What's been on my mind....

SCHOOL, SCHOOL, and more SCHOOL!

So my life is school and so is Race's. Luckily we can just focus our time on school and not have to worry about much else... Here are some things about my schools that won't get out of my mind

1. I'm so grateful I passed the ultrasonic competency today! Seriously competencies are the SCARIEST test in the world. We have three instructors huddled over us (one breathing right into my ear) trying to see my technique instrumenting my patient's mouth (thanks the Race for being my patient). I always do it good in clinic but when competency comes I get so NERVOUS and shake so much. But today I was able to do it right and pass, thank goodness!

2. I've been way STRESSED about clinic this semester. I thought this semester would be easier because we don't have as many book work classes... but I was wrong. Trying to find patients and patients with the right requirements is much more stressful. As we get closer to graduation we need harder patients which seem IMPOSSIBLE to find and even harder to really have them show up to their appointment. There are 24 of us girls looking for hard enough patients and it seems most of us can't find the requirements we need to pass clinic this semester. I think we are all in the same boat... but it's hard to get patients to come in and sit in the chair for three hours not only one time but multiple times and then to pay up to a $100 dollars for their treatment when the reason they came to the clinic is because they are low income... so feed the kids or get my teeth clean is what it comes down to for alot of patients, so that translates to us girls having a really hard time finding what we need. Hopefully with some connections I will find my requirements and pass.

3. My #1 LEAST favorite class ever is expanded functions... this is a class were we as hygienists fill small cavities on patients after the dentists drills it out. First complaint, it's not even legal in Utah so how and why are we doing it in school? Second, again patients are almost impossible to find they have to have cavities small enough for us to fill and also be able to come in on a Monday from 2-5. I haven't had patients in clinic that need fillings so how am I going to find people with cavities? Also the dentist that teaches the class is very tough, when we asked what happens when we make a mistake he told us, just don't make mistakes... so we are expected after six times of practicing on a model to go in to a real mouth and do perfect work? I just don't get it. And then they let me send my patient home with a C grade filling in his mouth. It's so hard to get all the anatomy perfect. Well I could keep going but I'll stop... the point is I hate this class.

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4. I didn't realize when I signed up for hygiene school I would also be teaching. But this part is actually pretty fun. We go into preschools and elementary schools and teach them about taking care of their teeth. I would NEVER want to be a teacher, but having fun with the kids and doing activities for a half hour isn't bad at all.

5. Race probably didn't realize when he asked me to marry him that also meant he would be my patient and guinea pig for my hygiene school. Good thing he is a good sport... since I need alot of requirements he said he would let me do nitrous (laughing gas) and three shots on him. He's a good husband. Plus he LOVED nitrous and was pretty dang funny on it, I wish I had gotten a picture.

6. Even though school is stressful, I've made lifetime friends that help me get through it all because they really do understand, and seeing all the girls at school is awesome! I love them !