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I didn't feel like I was a big fat loser for getting an Associate's Degree when everybody else was getting a Bachelor's Degree until the last week of school.

"Oh the Excellence in Service Award that you completed 8 modules and lots of paperwork to get, that can only be awarded to those getting a Bachelor's Degree."

"Oh, the purple and white striped honors cord?  That is only for those getting a Bachelor's Degree."

"Oh, the black robes and yellow tassle?  That is only for Bachelor's recipients."

"Oh, if you are getting an Associate's Degree you need to stand at the END of the line, by yourself, not talk to any of your friends and your name will be called out LAST."

It became a funny little joke between MeChel and I.  So, anyone in future Dental Hygiene years just be prepared for the humiliation that getting ONLY an Associate's brings.  I mean . . . not having to worry about Dr. Hansen's research class/thesis/paper may have been worth it.  Um, hold on . . . yes.  It was definitely worth it.

But graduation was still a fun day of pomp and circumstance, seeing friends, realizing it was the last time we would officially be together as a class, and hugging our dedicated instructors as we walked across the stage.  Holy Francis McConaughy crying her eyeballs out!  Didn't expect that from Fran.

Aloha!

DH BFFs

Karlie snagged a QUICK pic before Cam started his shyness.

Camden . . . too shy to show his face.

Good Times

Amidst the stress and amazing frustration of the final weeks at WSU, there were definitely also some good times.

MeChel looking up with a smile from the Class III that needed every medicament imaginable to be comfortable.

Emily scaling away on this curly haired lady.

My pod-mates charting together.

Me, giving Kristie one last good under-the-table-in-school-scaling before we start our adventures in real life.

Picking up our cords, water bottles, and MeChel's license plate cover for GRADUATION!

Light purple lab coat, I miss you already.

S-T-R-E-S-S!

There were times of HIGH STRESS during the school year.  Particularly the weeks before boards and then the weeks before clinic ended as we realized a bunch of random requirements that we hadn't thought about.  I captured a few of these stressful moments, and only wish I could have actually recorded the conversations that went on during these pictures, but I think I remember pretty well what went on.

"If ONE MORE PERSON even BRINGS UP another requirement, I will freak out."

Sam - Karlie - MeChel

"I am so ticked right now.  My Class III just cancelled . . . for the third time."

Karlie

"Wait.  We have to have 4 quads of a Class IV AT WEBER?!?!?  2 of mine are from the VA?!?!?!"

Sarah - Brooke

Instructors

In Fall 2011 I had clinic on Tuesdays.  My instructors were Prof. Susan Alexander, DOCTOR Hansen, Inst. Jenn Wold and Dr. Carol Naylor (kind of).

In Spring 2012 I had clinic on Thursdays.  My instructors were Prof. Susan Alexander (morning?), DOCTOR Hansen (afternoon) Inst. Jenn Wold, and Prof. Shane Perry.  When Dr. Hansen took a job with American Express (not teaching people how to use credit cards) we had the pleasure of having Marilyn Sadler, who had graduated just a year before us, fill in as our other clinical instructor.

So . . . a little summary of each to remember.  (Dr. Hanson has her own post so she will not be listed here.)

Prof. Susan Alexander-
Easy going.  Closed her eyes to really "feel".  Loved taking off amalgam overhangs with files.  Trusting.  Asked what my perio statement was.

Prof. Shane Perry-
High expectations.  Technical with clinical knowledge.  Always drilling with questions.  Didn't care if he made you look like an idiot in front of patients.  Realistic about outcomes of oral health.  Fun.  (An interesting side note about Perry is that after Dr. Hansen left, he became WAY more laid back and fun.  Go figure.)  Cognizant of needs, like if I needed to do a PE or was in a hurry to dismiss a patient at a certain time he would hang around.  He definitely grew on me as the semester went on.  Kept pod wraps to a minimum.

Inst. Jenn Wold-
Trusting of students judgement.  Let me do 4 PE's in one afternoon.  :)  Towards the end of the year her water bottle was always filled with what looked like the yummiest pink punch, don't know what it actually was.

Inst. Marilyn Sadler-
Amazing knowledge of correct charting system and health history.  Made sure everything was perfectly accurate without being rude about it.  Knew the difference between TalEval, Eaglesoft, and real life.  Like if quads needed to be recorded in TalEval differently than what may be billed in a real life situation.  Always around and available.  OFTEN taking on more instructor responsibilities than her own, like when certain instructors would randomly be gone for 45 minutes with no explanation, she would fill in to keep clinic running.  Helps with radiographs, and is dang good at it.       
 

