Credit: Melissa Fabrizio
Tasha Hou
DDS program, class of 2021
Why do you want to become a dentist?
I really want to become a dentist because I was always the kid who wanted braces. I was always trying to get my teeth white. I was just really focused on teeth I guess, which is kind of weird. Like I'm not obsessed or anything but I do really like teeth. Then I found out that dentistry is really more like an art and that's why I got drawn to it instead of something like medicine. I want to provide people with health care but I think the fact that I get to work with small objects and get to use my fine motor skills with my hands really intrigues me. I really want to help people achieve great smiles.
What are you most excited about?
I'm excited about being in a tight knit class of 31 other people and just getting to know them very well. In my science program in undergrad there were 300 plus people in classes and I didn't know a lot of them. So I really want to get to know each and every one of my classmates.
Nicole Vanderlee
Dental Hygiene program, Class of 2020
Why do you want to become a dental hygienist?
I've been aiming for this since I was in Grade 10. I just love everything about the dental hygiene world. I love the cleanliness and being involved with people. You're working in health care but you're always helping people in a happy environment.
Why did you choose the U of A?
It's just an amazing school, and for dental hygiene it's one of the most sought after. It's not the only one in Western Canada but it's the only degree program in Western Canada. You could go to Vancouver but it's a diploma program and here it's a degree program. Why wouldn't you want to go to the U of A?
What are you most excited about?
I love that it's a small program so I feel like you will get to know people really well compared to just the general science program that I was in before. You get to make new friends that you spend a lot of time with every day because you do everything together. And then just having a great career that I can be proud to tell people that I have.
Sama Banaei
DDS program, Class of 2021
Why do you want to become a dentist?
I want to become a dentist because I really appreciate the value of a nice smile and what it brings to somebody's personality. I noticed a lot when I was in junior high, specifically with orthodontics and people getting braces, that people were really shy going through that awkward phase of puberty and not wanting to interact with people very much. I noticed that when people got their braces off they were enjoying their lives so much more. I could see it through the smile on their faces. It's just something I really want to give back to people in the community.
Why did you choose the U of A?
I picked the U of A because I felt that their faculty was the best in Canada. I really value the commitment that they bring to the program and it is shown through the buildings and state-of-the-art facilities here.
What are you most excited about?
I'm looking forward to developing a sense of family with all my peers and classmates. I'm really excited because this is something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember, and it's just so cool looking at everybody today and knowing that I'm going to be friends with these people for at least the next four years and hopefully for the rest of my life.