Senior Office Reflection

Senior Exhibition Personal Reflection

Coming into ATC, I thought I wanted to take the practical nursing program, but I changed my mind because I did not want to go through all that stress and sleepless nights that people talked about. So I decided to take the dental assisting program and it was not what I expected at all.

I thought dental assisting was going to be easy but it wasn’t. Even though I did not have homework, I had to study every night because every day there was a test. Personally, it was a challenge because I wanted to be the high schooler with the highest grade, which meant that I had to get A’s in almost all the tests. Luckily, I was. Ms. King even paid for my painting for dental assistant week because I had the highest grade!

I never imagined that I would have to go out in the field and work with actual assistants and dentists. The first day was so nerve-wrecking. I felt like I wasn’t fully prepared but everyone in the office was friendly and helpful. Without the friendly and crazy people in the office, I don’t think I would have enjoyed working the eight-hour shifts . And without the assistance of the dental assistants, I wouldn’t have learned anything new.

Whatever I hadn’t learned in the classroom, I learned in the office. I mean, I obviously knew tooth numbers, most dental terminology, some instruments, and how to sterilize but I didn’t know how to actually assist the dentist and take those perfect x-rays that they expected from me. I can defintely say that I learned a lot. Before the program, I did not know anything about dentistry. I didn’t even go to the dentist to get my six-month cleanings and check-ups. Now I know that if I don’t want to lose my teeth, it’s very important to go to the