The First Year
An update on where I’ve been — and what’s next
Dear Medium,
You don’t know this about me yet.
I was waiting for the perfect moment to share this with you, but in the pursuit of perfection, I never actually did.
I’m a dental student … and I just finished my first year.
For the last ten months, I’ve been completely immersed in a world that’s taught me how complex our physiology really is, and how our teeth are more intricately designed than we give them credit for.
Needless to say, I’m enthralled by it. I honestly could have (and probably should have) documented my experience every week to observe my evolving understanding of the dental world. There’s so much to be said.
Countless times, I’ve opened up a new draft and started typing out words, trying to mould them in a way that framed my passion for dentistry and my newfound place in its world. Given that most of my past articles on here were inspired by this goal, it felt necessary to finally share that I would be embarking on a new journey after reaching it.
Yet I could never get it quite right. Somehow, despite many attempts, I couldn’t express the words to capture the essence of what this experience has been like. So as the year went by, my voice on Medium went quiet.
This morning, I was organizing some files for school when I realized I had to make a new folder: ‘Year 2’.
That’s when it hit me. I’m already a quarter of the way to the finish line. There were so many learning opportunities, challenges, and new insights over this year — and I hadn’t mentioned it on here once.
In fact, although my passion for writing on this platform has only grown stronger, it’s been one year since I’ve posted anything at all. I was so busy with everything going on, I hadn’t taken a step back to see the bigger picture. I was so perplexed with the notion of producing perfect content, I didn’t end up publishing a single article.
When I look back to my very first post on here, I see that I need to follow my own advice:
I’ve decided that my writing doesn’t have to be perfect for people to read it. I recognize that I am a work in progress, and my goals are not a to-do list that can be checked off overnight.
I realize that an experience doesn’t have to be perfectly worded to be shared. Sometimes, just the process of acknowledging a milestone can affect your perspective on it and outlook going forward. As a person who highly values self-reflection and growth, I’m ready to start documenting my journey with the attention it deserves, and share what I learn along the way.
We all owe it to ourselves to celebrate the little moments, reflect on our paths, and look forward to how much further there is to go. Importantly, while we never know what the future will bring, there’s nothing wrong with appreciating the present for what it is.
So, Medium, now you know. Get ready for articles that blend the dental school experience with my usual insights on personal development and productivity!
