As I walked into my orthodontic office, excitement ran through me. I sat in the dental chair to finally get my braces off. Dr. Shah entered the room to complete the procedure and afterward told me to go to the sink to brush my teeth. I looked in the mirror at my teeth and was overjoyed and awestruck at the difference braces had made to my smile. Before braces, my tooth stuck out and I hated my smile. The orthodontic treatment gave me amazing confidence that I did not have before. At that moment, I realized that a person’s smile is more important than I thought. How a person perceives their smile can dramatically affect their self-esteem. This realization gave me the desire to become a dentist. Becoming a dentist will allow me to help others by giving people confidence. Many people prefer to avoid going to the dentist due to bad experiences. I want to build good relationships with patients and remove the stigma associated with the career. People with dental issues can feel self-conscious and isolated which may decrease their confidence. Dentists can give their patients a more positive outlook and improve their quality of life. I want to be the one who can facilitate that transformation for others. Dentistry requires leadership, the ability to improve, and attention to detail, much like my nine-year experience training in Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jujutsu. I was shy when I first started training and barely talked to the instructors. Karate requires patience and practice to succeed. Teaching in karate is similar to a dentist working with other team members. The dentist is responsible for performing proper procedures and instructions to build respect and trust with patients and staff. Martial arts have given me the confidence to excel throughout my academic goals and succeed. Dentistry is like martial arts, proper oral health care requires daily practice and follow-through on the part of the individual. Promoting oral care in my community will empower me to educate others about the importance of a healthy smile. I will provide compassionate support and services for patients to attain their dream of a beautiful smile, which may lead to greater self-confidence, better health, and other positive outcomes. I understand how difficult it can be to pursue goals and how important it is to have someone knowledgeable, compassionate, and willing to encourage you. Having been fortunate enough to be given those people in my life, I now have the opportunity to be that person. I want to advance my education to become that individual concerning oral health. My experiences as a student, an orthodontic patient, and a martial artist will enable me to provide excellent care that meets the needs of my patients. Partnering with my twin sister, I foresee myself as a leader and a part of a dental team. I want my patients to develop self-confidence, leading them toward their dreams and achieving their full potential in life.

My dream career is dentistry, and I will attend Temple with my twin sister. I am proud of my smile and want to transform my patients’ lives as a dentist. My orthodontist ignited my desire to pursue dentistry because of the self-confidence she gave me through braces. I have Asperger’s Syndrome, and gaining new self-esteem allowed me to persevere through my goals. However, not everyone is as fortunate as I have been to receive care. I learned that patients with disabilities are underserved due to the lack of dentists who treat them. Some pediatric dentists do not treat special needs, or they treat children with special needs but do not treat adults. General dentists can find it difficult to care for patients with disabilities due to the lack of training, leading to a lack of care. I want to help this underserved community as a future dentist. It gives me a sense of purpose and a desire to better the lives of others. I plan to become a pediatric dentist to gain training and increase awareness of those with special needs. I want my patients to develop self-confidence, leading them toward their dreams and achieving their full potential in life.

