Surviving D1 year: Taking Notes

You made it to dental school and you are now a D1! The fun begins now and the pace will pick up very rapidly. There will be many obstacles to overcome over your tenure in dental school, one of the first ones will be mastering the art of note taking.
Luckily, I went over the different ways you can go about taking notes. The article can be found on The Next DDS website, but you may find an excerpt below.

Click on the link above or the graphic below to go straight to the article

Remember, you all can become members of The NEXT DDS! It is absolutely free to enroll.

What I wish I Knew Before Going to Dental School

Me pictured above practicing and
perfecting my preps in the simulation lab
(2nd year of dental school)

This is one of the most common questions I get asked by pre-dental and dental students ( followed by, If you had to, would you do dental school all over again? - that is for a different post).
First of all, let me start by saying that getting accepted into dental school was one of the most rewarding experiences for me. Becoming a dentist was the career choice I made at a pretty early age and worked tirelessly towards that goal. I remember saying "If I could just get into dental school, the rest would be history!" and so it was, but little did I know...

Fast forward a couple years later and these are a few of the things I wish I had known before going to dental school:

1. The Best Decision of my Life
Dental school was great! I can say that now that it is over for me, but you will not necessarily feel this way going through the process. When I think about the totality of experiences I had, the life long friends and colleagues I made and the lifestyle that it affords, I cannot honestly think of a profession that I would have preferred. I love what I do! and it is very rewarding.

2. That it would test you not only mentally but spiritually, emotionally, financially and otherwise.
There will be many exams throughout your four years of dental school. You will spend countless hours studying and may even at times have to pull an all-nighter or two (I do not recommend this). When there aren't regular semester exams there are board exams and they can be stressful. Besides those tests, there are situations that will test almost every facet of your being. You have to have the mental fortitude for the myriad of things that get thrown at you. There will be requirements and deadlines and things that are totally out of your control that you will somehow be responsible for. I have had friends who at one point completely broke down under the pressure and likewise there were the ones who thrived under the pressure; who used that pressure as fuel and rose to the occasion. Regardless of which category you end up falling under, it will build character and you will end up being thankful for those experiences.

3. Note taking skills
It is very important that you have good and accurate notes and outlines. You will have to pay keen attention to this for at least your first 2 years of dental school.  You will have to figure out quite quickly the best way for you to take notes. You may prefer the good ol' traditional pen and paper, or you may prefer to use a note taking app on your computer if you're a fast typer. Personally I made notes on or at the bottom of the power point presentations that were released for each class and I sometimes just took quick notes in a physical notebook as I can write faster than I can type. There were colleagues of mine however who preferred such tools as Microsoft One Note or another note taking app with cool features.

4. That all my textbooks would be electronic and that I would rarely read them (shameless)
I don't know about you but I am traditional when it comes to my books. I like to open a book and smell the fresh scent of paper, I want to feel the pages under my fingers and I want the opportunity to use my physical highlighter and sticky-notes. So needless to say, I found it cumbersome to use my electronic textbooks the way that they were intended to be used. I mainly used the powerpoints issued, took really good notes and used the books as references - or use almighty Google and YouTube (thank God for them).

5. Study Habits
Figure this out quickly! As in, before your first major exam quickly. You will be doing a lot of it and you will be tested constantly so it would be wise to figure it out before those grades start to go in and become part of your permanent record (yikes). Do you study better with a partner? Do you study on your own and then meet up with a group for discussion? Do you prefer group study all together or are you the type that do best on your own? Take a little time to figure out what works best for you - just not too much time.

6. Dental School is FUN! and there is TIME
I know all the above sounds daunting but contrary to popular belief, there were lots of fun times in dental school. You will make very good life long friends and attend each others weddings, baby showers and birthday parties. There is TIME to do what ever you want to do. You don't have to give up your hobbies and the things you like to do for fun. There will be time for vacation and spending time with family and loved ones. Many people were surprised that I was able to keep this blog up and running all throughout dental school! It all boils down to how well you manage your time.

If you are about to start dental school, be excited! but also be prepared. You are in for a treat.

Feel free to contact me with questions or leave comments below.

So Hurry Down the Chimney Tonight!

Santa Baby I've really been an awful good girl this year and I've got good grades to prove it. I finally got the final results from my classes and I couldn't be more proud! But Santa, I remember asking for a 4.0 GPA, did you forget about it? It's okay though you can make up for it with one, two, maybe all of the "little" items on my wishlist...

{CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE}

1. Puff ball scarf - in purple

2. Matiko HALLE black suede boots

3. Milk Glass Bud Vase

4. Yamaha FG720SBL Black Acoustic Guitar

5. Think (+) Positive Wall Fixture

6. "Have Faith In Your Dreams" Juicy Couture bracelet

7. Marc Jacobs Striped Dial Watch

8. Furrific! Trapper Hat

9. Juicy Couture Velour laptop sleeve - in pink

10. Chamberet Mirror - in turqoise 

11. Nikon D3100 Digital SLR camera

12. Vintage Picture frames

I've gone ahead and added links above, just in case you like something and wondering where to grab yourself one - You're welcome!

 Now I know this is a little last minute but I've been so good this year - so hurry on down the chimney, you hear?





D1, Semester1: ✔

[Deep sigh of sweet relief] I've successfully completed my first semester of Dental School *throws confetti*

 Dental School has definitely been a new and unique experience. Academically, it is challenging but doable, and with some discipline and tenacity I was able to get through it unscathed. What I've learned: Start strong and keep up! If you allow yourself to slip, you will forever be playing catch up.

As anticipated, dealing with different personalities was also a challenge; however, like everything else, deal with it as it comes and adjust accordingly and if  needs be. What I've learned: You can't please everyone and at the end of the day you can only be you.

I'm now on Christmas break and I have every intention to make it as fun and relaxing as I possibly can albeit the freezing temperatures. Get ready for my holiday randomness!

My First Set of Wax-Ups

Just a couple more days before the end of my first semester in Dental School and I must say Occlusion has been one of the more fun, stress free classes. If you recall I had my "Initiation" into Dentistry through this class when I carved my first tooth out of wax. As the semester went on and we learned more and more about each tooth's anatomy and intricate details we had to do a little bit more than just carve teeth. We had to do what is called a wax-up/wax drop.

Waxing up teeth involves wax, a colored marking pencil, a tooth peg, dentoform/typodont, bunsen burner, specialized instruments, knowledge of dental anatomy, a good eye for detail and nylon :) for the sparkle. The actual waxing skills are developed on the way.




Essentials


 Waxing up is in essence building a tooth from wax. Now this may sound easy but keep in mind that this has to look like an actual tooth and actually be functional, i.e the aim is to reproducibly relate the maxillary (upper) and mandubular (lower) teeth; they must contact each other (not too long, short, thick or thin). This ordeal includes placing and removing wax, making marginal ridges, sealing margins, shaping the tooth, establishing occlusal contacts, and evaluating the final wax-up.

 

Facial View:
Maxillary Right Central Incisor - #8. Also photographed:
Maxillary Right Canine#6 and Left Canine #11

 Lingual/Palatal View:
Maxillary Right Central #8 and Canine #6

Facial/Buccal View:
Maxillary Right Canine #6. also photographed:
Mandibular Right 2nd Premolar #29 and Mandibular 1st Molar #30

Occlusal View:
Mandibular Right 2nd Premolar #29 and 1st Molar #30

BONUS!!

Facial View:
Maxillary Left Canine #11. This is a wax-up of my Final Exam.

  Now if I should say so myself, the pictures do not give these wax-ups justice. They look a lot better in person. Now that this phase of Occlusion is over, I'm looking forward to the next phase which brings more fun and more challenge. Bring it on Second Semester!

**On another note, it's Mental Monday! Go here for today's trivia and to see last week's answer and winner**

I can see the finish line

From classroom to labs to studying and back again...seems like a never ending cycle until you realize it's almost the end of the semester. Christmas is approaching and I've never been more excited to see it come! More important at this time though are finals.
Only two more weeks remain in the first semester of my D1 year as finals approach. Thankfully at this point I am in good standing with all my classes and need not fret whether I'll pass a class or not.
For the next two weeks I'll be down under preparing to turn the B's into A's and  finish off the first leg of my race correct, and with no regrets.I do look forward to the end of this semester and the beginning of the next. I guess one year from now I'll be saying the same thing until my final semester as a D4; until then, I'll continue to keep my eyes on the finish line.

Wish me luck as I complete this part of my journey!

By the way, want an iTunes Gift card? Click here.

