Balancing Act

One thing that I think we've all discovered in this program is that balance is key! It's definitely tricky to be in and committeed to this program and have other aspects of "life" to deal with as well...

I've been thinking about this a lot because today in class I was a little out of it due to being in the ER last night in Logan around 12 with the kid I'm dating. (*he got a major head injury/concussion, but he's doing fine now (on drugs) if you were curious:)) Needless to say, I was up a little late, and it would have been nice to have slept through class. However, such is the nature of the program, and I actually think it is neat that we all care so much and are dedicated to this top notch program that we make sacrifices to be in class, clinic, labs, and meetings!

I know I have plenty to deal with with ambassador president responsibilities, my calling, family, and boys--or i guess boy, and I also know that there are girls in my class with jobs, kids, husbands, and countless other responsibilities...

So this post is a shout out to everyone in the dental hygiene program, and everyone who has been through the program, and learned the art of balance! You are all amazing, and just know that if you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone--i think that's the most comforting thing we can offer each other right now! We can do it!

Beautiful Bitewings :)

I'm feeling very proud of my bitewings right now... I took some this afternoon in radiology lab, and professor M. thought they were great! I feel accomplished because if you refer to my last post on radiology, you'd see that i have NO experience with radiography. So, it's a great accomplishment for me!

Things are going well in the program! Today, we did health histories, vitals, extra-oral exams, and intra-oral exams on a student partner in sequence as if it were a patient! It's cool to think that in only three weeks I am able to perform these things without TOO much trouble... I love clinic time, and my pod instructor, Instructor Carter, for Monday mornings rocks! She's a lot of fun! Tomorrow I have my first anatomy test (or at least part one of the test...) But I'm feeling okay about it.. I've been studying, and I think I'll be fine!

SIDE NOTE

Okay, so mostly I just couldn't resist putting this picture up...

I think I was 3 or 4 in this shot, and the little sleeping angel/prayer pose is my favorite!

Wednesday Afternoons...

There is something wonderful about Wednesday afternoon clinic... I haven't quite put my finger on it yet... It could be that I am more awake, or maybe it is getting over the "hump" of the week, that excites me so...
I've really enjoyed my pod instructor and TA--the Julies--conveniently named to eliminate confusion for little newbies like me.
Anyway, today in clinic, I tried to pay particular attention to my working posture (NWP-for those who abbreve ;)) I think I did a good job with positioning myself so that I wouldn't have to bend and twist to see particular areas of the mouth...
It was super great to actually be in the mouth a little today! My pod partner Candace is a patient gal! It's been super fun to work with her... We have a good time role playing pt/clinician roles!! It's weird to think that in not too long, it'll be the real deal! AH! crazy.

I make an especially good patient don't you think???

Okay, so I may have been posing for that one...

Here I am, behaving myself... somewhat

Tackling RAD LAB--one x-ray at a time...

I made it through my second radiology lab, and I loved it!! Having only worked in an orthodontic setting, my exposure (haha--no pun intended) to radiography has been very limited... They did take pano's in the office i worked in, but only one assistant was "trained," if you will, in taking the x-rays, so needless to say, I'm a dummy when it comes to radiographs.... BUT thanks to the wonderful professor McConaughy, I can now take horizontal and vertical bitewings :) haha... for most of the girls, BWX's are no big deal--they've been taking them since birth! But for me, it feels great to have learned the concepts, and put them to work in the "rad" lab (and it is rad for sure...)



**And no, this is not a patient of mine... I just thought he was a little cutie... and his face is classic!


Anyway, my third week of hygiene school is going SO well! I love it, and doing my homework is far from a chore because I'm so interested in everything being taught! I'm definitely in the right place, and I'm excited to keep on, keepin' on!

A LITTLE RELIEF :)

Yesterday in clinic felt really good! I was prepared for the right thing (haha), I passed PE's, and there were no significantly embarassing moments... ha :) I had decided before clinic that I would remain calm no matter what happened that day. Well, I would say I accomplished just that! (possibly because there were no trying moments, but nonetheless!! I did it!) I really enjoy clinic time.. It seems to pass quickly, and I really learn a lot!
By the way... Here's a corny little thing I found to make you smile!

TECHNOLOGY WOOPSIE!

SO... I was finally starting to feel somewhat adjusted to the twists and turns of the dental hygiene program when dun dun dun... I get to Dental Hygiene I class and my lovely friend Candace asks me if I knew we were supposed to have read and completed Module 4 in Professor Costley's class. "What?" I started to panic... I could have sworn it was module 3. She then told me that there had been an email informing us of the change over the weekend.
Well, right then I knew something was wrong because I had even checked my email last night and there were zero emails from anyone in the department...
After some detective work, we found that my email was not in the system correctly and I had been missing any and ALL emails from the department!!! haha--(i can laugh now, but it was NOT funny at the time!:))
Professor Costley was nice enough to let us take the quiz after class discussion... BUT, that didn't help me completely! It helped with a few questions, but when there are only 5 questions on a quiz, that's not enough!
Now, I realize I'm just another anal dental hygiene student who likes her points, but it was not a fun feeling... that feeling of utter unpreparedness--by accident! Anyway, hopefully those few points aren't the death of me! And, you can bet I ran right to the secretary to get my email address in the system! I want to avoid having that experience again at all costs!