2020: My Year at a Glance

& Things I Would Have Told Myself Along the Way

Life as a dental student has been quite a journey this year, constantly adapting to changes and charting new territory. I never thought I’d be practicing to work on dentures in the same room I learned long division in — but that’s 2020 for you.

January to February: I started my second semester of dental school back when the world was a relatively simpler place, and things were business as usual. By now I’d acclimated to the intense workload that came with being a dental student, so I was excited to begin a fresh set of classes and learn as much as I could.

Note to self: Keep that enthusiasm! There’s so much to learn and you shouldn’t hesitate to dive in. Appreciate everything about this experience while you can.

March to June: We all remember March. I came home for Spring break, and ended up staying to continue the rest of the semester remotely. Looking back now, it was a startlingly fast transition to online dental school. We jumped into Zoom lectures right after Spring break, finished our finals on a Friday in the middle of May, and by the next Monday we’d already started a new semester — no break in between. In true 2020 fashion, we had to make the best of the situation and navigate our way through it, learning how to learn in a brand new world. I managed to figure out a productivity style that worked for me, and kept at it.

Note to self: Learn to go with the flow. Not everything needs to be perfectly planned out, because things rarely go according to plan, anyway — and that’s okay!

July: Finally, it was nice to have the month off and relax after my whirlwind of a first year came to a close. To change up my quarantine routine, I decided to try a two-week fitness challenge — and it was surprisingly refreshing. Absolutely brutal, but refreshing. I definitely needed it, especially as I prepared for a new semester.

August to mid-November: We were able to start off our second year with in-person lab classes, while continuing our didactic classes online. After months away from lab, I couldn’t wait to work on the projects we’d learned so much about over the summer. There was plenty to keep us busy during the week — from assisting in clinic to learning how to deliver local anesthesia for the first time (you did that!). As for weekends, it was standard to spend entire mornings in lab to prepare for practicals, and devote the rest of the day to cramming for online exams. It’s surreal to think that we never really had days off… we were completely immersed in the world of dentistry, making the most of the time we had.

Note to self: You learn more every time you try something, so keep practicing! It’s worth it.

Now: We’re back to remote learning for the rest of the semester — a few weeks earlier than expected, but I’m grateful to be back home again. This time, I brought some of my lab equipment with me to squeeze in some extra practice over the holidays (and to help me procrastinate studying for finals).

As challenging as it was at times, it feels gratifying to reflect on the clarity and many opportunities for growth 2020 offered. With a new year on the horizon, I’m definitely hoping to carry these lessons into it.