My dream is to pursue a career in dentistry. I was accepted into Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry and will start in August. 3,000 applicants apply to Temple every year and only 140 students get accepted. This confirms that if I work hard, I can achieve anything I want in life. I took a gap year between my bachelor's and doctoral degrees to make my dental school application stand out. I decided to become a dentist when I had my braces removed after orthodontic treatment. Before braces, my tooth stuck out, which caused my jaw to be misaligned and made me hate my smile. The orthodontic treatment gave me amazing confidence that I did not have before. I realized that a person’s smile is more important than I thought. How a person perceives their smile can dramatically affect their self-image and self-esteem. This realization gave me the desire to become a dentist. Becoming a dentist will allow me to help others by giving people confidence. Dentists can give their patients a more positive outlook and improve their quality of life. I want to be the one who can facilitate that transformation for others. My aspiration to help and lead others directed me to volunteer in my community. As a volunteer, I am making a strong impact on the lives of others. Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures. I showed children how to brush their teeth, educated the importance of full-body health, assisted with dental screenings, and gave out dental hygiene products. Often Colgate BSBF has trouble finding professionals to volunteer for their program. Any time I volunteer, I strive to find dentists who are willing to participate in events. I am so amazed and appreciative that many dental contacts I have made eagerly volunteer. Without my assistance, several events would not have dentists to screen the children. It is so fulfilling that my participation can broaden the impact that Colgate can have. Many of the patients who come to these events are low-income and often cannot afford or receive the proper care they desperately need. As a volunteer, I can aid in the elimination of oral health disparities and educate the public on the importance of proper dental health. Noticing the effects that my contributions have is fulfilling and gives me a sense of purpose. Earning my Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) will change my life trajectory because I can improve the lives of my future patients through positive and compassionate care. My family is low-income and has difficulty making ends meet. They have constantly supported me throughout my entire life by strongly encouraging me to pursue my goals and go to college due to their difficult circumstances in life. Both of my parents are permanently disabled from working hard and strenuous jobs to make an income without going to college. Since my parents are disabled, they cannot work and have difficulty paying bills and having enough money for food regularly. I decided to achieve my career goals to change the history of my family of not earning a degree to have a better life. Growing up in a low-income family, I understand the importance of access to healthcare. I want to make a significant impact to help underserved communities receive dental care. I foresee myself as a leader and a part of a dental team. I want my patients to develop self-confidence, leading them toward their dreams and achieving their full potential in life.

As I walked into my orthodontic office, excitement ran through me. I sat in the dental chair to finally get my braces off. Dr. Shah entered the room to complete the procedure and afterward told me to go to the sink to brush my teeth. I looked in the mirror at my teeth and was overjoyed and awestruck at the difference braces had made to my smile. Before braces, my tooth stuck out, which caused my jaw to be misaligned and made me hate my smile. The orthodontic treatment gave me amazing confidence that I did not have before. At that moment, I realized that a person’s smile is more important than I thought. How a person perceives their smile can dramatically affect their self-image and self-esteem. This realization gave me the desire to become a dentist. Becoming a dentist will allow me to help others by giving people confidence. Many people prefer to avoid going to the dentist due to bad experiences. I want to build good relationships with patients and remove the stigma associated with the career. How a smile is formed can affect how a person sleeps, eats, and talks. People with dental issues can feel self-conscious and isolated which may decrease their confidence. Dentists can give their patients a more positive outlook and improve their quality of life. I want to be the one who can facilitate that transformation for others. Dentistry requires leadership, the ability to improve, and attention to detail, much like my nine-year experience training in Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jujutsu. I was shy when I first started training and barely talked to the instructors. Karate requires patience and practice to succeed. New techniques are taught at each belt level and increase in complexity. Some skills can take years to learn and are continuously being improved. Teaching in karate is similar to a dentist working with other team members. The dentist is responsible for performing proper procedures and instructions to build respect and trust with patients and staff. Martial arts have given me the confidence to excel throughout my academic goals and achieve more tremendous success than I ever thought possible. Some might say that martial arts training and caring for your teeth are unrelated, but I disagree. Like martial arts, proper oral health care requires daily practice and follow-through on the part of the individual. Patients must be aware of the importance of having healthy teeth, functionally and cosmetically, and how to maintain excellent oral health. Promoting oral care in my community will empower me to educate others about the importance of a healthy smile. I will provide compassionate support and services for patients to attain their dream of a beautiful smile, which may lead to greater self-confidence, better health, and other positive outcomes. I understand how difficult it can be to pursue goals and how important it is to have someone knowledgeable, compassionate, and willing to encourage you. Having been fortunate enough to be given those people in my life, I now have the opportunity to be that person. I want to advance my education to become that individual concerning oral health. My experiences as a student, an orthodontic patient, and a martial artist will enable me to provide excellent care that meets the needs of my patients. Partnering with my twin sister, I foresee myself as a woman leader and a part of a dental team. I want my patients to develop self-confidence, leading them toward their dreams and achieving their full potential in life.

