My career as a Dental Hygienist began this late summer when I was 19 years old. I've come to realize that age is very important to some patients, so I am very grateful that I am now 20.
Sometimes during my "small talk" with patients I mention something my little brothers, then they ask further questions and it comes out that I still live with my parents. "Well," they say, "you must not be very old yourself." At this point I usually hesitate, trying to decide if this is the sort of patient I can trust with the knowledge of my age - that is if consider me incompetent or not based on my age.
Then comes the question, "Did you have to go to school for this?" "Oh yes!" I reply, "Two years prerequisite work and two years in the Dental Hygiene program," but what I'm really thinking is, "No. I just had a needle in your mouth and it requires no education whatsoever." Gracious of me, I know. . .
And then there was the time that a patient came in and somehow knew my age. He asked everyone he saw, "Are you the 20 year old hygienist?" (it turns out my office manager told him) Then when I got in the room he quizzed me on my qualifications, and when he was satisfied with my answers opened his mouth and let me take periochart readings on him. Thankfully, he is now a devoted patient and says that he "won't see any other hygienist but" me.
Overall, however, there have been no negative experiences aside from a few patients doing a double take of me when I come into the room and say, "Hello, my name is Shaylee. I'm the hygienist here, and I'm just going to get you numb for doctor."
God has been very good to me. I am so grateful for His loving, merciful presence in my life, and for His abundant blessings. I take comfort "His mercies are new every morning." I know His grace goes with me every day I leave for work, and I only pray that I am a testimony of Him to all those I see during the day.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
God's Grace Continues. . .
Well, you've probably read my first post telling of how God miraculously brought to me the point of going to Dental Hygiene school. Now, that episode in my life is over and a new one is begun.
I graduated from Clark's dental hygiene program June 2009, and I must say I enjoyed my time away from school! I was able to enjoy my summer while I waited for my Dental Hygiene license from the state.
I knew I would be starting the Dental Hygiene Bachelor's degree program through Eastern Washington University in September, and this meant one major thing: Tuition would be much more expensive. So after my vacation was over, I set hard at work looking for a job; not an easy task in this economy. I remember my dad and I praying in mid-July that I would get a job by the end of the month, so that as soon as my license came in I could start working and earning money, so I could pay for tuition instead of my parents. After dropping probably around 20 resumes off at various offices around town, an office interviewed me, and it was a pretty for sure job for one day a week. I'll bet you can't guess the date. . . It was July 30th. I was in awe of God's powerful answer to my prayer.
So I started the job one day a week, but I continued to take my resume out to other offices. I also signed up with a temp agency, hoping that perhaps an office I temped with would want to hire me full time. Between my paychecks from the temp agency and my one day-a-week office, I was able to pay for my tuition in full and on time. Yet another display of God's faithfulness.
As much as I was grateful for my temp job, however, I wasn't the biggest fan of being called at 7 in the morning and asked how soon I could be at a certain office. But they eventually sent me to a Bright Now! dental that is actually right down the road from our house. That was my first experience with double-booking (having two patients at the same time, sort of), but I had an assistant so that made everything go a little smoother. While I was there, I was talking to the Hygiene Assistant about looking everywhere for a job and dropping my resumes off, but "No one seems to be hiring." "We are," she replied. I couldn't believe it! I talked with the office manager and set up an interview. I was hoping, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too high. The location, though, was so convenient! It would only take me about 3 min. to get there each day (tops!), and I would be able to go home for lunch and see Mom and the boys! It seemed too good to be true. I kept praying about this opportunity because I wanted make sure I was in the Lord's will, job or no job.
I continued temping there a couple days a week. Several times the office manager would say things that would give me hope, but I just waited. One day in mid-September he came back to the clinic area and said, "Well, what do you think?" "I like it!" I said, "I really enjoy working here." He smiled and said, "Welcome to the team." I couldn't believe my ears! I was so excited! We set up my first official day on the job right then and there. Looking back I can see how the Lord orchestrated everything so that I would get this job, and I am so grateful to Him for not allowing it to happen too soon or too late.
You see, when I first started out taking my resume to offices, I became discouraged because several of my friends had already found jobs. I wondered, "Why isn't God providing me with a job? After all, I'm the one who followed His leading and pursued Dental Hygiene, and everyone else seems to be getting jobs except me." (My, the selfishness of that statement is so much clearer when written down!) Now I see that it was all part of God's plan. Of course I had to wait for the other hygienist at Bright Now! to go on maternity leave. Why should I be surprised? God has not, and never will, leave me or forsake me.
I graduated from Clark's dental hygiene program June 2009, and I must say I enjoyed my time away from school! I was able to enjoy my summer while I waited for my Dental Hygiene license from the state.
