DHYG 110 Self-Reflection Paper
I have been interested in the field of dentistry since I was a child, having sought dental treatment from dentists, dental hygienists, orthodontists, and periodontists. I participated in two internships over the course of this past year with a dentist and orthodontist, accumulating over 100 hours thus far. They allowed me to develop and hone valuable competencies such as relationship building and critical thinking skills while learning about equipment and interacting with patients or other dental professionals and staff. I chose to do an internship at my local dental office following an interview with the head dentist at this clinic, who mentored me for the months that I worked with her. I decided on dental hygiene as a profession because although I was initially interested in dentistry, I interacted much more with the hygienists I worked alongside during my dental internships. Consequently, I learned significantly more about their work environment and their contribution to society. It was there that I began to view dentistry and dental hygiene as both a science and an art simultaneously and discovered my passion for it. Later that year, I wrote a paper on the history of dental restoratives, wherein I cited a few studies regarding a potential breakthrough material called Tideglusib. Tideglusib is a GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3) inhibitor that may constitute a pharmacological treatment for dental caries (1) in addition to being used as a treatment for neuropsychiatric, neurological, neuroplastic, inflammatory diseases, and cancers (2).The drug has created significant controversy, given the ethical dilemma surrounding the use of a potentially tumorigenic drug in treatment, hence the ongoing experiments and investigations. The studies I reviewed while researching for my paper were what urged me to apply for dental hygiene at UBC. It is my hope that through my participation in this program, I may one day see my name on research papers that will contribute a fresh perspective to the scientific community.
Concerning my communication style, I strive to be assertive, sans aggression. I highly value my classmates’ opinions and I ensure everyone feels heard. I am currently refining my patience, particularly in the context of my interactions with others. An example of this would be allowing there to be silence so someone can build the courage to say something, instead of answering to fill the silence. Initially, I did this to act as an ice breaker for my more introverted friends who felt awkward speaking, but I have since realised it does not necessarily help everyone and can be perceived as arrogant. In moderation, however, this technique is beneficial. As a dental hygiene practitioner, I will be working as part of a team and a collective. I must be mindful of others’ preferences.
I relate to others through mutual interests, such as books, television shows, or music. Our cohort enjoys several group chats where we bond through knowing we are not alone in our confusion, and that we can always lean on each other. Despite being one of the youngest people in our class, I feel welcomed and embraced. We suffer together, and we celebrate together.
I am influenced by those around me. I am easily swayed and can occasionally be susceptible to peer pressure, so it is crucial that I surround myself with responsible — but not necessarily like-minded — individuals. I prize variety in my friend groups, to prevent becoming stuck in an echo chamber. From back home, my partner continues to encourage me, in conjunction with my best friends and our families. I am grateful and blessed to have such a strong network.
Having written many papers conforming to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program curriculum, I feel my academic writing abilities are adequate. As for my self-reflection process, I am constantly evaluating what I bring to the table and assessing my shortcomings. Critique and constructive self-criticism are essential to a healthy growth mindset, enabling one to become a better teammate, professional, and leader. Through the composition of this paper, I have demonstrated the following core competencies from the Canadian Competencies for Baccalaureate Dental Hygiene Programs document (3).
1. Professionalism: I exercised self-management and self-regulation in the process of writing this self-reflection paper by blocking out time for planning, composition, and redaction.
2. Communication: I displayed this competency through the act of conveying information clearly and concisely.
3. Research Use: I cited reliable scientific information to support information that was not uniquely my own.
REFERENCES
1. Neves, V. C., Babb, R., Chandrasekaran, D., and Sharpe, P. T. (2017). Promotion of Natural Tooth Repair by Small Molecule GSK3 Antagonists. Sci. Rep. 7:39654. doi: 10.1038/srep39654
2. Hostiuc, S., Perlea, P., Marinescu, M., Dogaroiu, C., and Drima, E. (2019). GSK-3 Inhibitors and Tooth Repair: An Ethical Analysis. Front. Pharmacol. 9:1495. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01495