As I walked into my orthodontic office, excitement ran through me. I sat in the dental chair to finally get my braces off. Dr. Shah entered the room to complete the procedure and afterward told me to go to the sink to brush my teeth. I looked in the mirror at my teeth and was overjoyed and awestruck at the difference braces had made to my smile. Before braces, my tooth stuck out, which caused my jaw to be misaligned and made me hate my smile. The orthodontic treatment gave me amazing confidence that I did not have before. At that moment, I realized that a person’s smile is more important than I thought. How a person perceives their smile can dramatically affect their self-image and self-esteem. This realization gave me the desire to pursue dentistry and Dr. Shah became an inspiration for my career. Becoming a dentist will allow me to help others by giving people confidence. How a smile is formed can affect how a person sleeps, eats, and talks. I realized this in my experience while assisting Dr. Luong at his office. A patient was getting a permanent crown placed on her tooth. Before the procedure, her speech and confidence were affected. Once the treatment was finished, the patient was excited, overjoyed, and had better self-esteem. Dr. Luong taught me to keep dentistry patient-focused and always show empathy and kindness towards my patients. People with dental issues can feel self-conscious and isolated which may decrease their confidence. Dentists can give their patients a more positive outlook and improve their quality of life. I want to be the one who can facilitate that transformation for others. My experience as a patient not only transformed my self-confidence but also gave me the desire to help others as my orthodontist helped me. My aspiration to become a dentist directed me to volunteer in my community. During the past year, I had opportunities to volunteer for Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures (BSBF). I showed children how to brush their teeth, assisted dentists with dental screenings, and gave out dental hygiene products. Some events are hosted at schools and approximately one hundred children are screened. Often Colgate BSBF has trouble finding professionals to volunteer for their program. Any time I volunteer, I strive to find dentists who are willing to participate in events. I am so amazed and appreciative that many of the dental contacts I have made eagerly volunteer. Without my assistance, several events would not have dentists to screen the children. It is so fulfilling that my participation can broaden the impact that Colgate can have. As a volunteer, I can aid in the elimination of oral health disparities and educate the public on the importance of proper dental health. Noticing the effects that my contributions have is fulfilling and gives me a sense of purpose. I was just accepted into Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry and will start in August. 3,000 applicants apply to Temple every year and only 140 students get accepted. This is confirmation that if I work hard, I can achieve anything I want in life. This scholarship will allow me to attend dental school. I come from a low-income family and Temple requires a $1,000 deposit by March 15 which my parents cannot afford since they are both permanently disabled. I received a scholarship for the first $2,000 deposit and if I do not pay the second deposit my acceptance offer will be rescinded. Earning this scholarship will allow me to achieve my goal of becoming a dentist at my dream school.

My dream is to pursue a career in dentistry. My twin sister and I were just accepted into Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry and will start in August. 3,000 applicants apply to Temple every year and only 140 students get accepted. This is a confirmation that if I work hard I can achieve anything I want in life. I decided to become a dentist after I had my braces removed after orthodontic treatment. Before braces, my tooth stuck out, which caused my jaw to be misaligned and made me hate my smile. The orthodontic treatment gave me amazing confidence that I did not have before. I realized that a person’s smile is more important than I thought. How a person perceives their smile can dramatically affect their self-image and self-esteem. This realization gave me the desire to become a dentist. Becoming a dentist will allow me to help others by giving people confidence. Dentists can give their patients a more positive outlook and improve their quality of life. I want to be the one who can facilitate that transformation for others. My aspiration to help and lead others directed me to volunteer in my community. As a volunteer, I am making a strong impact on the lives of others. Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures. I showed children how to brush their teeth, educated the importance of full-body health, assisted with dental screenings, and gave out dental hygiene products. Often Colgate BSBF has trouble finding professionals to volunteer for their program. Any time I volunteer, I strive to find dentists who are willing to participate in events. I am so amazed and appreciative that many of the dental contacts I have made eagerly volunteer. Without my assistance, several events would not have dentists to screen the children. It is so fulfilling that my participation can broaden the impact that Colgate can have. Many of the patients who come to these events are low-income and often cannot afford or receive the proper care they desperately need. As a volunteer, I can aid in the elimination of oral health disparities and educate the public on the importance of proper dental health. Noticing the effects that my contributions have is fulfilling and gives me a sense of purpose. I think qualities that are important to me in my career are having the ability to help others and show compassion, becoming a leader in oral healthcare, and being detail-oriented. As a dentist, I want to make sure my patients are taken care of and that I have enough time to complete procedures to do them properly. Leadership skills are important qualities that I will need to utilize to manage and guide assistants and hygienists to run a successful office. Being detail-oriented is necessary when treating a patient because the mouth is a small area and to be able to diagnose problems. These qualities will affect my future career search when I have to find a job because I want to perform my best and work in an office that puts patients first.

