Congratulations on being accepted to dental hygiene school! This is quite a feat! Dental hygiene education prepares you for a long and productive career. But it’s not for the faint of heart; you must balance many tasks that may seem impossible at the time. Sometimes, you’re just looking for a way to survive.
If you google "how to succeed in dental hygiene school," you’ll see that many of the results have the title "how to survive dental hygiene school." I’m here to tell you that not only can you survive, but you can thrive as a student. You can enrich your experience with these four tips.
Prioritize your educational success
The main goal of dental hygiene school is to receive adequate training to pass your classes and board exams. If anything in your life distracts you from this goal, you should reevaluate your priorities and focus on graduating. You might have to work your job for fewer hours or cut back on extracurricular activities, but graduating is the most crucial endeavor for you during school. Prioritizing school and staying on top of projects, homework, and other rigors will decrease your stress. If you prioritize school, you’ll set yourself up for a better future.
Take advantage of opportunities
Students receive a lot of support from professionals. Everyone wants to see you succeed in school and beyond. There are many opportunities for dental hygiene students; don’t take these for granted. Scholarships, research projects, conventions, volunteering, and hygiene associations are a few of the opportunities available to students. Organizations understand the financial and mental strain on students and have ways to help counteract these issues. The more opportunities you take, the more you’ll enrich your education.
Participating in extracurricular activities will enhance your training and provide a great foundation when you enter the profession. I’ve made connections that support and educate me. Attending RDH Under One Roof as a student shaped my views about what kind of clinician I aspire to be. You interact with professionals who can add valuable insight and help propel your career trajectory. Do not be tempted to do the bare minimum when you go to these events.
Expand your social circle
Dental hygiene school is hard, so do not isolate yourself. Find a supportive group of close classmates or professionals and mentors. Surround yourself with people who will uplift and inspire you. I’ve found a group of classmates that encourage me through the day-to-day rigors. I’ve connected with members of my local dental hygiene association who support, uplift, and inspire me to push through the trials of school. Valuing each relationship has enriched my life as a dental hygiene student. You can learn from everyone, both positive and negative traits, all of which enhance your life and educational experience.
Be proactive
The most significant inhibitor to you thriving in dental hygiene school is analysis paralysis. The more actively engaged you are, the more time you’ll have to participate in activities that will enhance your experience. Dive in! Get involved! Join in as many experiences as you can; these are more challenging to come by after graduation. The key to thriving during dental hygiene school is to focus first and foremost on your education. This will help you enhance your experience as a student.
Remember, dental hygiene school prepares you for a rewarding career where you help people and make an impact in their lives. Succeeding in dental hygiene is not easy, nor is thriving during school. Enriching your life as a student requires work but is worth the effort. Being a student provides many opportunities and will provide the foundation for your career.
"You get out of something what you put in" has inspired me to be more involved and take charge of my education and preparation for my career. You can get much more out of school than just surviving. It’s a decision you must make to determine if you want the most out of being a student or if you want to simply survive school.
I’ve tried to take advantage of my situation as a dental hygiene student. I’ve received several scholarships, participated in different conventions, organized my own volunteer events, and participated in countless other events. I’m not an anomaly but simply an example of what’s possible if you want the most out of your education and opportunities as a student.