Break Time: Good Time

...especially when Thanksgiving is right around the corner and all I can think about is going home to my mom's stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, candied yams, pumpkin pie, mmm-luscious! I really can't wait for next week when I ride on up to ♫Neww Yorrkkk♫ It will surely be good times with the family and close friends. What are you doing this Thanksgiving?

How Committed Are You?

Recently, I came across a survey which spoke about the completion rate of college students (undergraduate and graduate). One important  aspect of the survey centered on the lack of discipline and commitment to self exhibited by those polled. As I read through the data, I couldn't help but ask myself, how badly do my colleagues and I really want to complete our dental program and become dentists? In searching for an answer to the above question, I realize that a one size fits all does not apply in this case. However, I do believe that there are 3 things that we all should consider as we strive in our quest to becoming future dentists. First, it is imperative that we take time to reflect on ourselves continually, to ensure that we are staying committed to our intended purpose. Secondly, it is equally important for us to recognize that everything that we do have consequences. For example, if a person chooses to allow non-essential activities to overcome their study-time, then, the onus is on the individual to accept the responsibility if he/she does not perform up to standard on any given quiz or examination. While some students may not be good test takers, the results of tests evidently reflects, in most instances, the amount of work dedicated to studying. Finally, equally as important to the first two statements, as future dentists, it is incumbent on us to know when to say "no" to even our best friends who may encourage us to miss classes or skip studying, just because they may have chosen to do so. It is imperative to note, that while we may have made friends or associates while in dental school, we are totally responsible for ourselves. At the end of it all, the major difference is donning the cap and gown on graduation day. In reflecting on the survey that I read, the question that I'm posing is, are you disciplined and committed enough in your quest to become future dentists (or whatever profession  you have chosen)?

Don't fall behind

The week of October 18th was a rough week. It was the week of mid-terms. Whilst they may be well behind me, the journey continues. In anticipation of my mid-term examinations, I developed serious tunnel vision, essentially, neglecting my classes and assignments. As a result, once my examinations were over, I was left spending most of my time catching up with sleep, coupled with understanding concepts that I should have already covered and understood. In retrospect, I thought that neglecting my current classes and assignments in order to prepare for my mid-terms was not a great idea after all. I've come to realize in my short tenure in dental school thus far that there's a lot of concepts to understand and apply in a very short amount of time; hence, I've learned that I must stay extremely focused and develop the art of staying on task despite having to prepare for major examinations. In addition, I've come to the realization that in professional school, major and minor examinations are an integral part of weekly life. Furthermore, I do also recognize that if a person allows one week to go by without carefully reviewing power-point slides, notes, and assignments, they will forever be playing catch-up all semester, which can make for a difficult journey. Rather, I would suggest that it is imperative to stay on top of all your classwork despite the pressure of having examinations. If you do, you will definitely be in control of your journey.

Hindsight is always 20/20 vision. Again in retrospect, I wish I had stayed on top of last week's classes. Nevertheless, being the astute and determined student that I am, I was able to "catch-up," with most of my work, albeit modifying my approach to my studies mentally and physically. Take home message and note to self: never allow yourself to fall behind. Build multitasking skills, it's very important.

Carving teeth: Initiation

I carved my first tooth out of wax last week, I like to refer to it as my initiation into Dental School /Dentistry. As Dental Students we have to know the details of each tooth in the mouth, which believe it or not is a tedious task. This is what we do in Occlusion class, we learn about the intricacies and details of the different teeth and how the maxillary (upper) and the mandibulary (lower) teeth align with each other in the mouth...fun!
In studying the anterior (front) teeth we got a chance to carve, with all the correct dimensions, the right maxillary central incisor - this was pretty fun but time consuming.

Here's what I did:
I first had to get my tools together: wax, boley gauge, carving knife and a sheet of paper to reduce the mess. I then had to use the boley gauge to mark my dimensions on the wax, after which I drew an outline of the tooth.
 Dimensions:

Maxillary Central Incisor	Length Crown	Length Root	Mesiodistal Crown	Mesiodistal Cervix	Bucco-lingial Diameter	Bucco-lingual  Cervix	Mesial cervix/Distal cervix
(mm)	10.5	13.0	8.5	7.0	7.0	6.0	3.5/2.5

from left: boley gauge, block of wax with dimensions and outline of tooth drawn, carving knife.

