Personal Comment
My interest in dentistry has been spurred from a couple distinct sources. As a kid, I didn’t pay attention to my teeth and as a result, I got cavities and my adult teeth came in crooked. This had such a negative effect on my confidence and how I felt others perceived me. My neglected teeth reflected my responsibility as a person which shadowed meall the way into high school. Sophomore year I was privileged with the opportunity to wear braces, and a year and half later my teeth were in perfect condition. I’m now smiling in photos now! My self-confidence soared as I grew more and more passionate about my teeth. Then junior year came. It was now time to start looking into professions and careers, something that I would be doing for the rest of my life! Nervous and excited, I took the various career tests, but wasn’t inspired to pursue any of my results. But through some self-evaluation, I found the two most things I’m passionate about, helping people and teeth. I began looking deeper into dentistry and knew right away this was a perfect match for me. Fortunately, I was able to shadow successful dentists around the area, all giving me insight into the profession. The answers they gave helped even more, I grew even more confident in my ability to become a successful dentist. But
besides my love for teeth, my passion for helping people is also a reason for my interest in dentistry. Matthew 23:11 says “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” Serving has been such a big part of my life and nothing has
offered more fulfillment. Dentists are especially privileged to share their talents with less unfortunate parts of the world. I’m extremely interested in this type of work! I’m currently on the hunt in finding a dental mission trip
accepting undergraduates to come and serve.
The summer after my sophomore year of high school I was involved in a tragic car accident. I was driving and my best friend was riding in the passenger seat. It was July 3rd and fortunately I do not remember much of the night. I was able to walk away with a lacerated liver and broken collarbone, but my close friend was less fortunate. He was put into a medical induced coma, and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I was told what happened: on the way back to my friend’s house we had pulled up to a two-way stop sign. A motorcyclist on the other side of the street had said he saw me look both left and right before pulling out to the incoming truck that had hit my friend directly. Overcoming something like this is impossible. Guilt, blame, and self-perception all had dramatic effects in my life. I realized I needed something to help me. I began to read the bible and came across James 1: 2-4, which reads: “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This gave me three reasons to consider this trial a true joy. Firstly, the trial will produce perseverance, helping me spiritually, but also personally with relationships and growth. Secondly, this perseverance will work maturity and completeness. This gives God a chance to shape my mind, feelings, habits, and desires. And the third reason to have joy when facing trials is because the value of maturity is greater than
the price of facing the trial. The joy of trial is like the joy of getting one’s teeth drilled for a filling, to have this joy you must understand that the outcome is worth the effort.
Over the last few years I’ve developed an interest in ceramics. I was fortunate enough to come to Bethany College with an art scholarship in this field. Later I found out that this is a great hobby for dentists! The opportunity to develop a strong dexterity and
greater depth perception is invaluable and helps give me an advantage to other applicants. On top of this, I also had the privileged of applying for Honors at Bethany College after my freshman year. This is an exceptional opportunity because sophomores aren’t usually able to apply. The challenges of the program and individualized research projects have tested my academic potential and
intellect. Also the opportunities to grow intellectually outside the classroom are an invaluable experience. These advantages are essential in making me attractive in an application. Jack Welch, an American chemical engineer, said “If you don’t have the
competitive advantage, don’t compete.” This has stuck with me as I’ve journey in my pursuit for dentistry.
I feel exceptionally prepared for the dental curriculum because I’ve been able to develop my own approach to problems and situation I’ve faced academically. Through my approach I’ve been able to achieve success academically in all my undergraduate classes. I’ve also been blessed to have developed a close relationship with my professors, who have assisted me academically by challenging me through coursework and out-of-class endeavors. Through joining the Honors Program I’ve been challenged in ways that normal undergraduate classes can’t challenge me, and I find this extremely applicable to the dental curriculum. The Honors Program has helped me academically by challenging me in the classroom by taking specific Honor Courses, by providing me with extracurricular opportunities to grow intellectually, and by exposing me to a community that embraces the importance of academic pursuits. I’ve also, recently, became a Sustainable Scholar at Bethany College. Through this program I hope to establish a definition of sustainability that defines success as actively integrating economic prosperity, social responsibility, environmental stewardship and spiritual renewal – profit, people, planet and prayer. Through this definition I hope to understand how to live a sustainable life and how to lead a sustainable organization. On top of attending a prestigious college with an exceptional rate of getting into graduate/secondary schools, with an advantage of having small class sizes, and having the best professors I’ve ever met, my personal developed approach and being part of respected, advantageous programs have helped me feel I have exceptionally prepared myself for the dental curriculum.
