOL ADMISSION ESSAY

           
I recently got an email from someone who stumbled upon my blog and is interested in joining the very special Dental Hygiene Program. She asked couple of questions on how the program was so far and I explained to her that being in middle of my second semester and in first year there is only so much I could tell her. So we focused on "How to Get in the Program" It’s something I wrote about in one of the first blog posts but one major element was forgotten, How to write the Essay. Some people make the great mistake of plagiarizing someone else work and post it as their own. It's very enticing, tempting and even very easy to do in this great times of Mr. Google AKA Know It All. But looking at in the fact that you are going to Professional School where you are going to be trained to become a responsible professional, it borders on irresponsibility, laziness and outright dishonesty.
 Good communication skills, either through writing or verbal presentation goes a long way in any self-respecting career. It helps if we keep horning your skills through practice or school. We will be expected to communicate with our patients as we explain to them what to do and write reports on what we did with the patients. So in an attempt to give a very vague idea of what to write in that admission essay I put up a quick sample on what our 2018 Class were expected to write as one of the 2 or 3 essays we were supposed to choose from.  Critics welcome anytime as it's the only way we can all grow together.

                       A Novel That Influenced the Way I view the World and Why.
Reading various books as been a lifelong hobby for me.  Being an avid reader, I read randomly from fiction, science, law to biographies, theories and even growth and motivational books. From my many readings I recall many concepts and characters. However, none left a more permanent change to my view of the world than a book called Mindset: The new psychology of success by a Stanford University psychology professor Carol S. Dweck.
The professor spent decades researching on achievement and success. This is something that everyone in the whole wide world has some interest in. Everyone wants to be successful in whatever they do even if it’s not for the good of community. Carol Dweck brings in a very simple concept about success that changes everything the world believed about success. She focuses on the idea of mindset which she explains as a mental attitude that determines how human beings interpret and respond to different situations.
There are two different kinds of mindsets; the growth mindset and the fixed mindset. In fixed mindset, people believe that their qualities are carved in stone and this creates an urgency to prove them over and over. Dweck explains why it’s not just our abilities and talent that bring us success—but whether we approach them with a fixed or growth mindset. She makes clear why praising intelligence and ability doesn’t foster self-esteem and lead to accomplishment, but may actually jeopardize success. With the right mindset, we can motivate our kids and help them to raise their grades, as well as reach our own goals—personal and professional. Dweck reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know: how a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area
The other mindset is the growth Mindset. This is the mindset in which these traits are not simply a hand you're dealt and have to live with, always trying to convince yourself and others that you have a royal flush when you are secretly worried it's a pair of tens. In this mindset, the hand you're dealt is just the starting point for development. This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Do people with this mindset believe that anyone can be anything, that anyone with proper motivation or education can become Einstein or Beethoven? No, but they believe that a person's true potential is unknown (and unknowable); that's it’s impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil, and training.
I always viewed the world as a place for failure and success based on ones talents or natural gifts. I had a fixed mindset and believed that those that failed or became successful did so because they were created that way and that nothing about them could be changed.  I changed this view after learning about the growth mindset. Essentially, the book makes a case that those people who look at everything they do in life as a learning opportunity are much more successful.

I think where this comes into play most often is when we face a setback, or a failure. Whether that’s getting rejected from something (a job, a team, a school etc.), messing up at work, having your boss yell at you, losing at something, getting laid off, making a bad bet and even someone walking out on you in a relationship . Most of us have many setbacks in our lives. How we deal with those is incredibly important. If we let the setback define us, we might think we aren't talented after all, and lose confidence. If on the other hand, we look at it as something we can learn from, we improve as a person. Yes this book did change not only my life but how I viewed the world when it came to success and failure.
Ps: This is not a perfect article but a guideline on how you should go abour your essay.


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

THOUGHTS ON EVOLUTION OF TOOTHBRUSH AND FREE GOODIES IN HYGIENE SCHOOL.