  After that was done it was time to get to carving! The wax was pretty hard, I had to use the carving knife to shave down to the outline that was drawn on the wax.

wax shaved down towards the outline drawn

The aim of this part was to get as close as possible to the outline made, so I had to carve some more.

Proximal/side view: wax carved to the outline drawn

Facial/front view: wax carved to the outline drawn

After the carving to the outline was done it was time to put everything learned in Occlusion class to work! Generally speaking, the mesial surface should be angled acutely, the distal surface more round, cervical line at mesial surface should be lower than on the distal surface,the root should taper distally (how's that for mumbo-jumbo??)
So after carefully carving and measuring and carving and measuring some more I finally had what looked like the right maxillary central incisor with the correct dimensions.

Facial/front view: finished product (not yet polished)

Lingual/back view: finished product (not yet polished)

Carving the tooth was a fun exercise though time consuming. The images above are far from perfect but was my first of two trials. The second was a little better but I took no pictures of those.
Go ahead and add your critique!

Got my own...

**Winner of the Digital Camera Giveaway posted within**

A couple weeks ago after coming to the realization that Starbucks coffee was costing me way too much money, I decided, why not make my own darn coffee? See, I have coffee twice per day - one in the morning to take me through my 9 hr school day and another at night to take me through my countless hours of studying thereafter. If coffee costs on average $1.85 it means it'll cost me $3.70 per day which is $25.90 per week, $103.60 per month and a whopping $1243.20 per year! RI-DI-CU-LOUS!

So being the poor student I am, I took a trip to my local grocery store and picked up a bottle of Maxwell House breakfast blend (medium) roast coffee, mmm! After that it was time to search for a portable coffee cup, so I made my way to Target and after about 30 mins of picking and choosing I finally settled on an aladdin brand cup. I was all set and ready to start my new make-my-own-coffee regimen. The next morning came and I was excited to make my coffee. I put  one tbsp. of coffee in my cup, added sugar, a little milk and water. I was almost ready to go and beaming about the $3.70 I would be saving that day when I realized that I had been mixing for a while but my coffee wouldn't dissolve. Hmm, what is up with this coffee? Figuring I must have made it wrong I poured that away and started to make my coffee again from scratch. 1 tbsp coffee, sugar, milk, water -- mix. Coffee still won't dissolve. I finally decided to check the label on the coffee to see if it was expired...it wasn't. What I did realize however that with my inexperienced coffee buying self I had actually bought brewed coffee instead of instant coffee. Crap! I don't own a coffee maker. So feeling defeated I left the house and went on my way to school, stopping by the local starbucks to spend yet another $3.70. 

I did however go back to the grocery store in the evening and made certain to get Instant coffee - man was I happy. So the next day up until today I've been having my Maxwell House Breakfast blend (medium) roast Instant coffee everyday. I have plenty of servings left (90 servings/bottle) and it only cost me $6.11.

Maxwell House Instant Coffee and my aladdin coffee cup

So in summary:
Price of Starbucks per year = $1243.20
Price of Instant Coffee per year =  $24.44
Feeling you get when you realize you just saved  $1218.76 = Priceless!
for everything else there's....common sense?

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for, the winner of the Red Digital Camera courtesy of the sharper Image is.....

Camille Knox!!

When contacted and told she was the winner of this giveaway, Camille had this to say:

" Oh my god! thank you soo much! I've never won anything before, I still can't believe it. Thank you so much and your blogs really help in preparing me for Dental school. I've been following you privately for a while and I like how you make it so fun to read. I've applied for next year and I have you to thank for providing information on how to go about applying. Thank you again! I love your blog even more now :)..."

Congratulations Camille! and you're very welcome. Thank you as well for visiting my blog and for your kind words.. I'm very happy that I was able to help you through the process. Good luck with your applications.

Gross!

Warning: You may see the word "Gross" far too many times than necessary throughout this post.

Why is Formaldehyde the first thing I smell in the morning when I walk into the medical school to get to my classes in the Dental School? Gross! Why do I have to smell Formaldehyde every time I walk into the locker room? Gross! Why after I complete the lab the smell of formaldehyde is still in my nostrils that even an hour after the lab I still smell it? Gross! and what's the point of washing my hair anymore? It's like an exercise in futility because the minute I do the minute it's smelling  like Formaldehyde again, Gross! But then again if I don't wash it and it starts to make my pillow and sheets smell, wouldn't that be even more gross? Yeah, grossss!