I have decided to pursue higher education because most people in my family struggle financially and have difficulty making ends meet. My family has constantly supported me throughout my entire life. They strongly encouraged me to pursue my goals and go to college due to their difficult circumstances in life. Both of my parents are permanently disabled from working hard and strenuous jobs to make an income without going to college. Since my parents are disabled, they cannot work and have difficulty paying bills and having enough money for food regularly. I decided to achieve my career goals to change the history of my family of not earning a degree and bettering themselves. Financing my education through scholarships will ease the burden on my family and allow me to succeed in my future career. I chose my career path in dentistry because of the impact my orthodontist had when I had braces. I lacked confidence and hated the way my smile looked before my orthodontic treatment. My orthodontist transformed my smile and confidence through dentistry. The realization that a dentist can have an influential impact on the lives of others directed my career. Dentists can give their patients a more positive outlook and improve their quality of life. I want to be the one who can facilitate that transformation for others. I have prepared myself for college as a first-generation college student by training in karate for the past nine years. During my experience, I gained perseverance, leadership skills, and confidence which allowed me to excel in academia. My karate masters and some of the instructors became close friends that I adore. I worked hard throughout my undergraduate alongside my twin sister and asked for help from tutors, students, teachers, friends, and advisors which allowed me to achieve my goals. Even though my parents did not graduate with a degree, I was able to attain a strong support system from others around me. This past May, I graduated from Rowan University with my bachelor's degree in biological sciences. Throughout the year I have been shadowing, assisting, volunteering, taking the Dental Admissions Test, participating in research, presenting in symposiums, and earning academic achievements in order to prepare and apply for dental school. As a volunteer for Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures, I feel that I am making a significant impact on the lives of others. Noticing the effects that my contributions have is fulfilling and gives me a sense of purpose. I have had the privilege to support others through dental volunteer opportunities. Many of the patients who come to these events are low-income and often cannot afford to receive the proper care they desperately need. As a volunteer, I can aid in the elimination of oral health disparities and emphasize the importance of proper dental health. My twin sister and I have applied to eight dental schools and so far, have received five interviews. This is a great accomplishment for us because thousands of applicants apply each year and only a few hundred applicants get interviews and accepted. We are anticipating acceptances on December 15th. The opportunity to go to dental school is a dream come true for us. I know with my family and friends’ support I will be able to pursue my goals through dental school and my future career as a dentist.

