Growing up, parents and mentors always chirped in my ear—the
best time to learn something new is now. Looking back on it, I wish I had
listened. In the trenches of dental school, it is so hard to find time outside
of pre-clinic, academic and extra-curricular work. After 12 hour days spent
away from home, the most logical use of my time is spent examining the back of
my eyelids. But at the start of dental school, I also embarked on other
passions in my life—I began learning the bass guitar. Many of my classmates and
family have questioned why I would choose to pick an instrument up that
requires a lot of time and effort to become proficient. As I learned growing
up, there is no better time than now. While I chose the bass, picking up a new
hobby of any sort during dental school can be advantageous for a number of
reasons.
The first
two years of dental school leaves any student drowning in academic work, but
one could make the argument that developing our hand skills is the most
important aspect. Picking up any musical instrument, learning a new craft, or
even learning how to cook—all of these activities improve dexterity. There is
often this misconception that you can only improve by spending hours upon hours
in the pre-clinic. Hand skills do not solely come from holding a drill for
hours upon hours. Any hobby that challenges you to fortify hand strength and
acuity will ultimately make you a better clinician.
Learning
something new demands attention, but I have found that keeping my brain active
during my free time helps me with my dental school studies.. I think it is safe
to say that if you could do better in school without having to study, you would
jump at the opportunity. By keeping the mind active, there is a better
propensity to absorb and retain information. Using spare time to embark on a
new passion is a fantastic way to ensure that time is not wasted on mindless
endeavors.
But learning
something new, as most dental students come to find out, is no easy task. It
is, however, an incredibly rewarding experience. Playing bass for a year now, I have struggled
and asked myself “why am I doing this?” many times. I have asked myself the
same question regarding dental school. The small triumphs make it worth it.
When I learn a new bass line, or figure out a new technique to properly seal my
margins on a crown preparation, the feeling of triumph makes all the
difficulties worth it. Regardless of what your passion is, becoming good at
something requires time and effort. I found something I really love, and while
it still is a struggle, I manage to find successes every day with my playing.
It has motivated me in dental school as well. For every bad day, there is a
good day, and I do my accomplishments rather then my failures. Whether we like
it or not, dental school is a time to become an adult—“a real person.”
Neglecting a passion now might mean never exploring it. Pursue something you
love, and find time every day to become better. You’ll become better at it, and
may even bolster your dentistry skills as well.