In other gross news, it's week 6 of school and Anatomy is taking me on the ride of my life! So.much. stuff. to remember. We started out with back muscles which were not bad at all but then came upper limbs - arm, forearm, wrist and hand, the axilla, embryolgy, neuroembryolgy, thoracic wall, lungs, heart, mediastinum, autonomics, the head, neck, face etc etc. -  innervations, blood  supply, insertions, origins, actions, palsies, intricate details and a world of clinical application. It's hard to fathom that this is only the beginning. I'm already suffering from sleep deprivation and my over consumption of coffee (i think) has recently started giving me tachycardia (no joke).

Gross labs are fun but can be frustrating because it sometimes take hours to find and separate the nerves and blood vessels you want. However, I'm grateful that I am able to learn the subject matter both ways - by reading and seeing pictures and illustrations and by seeing and dissecting a real human body. It brings the subject together beautifully and really helps in knowing and remembering the different structures. I'm also really grateful to the person who donated her body for the advancement of my education. I named her Ashley by the way. So Ashley let me say this, I have great respect for you. Sometimes if you feel a pinch of some sort it's because I sometimes can't find what I'm looking for and I get frustrated. So, if you find me a little rough around the edges some days, don't worry, but rest assured I have nothing but the utmost respect  for you, ok? Now help me out and make the zygomatic branch of your facial nerve appear because I swear it's not where it's supposed to be. Just smile and make my day.

PS Wash your hair, your scrubs and lab coats people! It's just too gross if you don't.

100 Things Every College Student Should Know

A couple months ago I had the privilege of reviewing a book from The Skinny On... series called The Skinny On Sucess written by Jim Randall. If you know anything about The Skinny On... books you will know that it gives you the real and raw (the skinny) facts on whatever topics covered, nothing is sugar coated. You may see my review on the book here.
Jim Randall is at it again and has recently compiled a list of 100 things that every college student should know. Consistent with his books, nothing is sugar coated. The list consists of things we all should know to get through college successfully and at the same time incorporates lessons that will transcend into the real world thereafter. The list is lengthy but I suggest you run through it, it may be really beneficial (may take several visits).

Preview:

No. 88 - The Most Critical Beats

As a young person, I wanted to become a magician. So I read books on card tricks and practiced them on everyone I could.

More important than learning the mechanics, however, was learning how people think. As a magician, you need to be conscious of how people react to your actions. You might have to change your presentation to mesh with what they're thinking.

This led to my understanding a technique that has been critical to my business successes:

Learn to add a 2-3 second beat between when you think something and when you actually say it.

So many people just talk and talk. They have a point to make and want to get it out as quickly as possible.

In some cases, that approach works. But in many situations, by listening to yourself for just two to three seconds before you let your comments free, you maintain flexibility. You're able to change direction as necessary.

Not all approaches work for all people. The key to successfully persuade someone to your point of view is to tailor your approach as much as possible to that person's needs, desires, emotions, mood and energy. Pay close attention to the other person and think through the impact of your statements before you actually make them.

Just a two-second beat between thought and speech can be the difference between success and failure!

"Never forget to put your brain in gear before you put your mouth in motion." - Anonymous

Visit The Skinny On blog here for 100 Things Every College Student Should Know

**Enter the giveaway for a red digital camera here. Ends 09/30/10**

Tuition: A real kick in the rump

Got a little something that would be sure to give me a real kick in the rump if ever I decide to slack off.

This is my tuition and fee schedule for my first year of Dental School. As you can see, the total cost for ONE year is $43,462.00 and that does not include living expenses, which would amount to some figure I have issues saying out loud. 
I have strategically posted this flyer right above my desk where I study. Whenever I need to be reminded of the reason I absolutely cannot afford to let the ball drop, this would sure do the trick, don't you think?
It's my motivation, and will later become my satisfaction when I become Dr. Patrice S., DDS.

Please support my cause "Aid for Minority Dental Students" by donating whatever you can afford to help students like myself combat the alarming cost of Dental School.  

