Ruveid Rizvic

Dr. Edwards

Junior Seminar II

07 February 2022

Personal Statement Reflection

The career that I am would love to pursue is anything related to Dentistry. The main
position I would love to go for however would be a pediatric dentist. The most important
experience I have ever had was the time when I shadowed Dr. Kimball at Kimball and Beecher
Family Dentistry. It was just about the end of the day when there was a child patient who had to
get surgery for a fractured tooth that was lodged in his gums, unable to eat or drink from half of
his mouth. The mother who was occupying him cried and thanked the dentists after the surgery
was complete, as she was worried his child would get an infection or have to live with the pain
for a while. Although it wasn’t directed towards me, her words gave me piercing chills down my
spine. It made me feel grateful to be there that day; to experience the love she had for every
single person at the office. I realized that was the day that made me want to experience that
feeling every day.

Another experience that made me solidify my decision on going down the road of a
dentist was when I got my cavity removed during my time in elementary school. I remember
being in the operating chair at my family dentist, leaned back, and the dentists getting ready to
remove the cavity. However, before that happened they taught me how to use the concave mirror
on myself and the scraping utensil. Although they didn’t let me perform on my teeth using the
scrape, I was astonished that they let me do these procedures. It peaked my interest in dentistry
when I felt like I could perform and work with Dentists like them. I never experienced any other
health care worker allow their own patients interact and engage in their job. That is what was
special about that moment; from the engaged dentists to the feeling of happiness and belonging
in that office. This was the start of my vocational path. This was the career that I picked in
school presentations, the career I shadowed in high school and college, and the focus as I cared
for my own oral health.
 Years later, in middle school, the students and I went on a field trip to Hawkeye
Community College in my hometown. There, we were able to look at the dental practice
programs they used. It was amazing to see all the dental tools and remedies they used for
cleaning and preparing for surgery on the gums or teeth. I thought back to the time the dentists
allowed me to use their tools for procedures and now I was able to grasp and learn more about
how a Dentist works in the field. It made me want to work towards the goal of being at this space
and practice on the dummy mouths they had. My dream of doing that was partially successful as
they allowed me to bring home some of the utensils and the mouthpiece. After that, my goal has
always been to be successful in going into a dental school and getting a job in the field.