End of August

The last three weeks of dental school have simply flown by! I know this is the time that UMN SOD has given us to relax, ease into the semester/swing of dental school, and make new friends, and I am really trying to make the most of it all.

It's the end of Labor Day weekend, so tomorrow all the undergrads and dental students (and med students, all the other programs) will be fully functioning and back to the grindstone. I am definitely not prepared to see so many new people, but I'm very excited to meet more dental students and make more friends! This week is fever week for ASDA, so there are lots of fun activities planned. I intend to go to as many as possible!

A short recap of the last week or so.. I took my first exam in dental school! Histology. Historically, I have been a pretty bad test taker, but I managed to do well on this one, and I have high hopes for the future. I don't plan on specializing, but I fear I can't lower my ridiculous desire for academic validation. (yikes). I would say that I have come a long way! I was psycho in high school. I have an oral anatomy quiz this week, and things begin to ramp up steadily from here on out. One thing I've noticed is that dental school is largely just studying. Most of my classes and grades are exam-based, with few bonus points or assignments to buffer your grade. I can't say I love it, but I think it will really help me learn my study methods. I recently have gotten into using Anki, and I do understand the hype; even though I am very not great with the technology of it. Thank the high heavens there are pre-made decks.

Our class is gearing up for elections of class officers, and I am running for president. It's a strange feeling because I find myself constantly in leadership positions. And I know there are so many different ways to be a leader, but it's honestly really wholesome that so many of my classmates have told me they think I should run, that they would support me- I just feel an overwhelming amount of kindness and support from everyone and I can't fathom why they've chosen to support me. This community is amazing. I have noticed some apprehension from new people who "recognize me from tiktok," which is both humbling and frustrating, but once they start talking to me, I feel like they see that I'm being very genuine. Kindness is such an easy thing to do, and I truly hope I come across as a genuinely kind person- social media aside.

It's the last day of the long weekend, and Honey had a blast yesterday! We befriended a D2 who has a boat! (gasp) It was Honey's first time in a boat and her first time fishing and she did soooo well. I could cry she was simply adorable. Her little lifejacket even has a mermaid-type tail on it (AND it's pink). She really is such a good dog, and I am flooded with pride and love for her. It's crazy to think that she'll be here for all of my major life events.. Can't get into it without bawling but you know what I mean.

This week brings so many things to look forward to! Tomorrow we have a lunch and learn with ASDA, Thursday is a social at Malcolm yards which I haven't been to, Friday is a pickleball tournament (and my pickleball partner is literally the BEST- but he's a humble king, so I gladly hype him up. Because I am a mere beginner), and Saturday is a Psi Omega pre-game for the football game! It's so exciting to be in the fall semester, though I hope winter is kind to us.

I think dental school has been a really great shift for me. I feel more confident, more free, more kind. I just feel like I gained so much when I started dental school. I'm so grateful for everything, all the people I've met, and honestly, the people that aren't in my life too. I really recognize the growth it took to get here, but now that I'm here, I am so determined to make the most of it. To live my life to the fullest and do my very best to stay present. THIS IS SUCH A GOOD LIFE. I can't waste a single minute of it.

That's all for now, dear digital diary.

xx

-Beka