Business Mode, Road Rage and Facebook Robbery

Phew! Like I said in my last post, I had a busy week ahead. Last week I was M.I.A due to my move from the Big Apple, getting everything set up around my apartment and getting everything straightened out for the start of the school year. Last week wore me out! but now that all that is out of the way it's now time to get myself in business mode.

School begins in approximately 1 week. I'm settled and ready for the rough road ahead. As reality starts to set in, I find myself praying for patience and understanding. Patience - to deal with the different personalities I am yet to encounter and for the road rage I've developed since I've moved. People in Maryland drive like it's Sunday everyday or like they're on their way to a funeral. Seriously! the last time I drove 30-40mph was during my driving test and that was eons ago. And Understanding to, of course, grasp the gazillion information that will soon be thrown at me (God help me).

I know I promised to post pics of the new apartment but I had a change of heart (sorry) after watching CNN the other night and caught news of a  facebook robbery. Did you hear about it? This lady, Keri McMullen from Indiana posted a simple status update stating that she and her hubby would be going out that night to a local bar. Apparently, one of her facebook "friends" took her not being home as an opportunity to break in and rob her apartment. Yes, I did say her facebook "friend." Lucky for her, she had installed cameras in the apartment and so the robbers (at least the one on her "friend" list on facebook) was caught. So you see, I have to now be very careful of what I reveal on the net. The last thing I need is someone busting in on me, or something. You can find news here if you missed it: Facebook Robbery.

As a heads up for those who enjoy my ramblings and ridiculousness, once schools starts I will be in business mode. That means that this page will become "serious" again. But not to worry, I will try to drop in some craziness once in a while and you can always go to Patrice's Corner for more of me, go shopping or enjoy some discounts, ok?

Deuces...

New York!! On to some new stuff! moving on to something better (by way of Chris Breezy), lol.
Today marks the day I'm no longer a New Yorker. I'm leaving the big apple to the nation's capital, that's right I'm moving to Washington D.C.
Don't cry for me New York, I gotta do what I gotta do but I promise I'll be back to visit, and just so you know, you'll always be my favorite state.
So I'll be super duper busy today and for the rest of this week as I'll have lots of packing and un-packing, driving, getting lost, finding my way, site seeing, meeting Mr. Obama - chyeea I wish!
Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to it all. Best part of my move will be decorating my new apartment (eek!!) and of course meeting the fam (classmates). I call us family because we're basically stuck with each other for the next four years. Should be a great day, a great week, a great four years!!

I love new things!

HELLOOOO MONDAY!!!

Other times I would be sad to see Monday come so quickly, but not today.
Starting this week and onward I'll be working on revamping, refocusing and channeling my energy to one certain thing, perhaps the most important thing to me - my new life, school and career. I'm forgetting all the drama of the past year and focusing on the future which is bright and beaming! Who's with me?

Speaking of a revamp, have you noticed the changes around here? subtle but noticeable. Notice the "Patrice's Corner" button? Go ahead click on it! When Dental School starts this blog will mostly be about dental stuff, and of my adventures and experiences in dental school, so Patrice's Corner is a way for you to enjoy my site without all the dental mumbo jumbo; it's where you can learn a little more about me. Not only that but you can shop straight from my Corner, get coupons on my favorite things, and even get free stuff!

I'm adding things daily but you can go ahead and check it out now. Don't forget to come back!

< Click the button above>

Commitment Issues & Furniture craziness

Just so you know and for lack of a better post, I have 13 days until the big move and 29 until the BIG day! I'm uber excited! So excited that I have changed my furniture selection for my new apartment a total of FOUR times thus far. The themes I have in my head changes the longer  I wait.
First It was all traditional - mahogany cradle bed, matching dressing table, night stands and dining table, earth tone sofa, loveseat and armchair; everything all matchy and monotone. It took me all of 1 week to realize that the 22 years of living under my mother's roof  had rubbed off and in. This arrangement had to be changed immediately! talk about boring. It kinda looked something like this:

 <yya! totally boring and grandmother-ish>

A call to the furniture store to cancel the order was all that took. Phew! saved myself from total doom and premature...oldness? By this time I'm troubleshooting and watching HGTV. David Bromstad, host of colorsplash quickly became my new best friend and I was totally inspired to go all bright bubbly colors and mix & match; but that was AFTER another change of heart. The monotone earth tones bruised me so deeply that I wanted to go completely opposite, black and white opposite. It took me all of 3 weeks to realize it this time... I suppose because it was the total opposite of the household and I felt a long coming rebellion. This look was quite pricey though, and all the accessorizing to not make the place look totally drab would totally break the bank. Not only that but if you know me you'll know I sometimes like to eat dinner on the couch and I'd be damned if I got Ragu on all the luxury.