".....You can synchronize a maximum of 2 handles with one SmartGuide. To do so, push the ˓˓˓h/min˒˒˒ button in the battery compartment for at least 3 seconds. The SmartGuide shows ˓˓˓L̵̵̵˒˒˒→. Turn on your handle to start the synchronization process. It is finishes when ˓˓˓L̵̵-1-˒→. Is displayed…”
So what was all that about? Is it a lecture in Harvard on nanotechnology or a class in a military academy on how to fly an F-15 jet?! It’s easy to think so depending on a lot of things. But before you think so, those are instructions on how to set up an electric toothbrush. Yes, I said toothbrush. World we live in today and the strides humankind have made using technology.
It is hard to believe that ancient civilizations used a "chew stick," which was a thin twig with a frayed end. These 'chew sticks' were rubbed against the teeth. The bristle toothbrush, similar to the type used today, was not invented until 1498 in China. The bristles were actually the stiff, coarse hairs taken from the back of a hog's neck and attached to handles made of bone or bamboo.  1938. from 1400 to 1938!  When the first nylon when nylon bristles were introduced by DuPont de Nemours. From that point Americans were actually first introduced to using of toothbrush by the soldiers who went to war in world war 2 and came back with strict dental hygiene habits. If you have great grandfather or grandfather who served in this war ask them.
First Toothbrush Used by Chinese
This was used until (are you ready for this?)
Today, the above instructions from the Crest Oral Deep Sweep ™ 5000-5550. Are just but a proof what advancements have been made in that field of toothbrush. A quick definition of toothbrush according to the British Oxford dictionary is “a small brush with a long handle, used for cleaning the teeth.” Maybe it’s time they adjusted that meaning.
First toothbrushes ever used in the USA
Too much of history lets now face the future. Today in our class of 14 students, we each got a free OralB  5000-5550 electric toothbrushes with Bluetooth. This means we are able to download an app in our phone that we can connect with to enable us see how hard we are brushing, and if we are missing any spot. It also comes with an alert system that lets you know how hard or deep you are brushing.  Now, this baby is worth $130 bucks per mr. Mark Jarocki of Crest OralB who was kind enough to give them to us. Now, I’m so excited to be able to use this brush but it also reminds me of my background in some ways. It reminds me that with just the cost of this one Brush at that cost it would be possible to get a little over 1000 kids toothbrushes and toothpaste in Kenya. If I compare it to what we all got in the class we would be able to provide toothbrush and toothpaste to over 14,000 kids. I was lucky to have grown up with one of my parents being a dentist so that means good oral hygiene was taken as seriously as homework but I saw my friends who sometimes never used toothbrush until they got to high school or went to university. Today the same has not changed much. The reason for all this is not to seek sympathy or solicit for handouts. It is to challenge you the reader by reminding you how privileged you are and how lucky you are. You have all the resources and knowledge. So what would make you not floss your teeth? What would make you not brush your teeth?  Laziness and life happens, but always remember you are so lucky to have all the knowledge and resources at your disposal and use them to your full advantage. That way, you won’t be preaching water and drinking wine to your patients when you get to your practice. So a challenge to you, whenever you feel like you don’t need to use that brush, remember its worth over a 1000 toothbrushes and toothpastes for kids and so use it to your maximum benefit. As I type this, mine is in the charger (it feels weird to say that, imagine someone who died 100 years ago resurrects and hears you day you are charging your toothbrush? J
Anyway, I will be posting my full experience with this brush soon as I get to use it for   some time.
The electric Toothbrush used today. Courtesy of Crest OralB

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

1st year, 1st Semester down!!!

  Where does all the time go? It feels like just yesterday when we started hygiene school. Today at around 2:13PM noon a new chapter in our lives begun as we finished our first semester in Dental Hygiene School. Same day as Americans decide who they want to be the leader of the free world in the next 4 years. Quite a coincidence, huh?

