I don't ever recall dreading a trip to the Dentist. I love the cool air, clean smell, and certainty of being taken care of by professionals who have dedicated many years to school in order help their community, and to care for me at every appointment. When asked as a child, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", my answer was always the same. The same as when I am asked the same question as a high school senior, I want to be a Dentist. More specifically, my ultimate goal is to be an Orthodontist. I developed an interest in this specific field of dentistry because of my 5-year journey with dental braces. I got them in 7th grade to treat my crooked teeth that consisted of a massive overjet in my jaw and a huge gap in my two front teeth. And I finally got them off a year ago, in December of my junior year in high school. During those 5 years, I've always looked forward to my appointments for getting them tightened and choosing new colors. I've also always had great bonds with the staff/professionals who worked with me. This caused me to research the profession of Orthodontics and develop a strong career goal for my future. I am now a high school senior doing Running Start, and I have been accepted and plan to attend Eastern Washington University for 2 years to finish my Bachelor's. I will then transfer to the University of Washington School of Dentistry and pursue my goal of starting off as a dental hygienist, and working my way towards my ultimate goal of being an orthodontist. Of course, during this time of study, I will be volunteering or hopefully working at a local dental office for experience in that setting.