I have been training in Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jujutsu for nine years. I have acquired extensive and invaluable skills and principles during my experience. These morals have transformed me into a confident, motivated, and passionate individual, and have inspired me to pursue goals with high ambition. My karate instructors truly cared about my personal development and showcased high energy and encouragement which allowed me to become an effective leader. As time progressed, I began to demonstrate the qualities they showcased in themselves to accomplish a common goal of empowering new leaders. Teaching in karate is similar to a dentist working with other team members. The dentist is responsible for performing proper procedures and instructions to build respect and trust with patients and staff. Martial arts have given me the confidence to excel throughout my academic goals and achieve more tremendous success than I ever thought possible. My aspiration to help and lead others directed me to volunteer in my community. As a volunteer, I feel that I am making a strong impact on the lives of others. Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures. I showed children how to brush their teeth, educated the importance of full-body health, and gave out dental hygiene products. Many of the patients who come to these events are low-income and often cannot afford or receive the proper care they desperately need. As a volunteer, I can aid in the elimination of oral health disparities and educate the importance of proper dental health. Noticing the effects that my contributions have is fulfilling and gives me a sense of purpose. I have been fortunate enough to have compassionate and supportive people in my life. They have greatly influenced and encouraged me to achieve my goals and through dentistry, I can do the same for others. I want to give my patients exceptional treatment where I can transform their lives with a beautiful and unforgettable smile. Although someone’s teeth may seem like a small part, it is an opening to the rest of the body that can significantly affect physical health. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I want to become a dentist to transform the lives of others. I am a first-generation student and come from a low-income family. This scholarship will help me pay for expenses for dental school. I have applied to eight dental schools for the 2023-2024 application cycle and so far I have had five interviews. Acceptances start December 15th and this can allow me to pay for a deposit to confirm my attendance. I plan to contribute to STEM by advancing the field of dentistry through research. I am particularly interested in the advancement of digital dentistry and new technology. This allows better experience for patients and easier methodology for dentists. Also, I plan to give back to the community by helping predental students and volunteering for programs for more children to become interested in dentistry.

I was born prematurely which led me to have developmental and communication issues. When I was young, I had several therapies to help with speech delay and to meet the social level of other children my age. Even with these therapies, communication has always been a weakness. Due to communication issues and Asperger’s syndrome, I did not make any friends. However, I have always had my twin sister, which is my best friend. The first year I started middle school, other students began bullying me and the school would do nothing to remedy the situation. My parents decided to homeschool me so I could learn without distraction. Due to the lack of social interaction, I needed to become involved in extracurricular activities. I have been training in Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jujutsu for nine years. During this time, I gained perseverance, social skills, and confidence which allowed me to excel in academia. My karate masters and some of the instructors became close friends that I adore. One of the instructors, Karen, and her husband influenced my decision to choose a career in dentistry. She would often encourage me to talk more and invite me to different events. Karen improved my social skills, which allowed me to become more independent and talk for myself. After a couple of years of being homeschooled, my parents decided to enroll me in a homeschool program. This allowed me to have more social interaction with people my age. My science teachers at the program piqued my interest in science which led me to choose my major in college as biology. I loved learning from my teachers because they made the class fun and engaging. My orthodontist had a significant impact on my career choice to become a dentist. Before braces, my tooth stuck out, which caused my jaw to be misaligned and made me hate my smile. The orthodontic treatment gave me amazing confidence that I did not have before. This transformation gave me the desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Recently, I have had the opportunity to volunteer for Special Smiles and Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures. Many of the patients who come to these events are low-income and often cannot afford or receive the proper care they desperately need. As a volunteer, I can help eliminate oral health disparities in underserved communities. As a future dentist, I plan to continue volunteering for those who are unable to access dental care. I want to find ways to provide my community with free dental care through mobile dental vans and free oral hygiene products with Colgate. Now I look at having Asperger’s syndrome as a motivation to work hard as a can instead of a setback. My friends and my parents encouraged me to become strong and confident and I want to do the same by volunteering in my community. My compassion and motivation will allow me to transform my patients’ lives by giving them confidence in their smiles.

