HI,
I just finished my dental school personal statement and I was wondering if I can get some critique.
Also English isn't my first language so any I would appreciate it if anyone can help me fix any grammatical errors.
Thanks
It only took one tooth extraction for me to say "I want to be a dentist." It was love at first sight. In hindsight, I believe I was instinctively drawn to dentistry because it required a great deal of dexterity, just like building Lego pirate ships and pinewood derby race cars, which were two of my favorite hobbies. As I grew older I started to look for a career that came with both the financial stability and the gratification of being a person needed, not simply wanted, by people. Coincidentally, every dentist I have met demonstrated extreme satisfaction they derived from their work and that made me very eager to pursue a career in dentistry. However, still knowing that there were many other career options out there made me lose focus, and this lack of focus manifested through poor academic performance in college.
I am the first to admit that first half of my college years were unimpressive, at best, and I don't have an excuse; I was simply focused on everything but the academics. After two years of wasting a lot of money and time I decided to take a break from school and explore other options. During this period I worked 10 plus hours a day at a regular job and used the residual income to start day-trading and run a small online business. Not surprisingly, all this hard work generated sufficient income to support myself. Unfortunately, none of these gave me the fulfillment I was looking for in a career. Then I decided to go back to school and pursue dentistry one more time.
When I came back to school I was fully committed to improve my grades because I knew I had a lot of catching up to do, and my hard work paid off. Although my overall GPA isn't exactly perfect, my second half of college years demonstrate that I am capable of achieving high academic standards, all while working a part time job and playing the role of both parents for my little brother. Assuming three titles simultaneously helped me acquire exceptional time management skill and really helped me mature into the responsible adult I am today.
In December 2010 after many attempts at working in the dental field I secured a position working for Dr. Wayman as a sterilization technician at his restorative practice. My duties included not only instrument sterilization, but also general office maintenance and some minor chart and paper work at the front office. I always knew dentists must possess great deal of manual dexterity and attention to detail, which I fortunately possess. However there are few invaluable lessons I have learned from this job. The gratification didn't just come from the fact that dentistry is a profession of helping people. It was the small office atmosphere where you are surrounded by like-minded people who strive to achieve a similar goal and the friendship that blossoms from spending generous time with their patient. After working in various fields these are the qualities I have come to appreciate in a career. The benefits of these possessing these qualities is it encourages the entire staff members to provide the best experience a patient can have, whether it's through treating them or helping them with their insurance paperwork. There are few practical lessons I have learned while working for Dr. Wayman, such as how to be an office handyman. I also have taken OSHA Blood borne Pathogens Standard and Handling Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office CE course to prepare myself for the future.
I acknowledge the rigor of dental education and I am fully prepared to take on the challenges that are awaiting me. After graduation I plan to join the Navy Dental Officer program. Joining the Navy will open an opportunity for me to practice in Korea where my family lives. Also the Navy officer I've met had told me that Navy Dental Officers go through one of the best training as a dentist in the country. After I retire from the Navy I plan to find a teaching position in Korea. I have complete confidence in my decision to pursue dentistry and understand the lifelong dedication necessary in order to fulfill my personal and professional goals. Thank you for your consideration.
