Gene Denton 24

A very big need within my community is compassion from our health care workers. Many people go to hospitals, dentist offices, and other health care places where the workers are simply there to get their job done rather than making the patient feel comfortable. This is why I want to go into the healthcare field, specifically pursuing an education for dental hygiene.

After graduating from high school, I will be attending the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) to pursue a degree in biology to become a dental hygienist. I want to become a dental hygienist because I have always had a passion for helping other people. I am the type of person who loves to meet new people. As a young child, I always loved going to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. I know that many young children in today’s times do not like to go to the dentist. I never really understood why until recently.

I have braces, so I have a dentist appointment every month. Each appointment I go to, I realize that the dentists are not as comforting with the younger children as they should be. I see the children scared to sit in the seats, yet don’t see the dentists helping the children to get comfortable enough to get into the seat. Not only do I see this at the dentist offices, but I see this same situation at the doctors offices as well. The doctors and nurses do not treat younger children with the amount of comfort and compassion that they need. 

Many of these health care workers are at work to simply get their day over with and make their money. While yes, making money for a stable life is important, it is also important to attend to your patients correctly. Children are more sensitive and worrisome, so it is important that they are treated with the proper care. I see doctors and dentists not enthusiastic about being at work or interacting with patients, when that is a very important skill that is needed when working in the healthcare profession. 

Once I graduate college, I will find a job as a dental hygienist in my local community. I want the children in my community to be happy to go to the dentist, and not be nervous or scared to get into the chair to get their teeth cleaned. I will care for each and every patient as if they are the most fragile thing there is to handle. I believe that pursuing a degree in dental hygiene will be very beneficial for this issue that I have in my community. Kids will not be worried about coming to the dentist when they have me as the person who cleans their teeth.