Yesterday I received a surprise in the mail . . . and I LOVE surprises. The good kind, anyway. This is what I received.
I wish this meant that I was certified to be a 35 year old – but no, the meaning is quite different. This pen was a gift from the Dental Assisting National Board commemorating my 35 years as a Certified Dental Assistant. Wow . . . that makes me feel REALLY old. Of course, I was a child prodigy and became certified at the ripe old age of 10! Well, maybe not 10 – more like 20. To become a Certified Dental Assistant I graduated from a Dental Assisting Program that was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Then I had to successfully complete a comprehensive written examination. And to maintain my certification I have completed continuing education requirements each of the last 34 years. That’s quite an accomplishment, if I do say so myself.
One of my students and I were talking today and I told her how blessed I am. Many people never really find a career that gives them satisfaction. I’ve found three! I love dental assisting and enjoy patient care – though I don’t get to do much of that these days and haven’t for a long time. Being a dental educator has been a remarkable ride. Helping students achieve their goals for the last 30 years has really been a profound experience. These young women (and a few men) have really touched my life and made me a better person. And now I have photography – a third career that honestly fulfills a need for me. I am amazingly lucky to have been able to do something I love for so long. And I look forward to the new opportunities that will be available when I retire in May.