    In the 2 and half weeks into the semester, a lot has happened. Some bitter-sweet, and others really good stuff. Our very knowledgeable and cool  Dental Hygiene Program Director just moved to Washington State in West coast a week ago. That robs us, the first years of her knowledge, experience and guidance. Dr. B left us even before we fully settled in class if I may put it in that way. Its truly a bitter sweet moment because first, we are very excited for her and truly wish her the best in her new position and new home. Are we a little jealous of whatever institution that will be receiving her services and leadership skills? That goes without saying!right?. But above all, it's hear breaking to pass by her office and see the door shut. It feels like there's no real sense of leadership and guidance. We hope the new director is going to fit in her shoes. At the end we will say that's part of growth and we wish her the best in whatever she undertakes.

   Before Dr. B left, She made sure we got our big sisters. That is to mean the second year dental Hygiene students to guide us in our school and career focus. She made an effort to make sure she left us in good hands. this is because she was very close to the second years who happens to be a bunch of very smart, talented, responsible and focused girls. Else, how would they travel from the US to Jamaica, a foreign country by themselves and do charity work and come back if they were not any of that?

Having a big sister in Hygiene school is the next best thing to have ever happen to human kind after sliced bread and Internet :) This means we have someone to go cry to, yes cry we will, someone to go and express our frustrations with and even someone to celebrate the little victories with in this tough journey. We had a pizza party for the welcome to know our big sisters and since then a lot of ice has been broken as we get to talk and hang out with our big sisters quite often. this reminds me that next year, Marc and I will be big brothers to someone. We are the only 2 guys in the class hence the only 2 small bros:) Jen Ken and Sirena Plot are the only lucky second years to have small bros instead of small siz's. You can't go wrong with Small bros now, can you?

Academics is as good it can get to be. I'm happy to have scored straight A's in my first classes. A in our school is a bit high as it starts from 95%. I post the grade not to boast but to challenge and encourage those who will come in after us. Chemistry is my strong point of interest and Anatomy so this explains why it was easy for me to soar easily through these 2 subjects.
Next semester starts on Thursday and that means we have tomorrow for a break. What to do with it?
Another advantage to have come my way is to have really helpful and cooperative classmates. Some volunteer to go print the power points and also to help each other in the studies. In future, We are hoping we can all be more free, excited and helpful to each other as its the only way to make it through the course.
For now, Stay safe and GO VOTE  folks. See you all next semester.



Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Fortis second Year Dental hygiene students table Clinic 2016

Table clinics? Like doing random cleanings to walk in patients or showing people how to brush and floss? Mhh, table clinics huh!

Those are some of the thoughts that crisscrossed my mind when the first year dental hygiene students got an invitation to attend this year’s table clinics held by second years by Dr B. I had no idea how it was going to be or what it was going to be about. Whatever was going to make me miss my evening cycling schedule had better be good. Luckily, it turned out to be way cooler than I even expected.
Turned out I almost got late and so while speeding for the event; I got my first slack of being a student hygienist. Saw the police officer when it was too late and was doing around 45 in a 35m/hr. zone. Turns out I had my I love Dental Hygiene badge which were handed to us during orientation and soon as he walked to the window it’s the first thing he noted. I explained that I was to college for an event. It turned out that his wife was an hygienist and that’s how I got to go ticket free. Not without a stern warning though!
I met 3 of my classmates, Nikki Catherine and Mitchyl so I did not feel so out of place. Turned out it was to be my best night in Fortis yet. I don’t want to make this blog so long with gibberish so I will just go to the pictures and short explanations. As you will note, Dental Hygiene is the only course in the world where beauty and brains co-exist. And I did not say that the ladies doing Landscape Architecture or Machine repairs are not pretty. No!
The table clinics as I later understood is where the future RDH's come up with unique  projects aimed at educating fellow students, Hygienist and even dentists of the current trends and emerging issues in dental hygiene. I planned to have a talk with Dr. B to get further explanation on the whole idea of it but it was so self-explanatory and also ran out of time.  But I later realized how misconceived the job of dental hygienist is. Despite being in the field as a student, I expected the clinic to be about cleaning teeth. That being the case, you can only imagine how misinformed the general public might be on the job of dental Hygienist. Instead I changed my view by the end of the presentations and now in my mind I see Oral care educators, future researchers and dental educators. In that just one and half hours, I leant more than I learnt in any RDH magazines. It was easy, clear and very presentable.
I was in luck to meet alumni of Fortis Dental Hygiene class 2007, Natalie, who has been practicing in Erie since then and also Nikki who has been practicing since 2011. Both say they are so happy they choose Fortis for their education and that they could never choose another profession even if given a chance to change. There was also a couple of marketers with their products and I got to sample their (....Are you ready for this?)Cookies! I did not know much about the tools they had but I talked to them and got the hang of how some of them function. (Products will come on a separate post) Below are some of the exhibits from the very knowledgeable, pretty and enthusiastic second year students. I feel like this class preceding us has set such a high bar for the class that just got in but time will tell.

