Autobiography the Dental Hygienist Program

Autobiography

The Dental Hygienist Program at the University of Maryland is the perfect fit for me. The need to help others has always been one of my most defining traits. It was instilled in me from a young age and paired with my desire to perpetually expand my knowledge, this trait will help make me one of the best students in the program.

My mother, sister and I came to the United States from El Salvador when I was just a few months old. As a family, we grew up working together to overcome the challenges we faced, being immigrants in a single-parent environment. I think it is from this background that my need to help others arises. We did whatever we could to make our way successfully in this country. Whatever sacrifices were involved, we made them. The environment in which I grew up was oriented towards this outlook on life, and I have always lived by this code.

Ever since I was young, I have had an interest in reading. I love to expand my knowledge, especially in the sciences. There is nothing more fascinating than the world around us. I love what I do and what I study, because taps into my innate passion for learning. You can always find me willing to learn something new, to improve my knowledge and further my education.

These passions have driven me down a path of achievement. I have consistently excelled academically and this is because I love to learn. In addition, I am an adaptable learner. Much of my learning skills I inherited from my mother, who was able to come to America, learn English and raise a family on her own. I feel like I owe a lot of my success in life to her. Furthermore, seeing her hard work, dedication and sacrifice for my sister and I has instilled in me those same qualities. I excel because I know how to work hard; but I also excel because I love what I am doing. I help people because it is all I want to do.

For me, the Dental Hygienist Program fulfills these two key personality traits. I love to learn and I need to help. As a dental hygienist, I will be able to do both of these things. The program will challenge me and give me great insight into the field of dentistry. Perhaps one day I will be able to move into dental school myself. But for now, just knowing that I will be able to make people feel better and that I will be contributing to their quality of life and improving their oral health is very important to me.

I see myself as the kind of expert, caring dental hygienist that every patient loves to see. I know how important comfort is to the experience, but I know that being helpful and caring is only valuable when the knowledge level is there. That is why I want to come to the University of Maryland. I love the program and I am excited about the opportunities for learning that I will have. I feel that I will emerge as an outstanding example of what this program is capable of.