The privilege to climb up the hill

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC D.D.S. Orientation Day 1

   Three years of taking 24 units per quarter, participating in research at both University of California, Irvine and University of Southern California, shadowing dentists, studying for the dental admissions test, befriending professors for letters of recommendations, and applying to dental school have all lead up to today. I walked into the familiar lobby with a tinge of reluctance, but to my surprise everything felt quite new. A sense of excitement rushed over me and I was surrounded by my peers. I was especially excited to see people that were in my group during my interview back in January. We are very fortunate to be part of the 144 chosen out of 3317 applicants. I looked down at my name tag and chills spread through my spine as I read: Dr. Tiffany Y W.

   My application process was filled with frustration  and little triumphs followed by yet another hardship. After conquering one milestone in the process, the path to the next was tedious and my patience was wearing thin. The frustration grew as the uncertainty of my future loomed over me. All I needed was an answer and until then no matter what I had accomplished I could not feel satisfied or relieved... Then one day in March, I received an email : Congratulations you have been accepted to Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC D.D.S. class of 2015. 

   I called my parents in Taiwan with the exciting news and I got carried away. 

Me: "I am so excited and I worked very hard. It's all down hill from here!!!!"

My father: "You have only just got the privilege to climb up the hill."

   Although being in a learning environment and moving forward in my life excited me, orientation spot-lighted the hardship of the coming year. My father is right and it is a privilege to stand at the bottom of this hill. And I need to prepare myself for the climb that faces hardships that are mentally, physically, and financially challenging. The estimated 500,000 dollars of debt puts quite the damper on the pride and excitement of starting dental school. The unbearable hour that was spent during orientation on debt repayment and how much interest accumulates over the coming years struck fear into our hearts. 

   But regardless of any doubts the journey of D.D.S. class of 2015 has begun and we are equipped with brand new dental supplies (YAY! highspeed handpeices, birs, spatulas, finishing strips, etc.), hope, perseverance, determination, support, the 7 habits of highly effective people and jars of teeth! Fight on!

 

         photograph by Tiffany W.