.

 <It don't matter if you're black or white...but geesh! >

Now back to David Bromstad and his evil flurry of colors. This would have actually been a pretty chic look, except I have commitment issues and knew I'd get tired of all the bright cheery colors. Like, what are youuu so happy about? Anyway it would have looked liked this:

 < look at it long enough at it'll slowly start to resemble vomit *gag>

Yeah, commitment issues. I finally decided that I liked all these variations and maybe, just maybe I could find a way to blend them all into one big comfy, chic and stylish apartment. If I get tired of all the color, there'd be sultry earth tones to tone it down and when I feel like jazzing it up we'll have those bright cheery colors. When I feel to be different and edgy...yeah I guess that'll be there too. So what did I finally decide? What will the final product look like?

You'll have to wait until after 13 days to find out kids! =) Or should I stick with one of the above? Make something the fifth and final switch? What do you think?

In the book of faces

There will be approximately 80 students in my class come August, and I've already met some of them. Ah! the facebook era. I'm already anticipating the great memories we will be making.

We all have such different personalities and are from such diverse backgrounds. It will be like a huge melting pot of cultures! MMmmm... Of course, with diversity come differences, but we will learn to cope and put differences aside, accept and embrace each other. Isn't that right?

I've met such great people over the last couple months and can I tell you? I can't wait to formally meet them! It's like B says, "like it or not we're family - we're pretty much stuck with each other for the next four years." Yep 80 something of us, same classes, all day, everyday for four years. Sweet.

Some of us are already like family, M is my homie, he is HI-LA-RI-OUS!! OUT-OF-CONTROL!! and he's super cool to boot. He's the guy I'll sit very far from in class because there's absolutely never a dull moment. Sorry M, I'll see you after class lol. RA and C are such sweethearts! talk about adorable. These gals are besty material and are lots of fun to chat with (since that's all we can do for now). E is a quiet observer, he is very down to earth, easy going and is a joy to talk with. Of all the other "family" members I think he's most like me. Our conversations transcend consciousness (inny).

Having facebook really makes it a lot easier on you when meeting new people. Now I won't be so nervous on orientation day because I would have already been familiar with some of these guys. Ah, maybe it's my shyness talking, but in any case...and in that regard, thanks facebook!

**The identity of the Individuals mentioned are undisclosed so as to preserve privacy. Initials are used. Initials may or may not match the actual initial of person's name**

What to Expect in your First Year of Dental School

In approximately 49 days I'll begin Dental School. I'm extremely excited! nervous and a bit anxious. The exciting classes is what I'm most looking forward to. However, dental school requires long hours of school, long hours of study and as a first year student, getting used to the rigor and adjusting to the varying personalities of the dental school colleagues, I'm sure will be challenging to deal with.
The first year of Dental School is mainly composed of lectures, labs and pre-clinical activities focusing on the basic sciences and dental materials. The structure of classes in dental schools vary but are similar in that they usually span a total of 8-9 hours daily. You will also probably have to put in at least 3-5 hrs endless amounts (what was I thinking?) of studying after wards.

Courses usually taught during the first year include (depending on school):
Introduction to Medicine
Biochemistry
Gross Anatomy
Anatomy Dissection
Microbiology
Radiology
Histology/Embryology
Restorative Dentistry (lecture + lab)
Physiology
Occlusion
Dental Materials, etc

Of the above, I'm mostly looking forward to Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Occlusion and Restorative Dentistry. Perhaps I'll take a liking to other of the above listed courses. Perhaps I'll lose one of my most liked...
So what should we expect in our first year? Expect a deviation from the norm. You will be transitioning from undergraduate to professional school. There will be lots of competition, and to keep up we have to put in adequate amount of time and effort in order to make the transition easier on ourselves and to ensure a successful journey in this process. Equally important in this process is knowing the type of learner that you are. Recognizing that professional school requires a lot of adjustments, understanding how you learn and what works for you will serve as a platform with which you can spring from in your quest for continuity beyond your first year.

Best of luck to all of us!!