2 min read

To be honest, social work was almost what I chose to pursue. As a psychology major, I wrestled with a few career options, the primary two of which were social work and dentistry. The deciding factor for me was the more hands-on and analytical nature of dentistry, but there were others as well.

First, it was important for me to gain as much experience as possible in both fields to decide which would be right for me. For two years, I was a community volunteer at a recreation center. My job was to help organize events, prepare workshops and community engagements, promote events and resources, and facilitate relationships with community organizations. I enjoyed getting to know the community more intimately; its needs, its people, and what makes it function. It was gratifying work, especially when I connected people with important resources like counselling or financial services.

However, I felt like my strong attention to detail skills were underutilized. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked as a freelance proofreader for medical journals. I also got more direct dental experience shadowing an oral surgeon. I watched him perform dental implants and I was impressed by his steady hand and precision. It left such an impression on me that I knew that if I’d chosen social work, I wouldn’t reach my full potential. And dentistry is a field that requires a great deal of interaction, which is what I loved about being a community volunteer. But I won’t be missing out on it when I become a dentist.

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