two weeks down...fourteen more to go!

Today is Wednesday, August 31^st. Hump day some like to call it; we are over the hump to the second week of school. Fourteen more weeks to go…Woohoo!! The purpose of this opinion piece is to express my feelings to whoever is reading about how important it is to answer your phone and be a reliable person for someone counting on you. As I have said before, I am in the MSSU dental hygiene program. Tuesday I was scheduled to see my first patient, but they didn’t show up, never answered their phone, nor returned my calls…nothing. So here I am this first day of patients, without a patient.  I guess folks don’t understand that my grade depends upon them answering their phone, confirming the appointment and then actually showing up.

Plan B, stalk people in the hallways to come be my patient…NOW! First of all, I feel like a total idiot walking up to a total stranger in worst get up you’ve ever seen; safety glasses and hideous “grape” colored scrubs. “Hi, would you like to come be my patient in the dental hygiene clinic today?” they reply with a seriously confused look on their face”Umm..…Now?” Secondly, I feel horrible for disturbing a diligently studying student, a person eating lunch, or maybe they’re just texting. It doesn’t matter what they are doing, I still feel like a horrible idiot. But yes, I’m that desperate for a patient. Plan B, failed me on Tuesday, but hey you can’t blame the innocent citizens of MSSU.

Tuesday I took a hit on my grade. We have so many requirements in a semester, and so little time. I never thought I would say three and a half hours wasn’t enough time for a dental appointment, but in this program it’s not enough time. So I’m zero for one on meeting my million requirements for the fall, but on the bright side (well sort of bright) there is 14 more weeks to go to get them all done. I often try to remind myself that it’s not impossible; there have been many people graduate from the program before me. They put their pants on the same way I do, so I should be able to manage.

So even though my semester has gotten off to a not so good start, things can only go up from here. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things after a few weeks off. Only two hundred and sixty one more days till I graduate, so I’m well on my way.

Well, to wrap this thing up…I hope my rambling made since on how important it is to be reliable when someone (and their grade, success and career) is depending on their word. This is a daily occurrence at the dental hygiene clinic, so I’m not the only one upset over the issue. I know it seems petty at times, but this doesn’t just relate to showing up to a dental appointment. Being trustworthy, reliable and dependable are all features one should desire to possess.