My name is Olivia Barr. I graduated high school at Odessa Montour Central School District. I am currently a freshman majoring in Dental Hygiene at SUNY Broome Community College. As a kid I always enjoyed going to the dental office for dentist appointments not only because it got me out of school and I got McDonalds on the ride home, but because the community within the office everyone was so kind. That is why at that time whenever kids my age were always upset and complained about not wanting to go to the dental office I was always so confused. Anxiety and fear of dental offices is not only within the young population but also the elderly, they rather suck it up and deal with the pain than go get the problem taken care of at a dental office. This is commonly caused by the less gentle dental care in the past that they were used to. My goal is to help build a love for the dental office much like how I loved the office. Especially for those who may already have a fear of the office. When I graduate as a registered dental office I hope to make patients of all ages, experiences and backgrounds feel welcomed and safe. This is extremely helpful because the patient will be less likely to hold back on sharing essential information that could help solve a problem or give them the correct personalized care. This will make an incredible impact within my community. I also hope to be able to work in free dental clinics so those who may not have the funds can still get their teeth cleaned and cared for. This is super important to me because I want people to feel confident with their smile and not ashamed or embarrassed. These are my goals in building a better future within the dental field.

My name is Olivia Barr I grew up in a small town and attended high school at Odessa Montour Central School District where my graduating class was a total of about forty five students. I am currently a college freshman majoring in Dental Hygiene at SUNY Broome Community College with the hopes of graduating with an associates degree and becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist. As a kid I always looked forward to dentist appointments not only because it got me out of school a little early and I got McDonalds afterwards on the way home but because the atmosphere of the dental office. I would walk in with my mom and we were always welcomed with a smile, I never had that fear of going to the dentist that was common at my age. I always felt comfortable in the chair when they were working on my teeth and they were always so happy to answer my questions. Then high school hit where people were always asking me the questions like, "What do you want to be?" and "Where will you be attending college?." Although I had a few careers and colleges in mind I did not truly know what I wanted to do. Then during my senior year I decided to go shadow a Dental Hygienist at the same clinic that I grew up going to where all the hygienists are female. I fell in love with the atmosphere all over again and still they were happy to answer all the questions I had about how or why they were using some instruments, the whole sterilization process. I never realized how much of a community the dental field was and I want to be part of it. So then I finally had an answer to those questions about college and careers where now I am in my Freshman year majoring in Dental Hygiene. I hope to make the same impact on people as a Dental Hygienist as my hygienist made on me. Whether it is helping them feel safe in the chair and making them comfortable to ask questions because these are things that will stick with them and know they do not have to be afraid of a dentist appointment. Entering a field where women occupy over 90% of the field inspires me deeply. Where dental hygiene has set a standard of for patient empathy and patient oriented care. I am extremely eager to contribute to this legacy of strong female leadership and I hope to inspire another girl like me to do the same.

1.) My inspiration for pursuing a career in nursing comes from the desire to help people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I have always admired healthcare professionals who combine their medical knowledge, compassion, and dedication to the field to improve the wellbeing of a patient. Among healthcare professionals, nurses stand out the most to me because they are the people who are with the patients the most and offer them not only medical care but also emotional support throughout their time with them. My interest in nursing grew greatly when I realized how nurses help patients with great care and empathy. Their ability to stay calm under a lot of pressure while still treating patients with great care has made an impact on me. I realized nursing is more than a profession it is something that requires both skill and heart. The opportunity to make a meaningful lasting impact in people’s lives every day is what draws me to nursing the most. Whether it be as simple as comforting a patient who may be scared or anxious, or even assisting in a life saving treatment. I want to be the nurse who patients trust and rely on during their most vulnerable moments. Additionally, nursing offers the opportunity for lifelong learning and growth. Medicine and technology is constantly changing and evolving. Nurses must continuously learn and develop new skills to give the best possible care to patients. I am motivated by the challenge of learning and the opportunity to make a difference in my community. Nursing will allow me to combine my passion for helping others with a meaningful and impactful career. 2.) To me, the phrase “human touch” means empathy, compassion, and genuine connection. Human touch is extremely important in nursing and providing patients with the best care. Although medical knowledge, technology, and skills are important to have, human touch reminds nurses that a patient is more than just an illness or a medical condition. They are real people with emotions, fears, and unique experiences. Human touch is important to create a safe, caring, and supportive environment for patients where they feel seen and supported. Human touch can be shown in many ways. It could be as simple as listening attentively to a patient’s questions or concerns, speaking with kindness, or even offering reassurance during a difficult moment for a patient. These small things can make a huge difference in a patient’s experience. When someone feels seen and heard, they are more likely to trust that person. The impact of human touch in healthcare is significant. It can reduce stress and fear in a person. Hospitals can be scary for people, meaning that if a nurse shows empathy and patience it can help alleviate fear in the person whether it be a patient or a patient’s family member. Human touch also creates trust between a patient and their nurse which can help make the patient more likely to communicate with the nurse about their symptoms or concerns. With more information from the patient, it helps healthcare professionals make the best decisions and accurate treatments for the patient. Lastly, illness does not only affect the body, it also impacts a patients mental and emotional wellbeing. Compassionate care from a nurse can make a patient feel more valued and supported. This can improve a patient’s overall experience and positively contribute to their recovery. In nursing, skills and medical knowledge are important but they have to be balanced with empathy and compassion. Human touch reminds healthcare providers that healing involves more than medicine, it involves understanding, kindness and compassion. It also allows patients to feel better cared for.

When life changes, math is always there with its set of rules; it’s constant. Math is not just numbers and memorizing as many may think. It is what connects people, you use it all the time. I love math because I love a challenge; the satisfaction of solving the equation and getting it correct. Math helps me see unique patterns and logic within nature. It burns a new light for curiosity and creativity. I have enjoyed math all throughout my school career, when I was in 3rd grade I excelled in math. We would do multiplication and division during the class day, it was my favorite. It always came easy to me. It was just memorization, I always looked forward to doing those math facts. I hope other people develop a love for math and see how simple but complex it truly is. Once you think you know everything, you learn something new. Everything builds up on each other; in order to learn something new, you need to have background information on the previous lesson. I love math for many reasons it has always set me a part from my classmates who always achieved highly in history or English classes. I was always the strongest in math.