Christina Oster

Personal Statement

September 23, 2019

My interest in dental hygiene began during my second year of high school. I had braces
for four years and with frequent visits to my dental and orthodontic clinic, I got very familiar
with the staff who worked on me every month and created a good relationship with my dental
care providers. I always looked forward to attending my appointments and tracking my progress
toward a more beautiful, healthy smile. However, after the recession in 2009, my parents
struggled for several years to keep a steady income and job which left us with no health
insurance for about one and a half years.

 During those years, I was stuck with braces, no plan for treatment, and the confidence
within myself diminished. I had no motivation to maintain my good oral hygiene and I started to
neglect my oral health. When my mom got a new job that provided dental insurance for our
family, I began to take care of my oral health again. Looking back on my experience now, I see
the ways it impacted me mentally in addition to its impacts physically. I feel as though taking
care of my health and having a healthy smile was immensely empowering. It also allowed me to
see how financial devastation, lack of insurance, and lack of access to dental care may have this
same impact on many others as well.

My motivation to be a dental hygienist is to effectively teach why brushing and flossing

every night is important, what the effects of neglecting our oral hygiene are, and the difference
each of these make to our oral health. I know from the experience of being a patient that it’s one
thing to know what I need to do for my health, but making a change to improve my health is
significantly different. My hope is to provide an outlet for change so that more people may
become more educated, comfortable and even excited to get their yearly cleanings and checkups
when visiting the dentist.

My current job in vehicle licensing demands memorization of laws and procedures that to
me it is not compelling, nor fulfilling. I more so enjoyed the job I had serving food in a
retirement home where I was able to work in a team and interact with its residents. Although I
did not stay at this job for more than a year, the experience has allowed me to reflect on the type
of career I would like to see myself pursuing. I learned that I enjoy working within a team,
collaborating with others, and serving others. While shadowing in the dental office, I saw how
the hygienist works independently, but also within a team of the doctor and his assistant to get
the job done as a group. I’m looking forward to working in a collaborative, mentally engaging
career in my future that will allow me to utilize my skills and fulfill my potential as a team
worker. My ability to thrive in this kind of environment will help me to succeed in this program
and in my dental hygiene career.

Finally, I understand the value of hard work, dedication and what it means to be accepted
into this program. I’ve experienced the process now once before, so I’m aware of how difficult it
is to be accepted into any dental hygiene program. Therefore, my profound motivation to learn is
why I am a strong student and application candidate.