Shannon, Anna S and Anna K can't emphasize enough on why hygienists need to practise preprocedural rinse.
Alicia,Janelle and Rikki have the future on their sights. Welcome to the future!
Taylor,Jessa and Samantha cautioned me against sneaking out of the US to go get cheap dental work in Africa!! The disadvantages of that are HUUUUGE!. Caution heeded!
Lauren and Kathrine, first thanks for the dental shaped stress relieve tootsie! These 2 wonderful young ladies taught everyone how to practise proper ergonomics!(New word alert!)
Allison,Stephanie and Kearsten had an important message for expectant mothers. Heard of something called pregnancy tumors and pregnancy gingivitis? Probably not, you might need to book an appointment with these ladies!
Nicole and Jenna have their eyes set on educating the wold on how to lock the monster Alzheimer's down. Great job ladies!
Ali and JennKenn believes in the adage that natural is the best. And what could be better than going natural, dental-wise?!
Sirena,Hannah and Alexandra are not missing a beat because of being the last in the list because they know they are not the least! Did you know there's a direct relation to your heart health and your oral health? No? You have to learn how from these ladies before you miss a beat.!



Friday, September 23, 2016

Dental Hygiene Program Orientation Day

                                               

     The long awaited day finally just ended. It was a bit dissapointing at first this morning when after walking to the college I realized that they had the orientation going on for all the future students. I asked the guy sitted next to me what he was taking and he mutted "Wielding!". Not to be biased on any course but I bet you I would have told you from the word go he was not in dental hygiene.
  Around noon the very cool Dr. B came and asked the DH students to follow her to the Building E(Our next home for the next 23 or so months). What a relieve! We got to meet the faculty members who introduced themslves and left hastily. Favourite part we got to meet our classmates for the next 23 months. Introductions were based on writing your name and 3 things about you. You had to exchange your card with your seatmate and they had to introduce you. I was very lucky because I'm not the only guy in the class. Cool guy from NY will be the other dude in the class. Although all the classmates seem to be really nice,mature and focused people.
 Abunch of senior students came in hardy taking in our questions and showing us around the school. Very happy,confident and helpful bunch. They seemed so in love with the course and so sure of themselves. Hoping one day we will get to their level.  We got instructions about the clinic. We have to find patients on our own when the time comes for the clinics. Its a huge part of succeeding in the course. Not just finding the patient but also finding the RIGHT patient. The earlier you start establishing good rapport with the community,fellow students and any other potential future patient the better.
  For now everyone is happy and excited to start despite several heads up that it's not going to be easy. But people have been through it and came out successful. We are the samllest class so far that has been admitted in the program and we are all hoping to graduate together as a class. First day of class will be on 28th of Sept which will be on a Wed and after my Birthday. Thats pretty cool considering there is enough time to celebrate the birthday and nurse the hangover on Tue and hit the class on Wed. First we will be getting the text books and then class. Lucky to have been exempted from English Composition as I took it in community college and passed pretyy well. That leaves me with Chemistry for Health Sciences (4 credits) and Anatomy and Physiology 1 (4 credits). Monday through Thursday from 7:30AM to 10:00AM and then A&P in the afternoon from 1:00PM to 3:40PM. All that up to 11/1016 before switching to Chemistry for Dental Hygiene and Anatomy and Physiology 2 then  we will call it another  term. So first 2 terms, brace for Chem and Anatomy folks.

