Achieving My Dream - Becoming a Dentist

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 1:6
 
Class of 2019, where you at?! These beautiful ladies are just a few of the friends/classmates I had the pleasure of graduating with a few short weeks ago.
 
On May 17th, 2019 I walked across the stage, culminating a 21-year journey of education. For the first time this fall, unlike every year since kindergarten, I won’t be starting another semester. I finally graduated with my Doctorate of Dental Surgery. To God be the glory! I’ve been through so much along the way but here I am a full-fledged dentist (who still needs a license, but that’s besides the point LOL).
 
Let’s take a trip down memory lane. In 2009 while I was in my junior year of high school, I had braces. My orthodontist was a quirky and friendly, middle aged woman with a warm smile and jokes for days. She always knew what was going on in my life and her ultimate goal was to help me fall in love with my smile. Little did she know that her role as my orthodontist had planted a seed in me. This seed was watered and took root in my general dentist’s office, where my fascination with dentistry grew and bloomed. This was only the beginning.
 
At this point, I chose that I wanted to become a dentist. I didn’t know what it would take to get there but I put my mind to becoming one and no one could stop me. What followed were four challenging and busy years at UT Arlington, studying, going to labs, working, participating in extracurricular activities, serving as a leader, and much more. In that time, I lost my dad and somehow gained a life partner as well. It all culminated in receiving my honors Bachelors Degree in Biology, Cum Laude in 2015.
 
Thereafter were more four years of school, this time filled with all things teeth-related – dental anatomy, pre-clinical labs, biomaterials, operative, dental specialty courses, and finally seeing my very own patients. This four-year journey led to the month of May 2019 – a month in which I completed my clinical requirements, passed my licensure exam, and graduated on May 17th, 2019. All praise be to God!

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​Becoming a dentist was no easy task. It was a long and difficult journey, filled with challenges, tears, pain, disappointment, stress, sleepless nights, and so much more. But it was also a journey of triumph, successes, joy, support, friendship, and love along the way. God has proven himself to be so faithful throughout this journey. It is only by His strength that I could have made it so far.  As the following bible verse says, God renewed my strength day by day all throughout the four years.
 
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
-Isaiah 40:31
 
So here I am, on to the next chapter with the challenges associated with practicing as a new dentist ahead me. The bible verse at the beginning of this blog post gives me comfort that I will be successful in this next chapter. Congratulations to everyone in the class of 2019! Just know that your hard work has paid off and that there are great things in store for you. No matter what happens next, relish in your achievement and recognize that you are equipped and able to handle whatever comes next.
 
<3 Beryl