So obviously I did a horrible job keeping up with my posts here, but the good news is I did a good enough job keeping up with my classes and now I’m officially DONE with first year! This year was by no means easy, breezy, or beautiful, but I’m okay with that. Perfection or ease was never the goal, completion was. In the last 3 weeks, I finally learned how to study effectively and commit to marathon study days and weekends. I’m not sure if it was the pressure to pass or me coming to a self-realization, but I’m grateful for it.
With all of this being said, I guess I should share the biggest things I learned outside of dentistry in my first year of dental school. So here we go!
No one is that much smarter than you, they just work harder/smarter
Okay, so maybe a couple people are smarter than you but whatever. The point I’m trying to make is that everyone in your class (including YOU) is there for a reason and that reason is that the admissions committee thoroughly believes you will do well in their rigorous program. It doesn’t matter if you had straight As or straight Cs before entering dental school because it’s a completely different arena now. Those who do well are the people that are not afraid to adapt and try something different.
Confidence is everything
Let’s be really real for a moment. Underneath all the excitement of first year there is this extremely solid base of fear associated with the time as well. Being afraid is cool in small amounts because it’s a reminder that you have something to lose, but too much fear can be paralyzing. I know I struggle with this daily, but I also remind myself daily that I am supposed to be here. If you’re sitting in sim lab thinking you’re not good enough and you’ll never have the hand skills to be a great dentist, then those thoughts will translate into your work and then bam, you suck. Have confidence in yourself, even if it’s superficial and you don’t quite believe yourself yet.
Comparison is the thief of joy
You’ve probably heard someone say this before…and that’s because they were absolutely, positively, without a doubt 110% correct. I was told this a million and ten times before starting school by dental students and faculty and new dentists but it wasn’t until I got to school did I actually understand. On my first gross anatomy test, I made a B which was miraculous to me because 1. I was shaking walking from cadaver to cadaver and 2. I didn’t believe I was capable of anything above barely passing. Anyway, after seeing my score and taking with a couple other close classmates I was feeling like my accomplishment was invalid because there were people doing better than me. Both in the moment and looking back I realize this logic is so crazy and so backwards, but my mind couldn’t stop. Have pride in your own efforts and leave it at that.
Life doesn’t stop just because you’re in school
The dental school bubble is crazy because you’re super focused and basically everyday looks the same, but outside of that your friends and family are experiencing life full of changing and unexpected events. This is especially true if you just graduated college and your friends are all moving new places, getting new jobs and maybe even starting families. My best friend had her first child this year and each time I saw her or spoke with her over the phone it was a reminder that life goes on. Nobody is pausing for you and things will not be the same when you re-emerge but it’s your job to understand that and your friends’ jobs to understand that everything in your life seems like it’s at a standstill.
Everybody won’t get it, and that’s okay
I am not going to sit here and pretend like everyone in my life a year ago is still here. That is not realistic and it’s not true. If your “friends” cannot understand why you can’t miss even an hour of school, then they aren’t your friends and that’s that. Sure, you can go and try to explain yourself and the importance of attending but the people that love and care about you succeeding in school and in life do not require any explanation.
There are also people in school with you that may be harmful to your peace of mind and your success. It is okay to let them go. It may be uncomfortable or difficult at first, but you really have to make sacrifices and very deliberate decisions to be in the best possible headspace for school. Moral of the story is it’s okay to invite people to be successful and prosperous away from you. No need to be nasty or rude about it but there’s also no need to allow that less than ideal energy to remain in your life.
It always seems impossible until it’s done
Y’all. I was 60% sure I was not going to pass my last and hardest class of the year, HHD4. This class had lots of microbiology, oral pathology, virology, and genetics which are all classes that I avoided like the plague in college, so much so that I changed my major JUST so I wouldn’t have to take them. Anyway I played myself because all of those subjects came back to punch me in my throat and lemme tell you they got some good hits.
So I went ahead and failed the first 2 tests, dug myself a nice 6 ft grave, and was headed for remediation… or worse. After calming down a bit I met with one of the course directors who I was equally impressed and terrified by. She assured me that passing was extremely possible but I would need to do a complete 180 in regards to my test taking skills and studying methods and time. With the help of my scary (yet encouraging) professor, in the last three weeks of my first year I finally learned how to study and put in 8 hour study days. I guess prior to being a dental student I could get by with sporadic studying and memorization but true comprehension is required to succeed here.
By the time the third test came around I was feeling prepared and scared but God made sure my mind was right enough to get a 78. 78?!?!? Y’all that was 18 points higher than my last test!!! Don’t tell me God isn’t real because WHEW! Anyway, I kept studying the same way and pulled another 78 on the last test and passed the class. You may now address me as Joi the DS2 and I am so proud.
I want to give the biggest thanks to my parents, my friends (especially Pablo, Aaron, and Shantel for answering my dumb questions, letting me study with them, or giving me pep talks on test days) and my sister, Jaelynn. Without y’all I wouldn’t be where I am.
Peace and Blessings,
Joi the DS2
One response to “DS1 and Done”
This is awesome! Well spoken. I’m so proud of you bestfriend. I know dental school has been tough on you, but nothing worth having comes easy. God wouldn’t put you through anything you can’t handle. As my daughter grows up, I pray she obtains some of your strong work ethics and determination. I couldn’t have chosen a better Godmother for my child, or an even better bestfriend. We love you!