Future Dentists Scholarship

Artistry is a creative skill to transform something into a beautiful design. Dentistry is a form of art that requires focus, manual dexterity, and visual acuity to notice minor imperfections. Photography and sewing are very similar to dentistry, skills I have developed since I was young. The skills I have acquired through art are those I have seen in my dental experiences. My orthodontic experience in transforming my smile ignited my desire to pursue art through dentistry. From my first appointment as a patient, I was engrossed in the complexity of my dental treatment. It amazed me how my orthodontist could notice the minuscule deviations in my teeth. Every visit fascinated me, whether it was x-rays, placing brackets, or adjusting my teeth. Dr. Shah treated me with kindness and encouragement, which made me feel truly cared for. Once my braces were removed, I was in awe of the complete transformation. I reflected on my experience and realized dentistry is a work of art. Dr. Shah used wires and instruments as her art tools and my teeth as her canvas. Combining art and science allows a dentist to beautify teeth while restoring them to normal function. When leaving the orthodontic office, I realized that I would not forget my experience; instead, I would reconstruct and create oral compositions like Dr. Shah and become a dentist. In my pursuit of learning more about the art of dentistry through shadowing, I learned the value of patient care. I shadowed and worked as an assistant for Dr. Luong, who made his patients feel genuinely cared for with his encouraging approach and empathy. Compassionate care can directly affect a patient’s experience. I continued to work on creating positive experiences by volunteering for Special Events for Special Kids (SE4SK), which is a program that creates fun events for children with disabilities. I have autism, so I understand a person's obstacles while living with a disability. My disability is not a setback; it is a source of motivation. Without autism, I would not have the perseverance and compassion that I have learned throughout my life. Volunteering for SE4SK allowed me to embrace my disorder and give the kids a judgment-free, enjoyable experience where they could be themselves. The significance of empathy and collaboration I learned from Dr. Luong and SE4SK will allow me to make a difference in my patient’s lives through memorable and positive care. Demonstrating empathy and understanding while having a great passion for my career will allow me to improve my patients' experience. As a leader in oral care, I want to promote a diverse community of patients who entrust me with their health. Becoming a dentist will allow me to continue to be creative by designing dental works of art and promoting oral health within my community. Through compassion and exceptional treatment, I would love to transform my patients’ lives through positive and memorable care that allows them to achieve their dream smiles. My experiences confirmed my desire to become an active member of dentistry while keeping the memory of receiving a beautiful smile I can never forget. This scholarship will help me on my path toward becoming a dentist because my family is low-income and struggles to make ends meet every month. There are many fees associated with my dental school acceptance that my family cannot afford. Financial aid does not start until after dental school starts and we are finding it difficult to get money to pay for school uniforms, deposits, and rent of a future apartment. I would use this scholarship to ease the financial burden on my family.