Why Do I Want To Be Hygienist Admission Essay Sample

There are many facets to health care in the modern era. Keeping people healthy requires the collaboration of many specialists and dedicated support personnel. Traditionally we think of doctors and dentists, nurses and physiotherapists. However, with the growing need to provide affordable care, previously ancillary professions such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and dental hygienists are acquiring increased responsibilities for patient care. It is increasingly recognized that the mouth, teeth, and oral hygiene act as a critical barometer to general patient health. The practice of dental hygiene is important and will only grow in importance as solutions are sought for the present high costs of medical care.
I have had a very difficult time with many personal challenges since graduating high school. The challenges required me to drop many classes I had started, something I am not proud of, but was necessary in light of changing circumstances. The challenges began with the death of my uncle whom I was close to. Shortly after this my father was laid off from work even though he had provided ten years of service to his firm. My mother started working two jobs to support the family and had no time off. This meant that I also needed to work in order to provide for our family as well as increasingly helping with chores around the house. My position as the oldest child made me feel a particular responsibility for my younger siblings and towards my parents. Soon I found out that I had no time for academics and rather than do everything poorly, I settled on making in impact on my family’s finances and helping stabilize the household. Fortunately today the financial situation is substantially better as my mother has her own business and my father was rehired to his old job. This improved situation has rekindled my desire for academics and it is with hard-gained experience and renewed vigor that I now seek to complete my education and succeed.
It was during my tribulations that I began to find solace in religion. The words of Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, gave me comfort during difficult times. It was during this period of hardship that a friend told me about a job opening in a dental office. The opening was for a dental assistant. I began the job with a little anxiety, but settled down as soon as I saw how nice and helpful the entire practice was. I learned many details of daily practice in this job as well as the importance of providing a shoulder for patients to lean on. My own challenges made me particularly sensitive to patients and I always gave time for them to express their emotions and vent their frustrations to me.
I have very carefully considered and settled on dental hygiene as my educational and career path. I have worked and volunteered at dental clinics for the past three years. Occasionally, I have undertaken other jobs. None of the other jobs caught my interest and inspired such persistence as my work in the dental field. Particularly exciting for me was the patient interactions. The patients provide a puzzle that can only be solved by careful scientific assessment of the individual. The puzzle grows deeper and more complex as a plan is decided upon and implemented by the patient. The existence of this puzzle often strikes fear or possibly other emotions in a person. It is important that the practitioner that interacts with the patient be compassionate and prepared to deal with the patient as a human being. Throughout my experiences in the dental environment I have honed my skills at calming nervous patients, and a relaxed patient is more capable of listening and understanding the instructions that are given by all practitioners.
An important attribute of anyone that provides healthcare is charity. I am involved with my Church and a long-term goal of mine is to go on a mission trip to help the acutely poor. I also recognize my responsibility to the local community and the need for charity closer to home. When undertaking to treat the less fortunate it is important that health care professionals not stigmatize or berate the patient. Compassion is necessary while working in health care and sometimes the joy and gratitude of a patient able to chew must be adequate compensation. Another important attribute of a healthcare provider is an appreciation for fine details. I enjoy drawing and I believe my aesthetic sensibilities help the patient look their best. If the ancient Greeks are to be believed, and a sound mind in a healthy body is true, then the work we do is truly important to the individual as a whole and not just to their dental caries.
The University of Texas’s dental hygiene program will position me to be an innovative and well-rounded practitioner. The core competencies stressed by the program are key to providing patients with an excellent health care experience. The challenging course work and practical requirements will provide me with an excellent opportunity to prove my technical capabilities as well as skills such as empathy and patient communication which are more difficult to gauge quantitatively. Interaction with great faculty members and the diverse and motivated student body will further my education and expose me to theories and practices that might otherwise remain elusive. These interactions will aid me greatly in mastering the art of collaboration. This skill will be of great use in my future work by reinforcing important good practices in cooperating with other professionals such as dentists and anyone else who might treat the patient. Looking back on my painful years following high school graduation, I realize I have learned many valuable life lessons. These experiences have made me a much stronger person both mentally and physically. I hope to provide people with the best care achievable while maintaining empathy and sympathy for difficult circumstances. I am ready to dedicate myself to my goals by immersing myself in an excellent educational environment.