My future aspirations involve a career in dentistry. I plan to go to dental school, attend a residency program to specialize, volunteer in underserved areas, and work together with my twin sister. Becoming a dentist will allow me to help others by giving people confidence. How a smile is formed can affect how a person sleeps, eats, and talks. Dentists can give their patients a more positive outlook and improve their quality of life. I want to be the one who can facilitate that transformation for others. I have been training in Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jujutsu for nine years. I have acquired extensive and invaluable skills and principles during my experience. These morals have transformed me into a confident, motivated, and passionate individual, and have inspired me to pursue goals with high ambition. My karate instructors truly cared about my personal development and showcased high energy and encouragement which allowed me to become an effective leader. As time progressed, I began to demonstrate the qualities they showcased in themselves to accomplish a common goal of empowering new leaders. Karen, one of the karate instructors, influenced my career choice in dentistry. She is a hygienist, and her husband is a dentist, and they piqued my interest in the profession. Teaching in karate is similar to a dentist working with other team members. The dentist is responsible for performing proper procedures and instructions to build respect and trust with patients and staff. Martial arts have given me the confidence to excel throughout my academic goals and achieve more tremendous success than I ever thought possible. My aspiration for helping and leading others directed me to volunteer in my community. As a volunteer, I feel that I am making a strong impact on the lives of others. Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures. I showed children how to brush their teeth, educated the importance of full-body health, and gave out dental hygiene products. Many of the patients who come to these events are low-income and often cannot afford or receive the proper care they desperately need. As a volunteer, I can aid in the elimination of oral health disparities and educate the importance of proper dental health. Noticing the effects that my contributions have is fulfilling and gives me a sense of purpose. I have been fortunate enough to have compassionate and supportive people in my life. They have greatly influenced and encouraged me to achieve my goals and through dentistry, I can do the same for others. I want to give my patients exceptional treatment where I can transform their lives with a beautiful and unforgettable smile. Although someone’s teeth may seem like a small part, it is an opening to the rest of the body that can significantly affect physical health. As a future dentist, I want my patients to develop self-confidence, leading them toward their dreams and achieving their full potential in life.

I am a twin sister and always had a friend and someone to support me. Both of us have had communication issues since we were born due to Asperger’s syndrome. During grade school, my sister and I would only speak to each other which led to a lack of friends and social skills. Our parents tried putting us in separate classes, but it made the situation worse, so we had to stay together. In middle school, other students bullied us because of our lack of communication so we were homeschooled instead. Being homeschooled allowed me to do better academically but not socially. My parents decided to look for extracurricular activities. The decision to train in martial arts allowed me to overcome my disability. Due to having Asperger’s syndrome, I would not speak to others, and I had a lack of confidence. Karate training was a very difficult and new experience because I had to learn to become loud, aggressive, and show authority. With my karate masters’ guidance and support, I was able to transform from being timid to a confident karate instructor. I learned to persevere, never give up, and be proud of who I am. This training allowed me to earn a third-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and a first-degree black belt in Aiki Jujutsu. Their compassionate approach gave me the desire to transform the lives of others with similar obstacles to overcome. Karen, a karate instructor who I met influenced my career to become a dentist since she is a retired hygienist. The values I learned from karate training gave me the strength to pursue my academic goals for my bachelor’s and will continue to support me in dental school. Even with the obstacles I overcame and the confidence I gained; I still have some communication issues. Often regularly, I strive to become the best version of myself. Recently, I presented at two research symposiums, had an interview for a committee letter, and attended college events to increase my social skills. At first, I was a little hesitant and nervous, but my experiences allowed me to overcome my shyness and aspire to volunteer to inspire others with disabilities. I plan to go to dental school to fulfill my dream of becoming a dentist. I want to influence others that having a disability is not a setback and that anything is possible with the right mindset and support. Often healthcare professionals that have a disability refrain from mentioning it. I want to advocate for professionals with disabilities to encourage others to pursue their dreams no matter the difficulty. As a volunteer for Special Events for Special Kids (SE4SK), I often inspire others to achieve their goals in life. I aspire to become a dentist to make an impact in my community by giving my patients self-confidence in themselves. I know how advantageous it is to have strong support in a person’s life, and through dentistry I will be able to support others. In my future career, I will continue to inspire others with disabilities by providing insight and knowledge on how to achieve goals. My strong compassion, skills in leadership and communication, and passion for making a difference will allow me to change the lives of others in dentistry and the special needs community.