I knew I would be starting the Dental Hygiene Bachelor's degree program through Eastern Washington University in September, and this meant one major thing: Tuition would be much more expensive. So after my vacation was over, I set hard at work looking for a job; not an easy task in this economy. I remember my dad and I praying in mid-July that I would get a job by the end of the month, so that as soon as my license came in I could start working and earning money, so I could pay for tuition instead of my parents. After dropping probably around 20 resumes off at various offices around town, an office interviewed me, and it was a pretty for sure job for one day a week. I'll bet you can't guess the date. . . It was July 30th. I was in awe of God's powerful answer to my prayer.
So I started the job one day a week, but I continued to take my resume out to other offices. I also signed up with a temp agency, hoping that perhaps an office I temped with would want to hire me full time. Between my paychecks from the temp agency and my one day-a-week office, I was able to pay for my tuition in full and on time. Yet another display of God's faithfulness.
As much as I was grateful for my temp job, however, I wasn't the biggest fan of being called at 7 in the morning and asked how soon I could be at a certain office. But they eventually sent me to a Bright Now! dental that is actually right down the road from our house. That was my first experience with double-booking (having two patients at the same time, sort of), but I had an assistant so that made everything go a little smoother. While I was there, I was talking to the Hygiene Assistant about looking everywhere for a job and dropping my resumes off, but "No one seems to be hiring." "We are," she replied. I couldn't believe it! I talked with the office manager and set up an interview. I was hoping, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too high. The location, though, was so convenient! It would only take me about 3 min. to get there each day (tops!), and I would be able to go home for lunch and see Mom and the boys! It seemed too good to be true. I kept praying about this opportunity because I wanted make sure I was in the Lord's will, job or no job.
I continued temping there a couple days a week. Several times the office manager would say things that would give me hope, but I just waited. One day in mid-September he came back to the clinic area and said, "Well, what do you think?" "I like it!" I said, "I really enjoy working here." He smiled and said, "Welcome to the team." I couldn't believe my ears! I was so excited! We set up my first official day on the job right then and there. Looking back I can see how the Lord orchestrated everything so that I would get this job, and I am so grateful to Him for not allowing it to happen too soon or too late.
You see, when I first started out taking my resume to offices, I became discouraged because several of my friends had already found jobs. I wondered, "Why isn't God providing me with a job? After all, I'm the one who followed His leading and pursued Dental Hygiene, and everyone else seems to be getting jobs except me." (My, the selfishness of that statement is so much clearer when written down!) Now I see that it was all part of God's plan. Of course I had to wait for the other hygienist at Bright Now! to go on maternity leave. Why should I be surprised? God has not, and never will, leave me or forsake me.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
More Pics!
It was so cold!
We had a lot of fun with the frisbee
We went to Custer's Battlefield. It was so interesting! It is amazing to know that an actual battle took place on the very land where you stand.
Stopping off the road to enjoy the scenery.
We were able to go to the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming. Seth and I really enjoyed it!
*sigh* Buffalo Bill himself.
They had a taxidermist doing a sort of exhibition. His work was absolutely amazing!
Seth and I with the partially decapitated Buffalo Bill.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Independence Day Weekend
For the last two years we have gone to Goldendale for Independence Day when they have their annual Demolition Derby.
It is so much fun, in a destructive sort of way I suppose : )
I love it!
This is the only way that Jesh can stand the noise. . . Gun muffs: they solve everything.
This man, James Smith, is a professional stunt driver who did a little exhibition for us all. It was perty cool! He has worked on the sets of the Dukes of Hazard, Knight Rider, Transformers, and more. In Transformers, he does the trick where Bumblebee is driving through the tunnel on two wheels. Seth was very excited to be able to get a picture and autograph.
Gun muffs again!
It is so much fun, in a destructive sort of way I suppose : )
I love it!
This is the only way that Jesh can stand the noise. . . Gun muffs: they solve everything.
This man, James Smith, is a professional stunt driver who did a little exhibition for us all. It was perty cool! He has worked on the sets of the Dukes of Hazard, Knight Rider, Transformers, and more. In Transformers, he does the trick where Bumblebee is driving through the tunnel on two wheels. Seth was very excited to be able to get a picture and autograph.
Gun muffs again!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Fun at the Aquarium
We were able to watch a shark dissection. . . cool stuff!
Seth's way of touching a shark : )
Mom and I scared of the sharks behind us
Mom found a friend!
Seth is in the sea!
Seth and I. . . trying to act like Puffin birds, which are by the way behind us; you just can't see them.
Us touching "mini" sharks and rays
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)