I feel distinguished from other applicants because I have had the opportunity to go to a school of Christian faith. Its a blessing not having to separate from my learning and my faith. In fact, I believe God uses the two to grant us strength and discernment to answer His call to live as a community of faith, learning , and service. My faith inspires my learning, and my learning informs my faith.
besides my love for teeth, my passion for helping people is also a reason for my interest in dentistry. Matthew 23:11 says “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” Serving has been such a big part of my life and nothing has
offered more fulfillment. Dentists are especially privileged to share their talents with less unfortunate parts of the world. I’m extremely interested in this type of work! I’m currently on the hunt in finding a dental mission trip
accepting undergraduates to come and serve.
The summer after my sophomore year of high school I was involved in a tragic car accident. I was driving and my best friend was riding in the passenger seat. It was July 3rd and fortunately I do not remember much of the night. I was able to walk away with a lacerated liver and broken collarbone, but my close friend was less fortunate. He was put into a medical induced coma, and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I was told what happened: on the way back to my friend’s house we had pulled up to a two-way stop sign. A motorcyclist on the other side of the street had said he saw me look both left and right before pulling out to the incoming truck that had hit my friend directly. Overcoming something like this is impossible. Guilt, blame, and self-perception all had dramatic effects in my life. I realized I needed something to help me. I began to read the bible and came across James 1: 2-4, which reads: “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This gave me three reasons to consider this trial a true joy. Firstly, the trial will produce perseverance, helping me spiritually, but also personally with relationships and growth. Secondly, this perseverance will work maturity and completeness. This gives God a chance to shape my mind, feelings, habits, and desires. And the third reason to have joy when facing trials is because the value of maturity is greater than
the price of facing the trial. The joy of trial is like the joy of getting one’s teeth drilled for a filling, to have this joy you must understand that the outcome is worth the effort.
Over the last few years I’ve developed an interest in ceramics. I was fortunate enough to come to Bethany College with an art scholarship in this field. Later I found out that this is a great hobby for dentists! The opportunity to develop a strong dexterity and
greater depth perception is invaluable and helps give me an advantage to other applicants. On top of this, I also had the privileged of applying for Honors at Bethany College after my freshman year. This is an exceptional opportunity because sophomores aren’t usually able to apply. The challenges of the program and individualized research projects have tested my academic potential and
intellect. Also the opportunities to grow intellectually outside the classroom are an invaluable experience. These advantages are essential in making me attractive in an application. Jack Welch, an American chemical engineer, said “If you don’t have the
competitive advantage, don’t compete.” This has stuck with me as I’ve journey in my pursuit for dentistry.
I feel exceptionally prepared for the dental curriculum because I’ve been able to develop my own approach to problems and situation I’ve faced academically. Through my approach I’ve been able to achieve success academically in all my undergraduate classes. I’ve also been blessed to have developed a close relationship with my professors, who have assisted me academically by challenging me through coursework and out-of-class endeavors. Through joining the Honors Program I’ve been challenged in ways that normal undergraduate classes can’t challenge me, and I find this extremely applicable to the dental curriculum. The Honors Program has helped me academically by challenging me in the classroom by taking specific Honor Courses, by providing me with extracurricular opportunities to grow intellectually, and by exposing me to a community that embraces the importance of academic pursuits. I’ve also, recently, became a Sustainable Scholar at Bethany College. Through this program I hope to establish a definition of sustainability that defines success as actively integrating economic prosperity, social responsibility, environmental stewardship and spiritual renewal – profit, people, planet and prayer. Through this definition I hope to understand how to live a sustainable life and how to lead a sustainable organization. On top of attending a prestigious college with an exceptional rate of getting into graduate/secondary schools, with an advantage of having small class sizes, and having the best professors I’ve ever met, my personal developed approach and being part of respected, advantageous programs have helped me feel I have exceptionally prepared myself for the dental curriculum.
I feel distinguished from other applicants because I have had the opportunity to go to a school of Christian faith. Its a blessing not having to separate from my learning and my faith. In fact, I believe God uses the two to grant us strength and discernment to answer His call to live as a community of faith, learning , and service. My faith inspires my learning, and my learning informs my faith.