To all the guys that we just got in with, we can do this folks!!!
Keep it right here for all the updates. Phtoto Credits (Pinterest)

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

5 THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW AND DO BEFORE STARTING DENTAL HYGIENE SCHOOL.

                                        1. SPEAK TO SOMEONE ALREADY IN THE FIELD
This will be very helpful as it will give you insight on what to expect at the school and after school. You do not want to go into a career that you are not sure about. Every once in a while when I do my dental cleanings at the clinic I make sure I introduce myself to the hygienist  and let them I admire the great work they are doing and that I would  to be like one of them someday. Ask them few questions without being overly intrusive into their private lives. Once in a while I have got very valuable information from the hygienist working on my teeth. You might met a few very demotivated hygienist who will try to discourage you from going into the field but always remember not everyone will be for your goals. Ignore those ones but politely.

                             2. COMPLETE YOUR  PRE-REQUISITES COURSES
This will mostly depend on where you want to go to school for your Hygiene course. I strongly advice you to take a couple of science classes to see how you will stand up to the science classes in the program. My top recommendation is college level Anatomy and Physiology as well as a few Chemistry classes. Math classes help on in passing the entrance exam too. A lot of English classes will be needed  too so if you can knock those out of your way that's a big plus for you. I managed to do a couple of basic classes that I have had them waived on my first year classes which is a big plus for me as I can concentrate on more troublesome classes. I did them all at a community college and that helps too.
                               3. MAN-UP AND KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
Lets face it. This course is tough. And so are you for deciding to even venture into it. But one thing you need to know even before walking in through those doors, you have to stop the whining and grow up already. You might be living with your parents but you are not a baby anymore. Hygienist do not get paid 70k a year for nothing. The schooling is even shorter but the workload is a whole different ball game. Always set your goals and know exactly what you want because it is not going to be a walk in the park. be ready.

                                      4. SAVE SOME MONEY UP
You have to spend some money to earn some money,right? Wrong! In dental hygiene you have to save some money to graduate with less student debt! Before you begin school just know there is a whole lot of medical vaccines and immunizations to be done. The fact that it's almost impossible for you to go to school and work full time means you are most likely not covered by employers dental,medical or eye insurance. All this is going to come from your pocket. Be sure to do your exams  and immunizations just before you quit your job so the payment comes from your employer. If you have no full time job save some money as you will need to buy books,pay fees buy instruments and scrubs in some cases. The money you save will go a long way to ensuring you are not thinking about money when you should be thinking about the head and neck anatomy.

                          5. READ EXTENSIVELY ON DENTAL HYGIENE AS A CAREER
This is a good way to ensure you feel familiar on what goes on in the dental world. There is a couple of magazines you can subscribe to and that going to be really helpful. I personally read the RDH magazine and follow several blogs on dental Hygiene. To subscribe to any of them follow the following links.   http://www.rdhmag.com/index.html 

In other news, I have just received a packet from the dental Hygiene school with a list of things to do for pre-clinical classes and believe you me, Its a lot of things to get done. State background check, Child abuse clearance, Health screenings, Physical exams, eye exams, and a tonne of immunizations to get or prove I got them. We have have to Nov 1st to get it all done or you will be kicked out of program if not completed.  Orientation is on 23rd and keep it right here for what will be going down on that day.
As usual, thanks for stopping by folks!


Thursday, August 25, 2016

WELCOME TO MY DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENT BLOG FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS!!!


First things first. Lets face it that there are less than 4.2% of male dental hygiene students at any given time in the United States. This blog will be an all rounded blog. To highlight the ups and downs  of dental hygiene students starting out this fall with a focus on the guy dental hygienists as will be represented by the writer. Anyone mentioned on the blog will have their permission sought or anyone appearing in any of the pictures. This blog will highlight the day to day struggles and hardwork as well as handiwork of the hygienist students as they put in the hours to be the best they can in the dental world. The very first class will kick off on 28th of September 2016 and so keep up with the blog to find out what will be going on for the 2 years we will be together.