Throughout my life, I have had communication and social issues due to Asperger’s syndrome. I would not talk to anyone other than my parents and twin sister. During my nine-year training in Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jujutsu, I gained confidence when speaking and the ambition to better myself. My karate masters whom I met supported me and transformed me into the person I am today. They allowed me to attain my academic goals and will allow me to achieve my dream of becoming a dentist. By volunteering for Special Events for Special Kids (SE4SK), I have the opportunity to influence others with disabilities. Even though having a disability can be a setback, I try to show compassion to use it as a source of motivation to become a stronger person. I have spoken to others with autism and told them about the goals I achieved and inspired them to pursue their dreams. I believe speaking to others about my disability gives others the ambition to strive to work hard in life. By volunteering, I now can mentor others to become the best versions of themselves as was done for me. It is important to provide oral health for those who are unfortunate. My strong compassion for helping those in need through volunteering will allow me to make an impact in my community. People with disabilities may not have the dental care they need. Some dentists exclude them from their office or limited offices provide care for those with special needs. Fortunately, I have always loved going to the dentist and had easy access. Volunteering for Special Smiles Special Olympics of New Jersey has given me the possibility to advocate for diversity and inclusion in dentistry. During this event, I could show the importance of proper dental hygiene and aid in finding dental care for athletes. As a dentist in my future career, I want to become an up-stander to allow for easy access to dental care for people with disabilities. I want to advocate for inclusion for those with special needs in my career as a dentist. With my strong voice and compassion, I can influence others by creating a dental program for people with disabilities. My experience volunteering for Special Smiles has given me the insight to increase the diversity of the patient population in dental care. This could give dental professionals the proper training and experience to have the skill and confidence to treat people with these certain needs. I have had dedicated support and guidance from people in my life to better myself, and as a future dentist, I know I will do the same for others.

As I walked into my orthodontic office, excitement ran through me. I sat in the dental chair to finally get my braces off. Dr. Shah entered the room to complete the procedure and afterward told me to go to the sink to brush my teeth. I looked in the mirror at my teeth and was overjoyed and awestruck at the difference braces had made to my smile. Before braces, my tooth stuck out, which caused my jaw to be misaligned and made me hate my smile. The orthodontic treatment gave me amazing confidence that I did not have before. At that moment, I realized that a person’s smile is more important than I thought. How a person perceives their smile can dramatically affect their self-image and self-esteem. This realization gave me the desire to become a dentist. Dentistry requires leadership, the ability to improve, and attention to detail, much like my nine-year experience training in Tang Soo Do and Aiki Jujutsu. I was shy when I first started training and barely talked to the instructors. Karate requires patience and practice to succeed. New techniques are taught at each belt level and increase in complexity. Some skills can take years to learn and are continuously being improved. Teaching in karate is similar to a dentist working with other team members. The dentist is responsible for performing proper procedures and instructions to build respect and trust with patients and staff. Martial arts have given me the confidence to excel throughout my academic goals and achieve more tremendous success than I ever thought possible. Through martial arts training, I have learned empathy and patience. I volunteered to teach self-defense classes for minority girls in a low-income community. The students were afraid to do karate techniques and speak during the first class. They could get through the first class with my encouragement and assurance with self-defense and basic techniques. After eight weeks of training, the girls were completely transformed. They accomplished techniques that they were previously intimidated by such as breaking boards and completing self-defense techniques. This experience further cemented my desire to help others to be the best versions of themselves. Some might say that martial arts training and caring for your teeth are unrelated, but I disagree. Like martial arts, proper oral health care requires daily practice and follow-through on the part of the individual. Patients must be aware of the importance of having healthy teeth, functionally and cosmetically, and how to maintain excellent oral health. Promoting oral care in my community will empower me to educate others about the importance of a healthy smile. I will provide compassionate support and services for patients to attain their dream of a beautiful smile, which may lead to greater self-confidence, better health, and other positive outcomes. I understand how difficult it can be to pursue goals and how important it is to have someone knowledgeable, compassionate, and willing to encourage you. Having been fortunate enough to be given those people in my life, I now have the opportunity to be that person. I want to advance my education to become that individual concerning oral health. My experiences as a student, an orthodontic patient, and a martial artist will enable me to provide excellent care that meets the needs of my patients. Partnering with my twin sister, I foresee myself as a leader and a part of a dental team. I want my patients to develop self-confidence, leading them toward their dreams and achieving their full potential in life.