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.

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

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.