Inst Wold's usual place and position.

Phenomenon

The observable occurrence of which I speak is somewhat personal.  Not really, but you have to be prepared for it.  Most of my scrub pants, a certain pair especially, tended to fall down throughout the clinic day.  It was one of the only times I was thankful for our knee length lab jackets.  However, another factor in this phenomenon is that my shirt (especially if it was one of our purple or grey Weber shirts) would start to shimmy up.  Even before my belly started growing this would happen.  It just got worse with the uteran increase.  You can imagine, that by the end of morning appts I was functioning on very low mid-section coverage!  One day, Sarah helped me document.  Now remember, I warned you so don't be offended by what you are about to see. 

Not bad for an 18 week fetus!

The lab coat saved you all from witnessing THIS every day.  You're welcome.

Lunch!

Many of you know that lunch was a large part of my happiness at school.  

Possibilities were endless.  

Company was always top notch.  

Clinic gossip was delightful and often hilarious.  

I see no down side.

Lunch from WSU Clinic was often $2 at the Institute.  It ranged from Chick Fil-A, Arby's, Chinese, you name it they had it.  Close, cheap, and fun.  Runner up is probably Burger King.  MeChel and I often brought coupons and split meals.  Pita Pit once with MeChel, Kelsey, and Adrienne.  

Lunch from the VA was often Wendy's at first, but then flipped to Jimmy Johns.  All I know is that I could BARELY get myself out of bed in time to make carpool, so ain't no way in HECK I was also making myself a lunch.  Maybe I brought a lunch one day at the VA Spring Semester, and only because we were going to The Pie afterwards.  

Jimmy John's

At the Union.  Michelle, Karen, MeChel on NCUR Day.

Me, pretending these girls are my friends.

Whoa, Michelle.  What's up? 

There we go!

Burger King.  MeChel had to straighten me out on which smoothie was mine.

The BEST large group picture ever. directly following a pretty darn good hygiene joke.

I think the hygiene joke went something like this.  Alright everybody to the distal, you need to get mesial, TO THE MIDLINE!

Final Clinic Day Potluck!

No offense, but not as good as the previous one.  You can't hardly see the right quadrant!

The Best Memories at lunch.

Za Banquet!

The moment that has been talked about since Day 1 of Senior Year.  The Banquet.  $28 a plate, steak or chicken at The Timbermine.  Chris, Mom and Dad accompanied me.  It was fun.  Kind of taken over by random Awards and Professional Sponsors, but still fun.  It is very weird to be there with all my classmates, but not really be in the same atmosphere as class or clinic.  I kept trying to whisper to people or get somebody's attention about an inside joke, but they were 10 tables away surrounded by a bunch of people I didn't know.  Strange.  I did enjoy sitting at our table with McCall and her family.

My honest impressions were:

If you were a SADHA officer, you got an award.
If you were a TA, you got an award.
If Kami Hanson liked the way you blogged, you got an award (that was for me).

Not that those who got awards, didn't deserve them, it just seems like an all or nothing thing.  We focus so much on helping each other out through the entire program, it seems out of place to single some people out.  If you got an award, congrats.  If you didn't, you're still awesome.

I did get the Golden Scaler Award, but I'm not really sure what that means.  I'd like to ask, without appearing like I'm fishing for compliments.  What Kami said was, "The Golden Scaler award goes to one of my favorite students.  She is a blogger, a media user, I always think she is joking when she is serious . . . Marianne Moody."  At least that is what I remember her saying.  My Dad barely made it back from the bif to hear my name being called.  Prof. Bossenberger did say a little spiel about how I come from a dental family and she went to high school with my Uncle John.  If I find out more about the Golden Scaler, I'll let you know.

There was some mention at Graduation that some left the banquet feeling less than honored, because they didn't get an award.  And that makes me think, they shouldn't do those awards at the Banquet.  They should do them in class, where it is just us.  Especially the scholarships for the Junior Class.  Why are they announced at our Senior Banquet?  They are not pertinent to us at all.  I guess that is how it always is, and probably always will be.   

These next pictures need an explanation.  All year long I have poked fun at the picture of the UDHA (Utah Dental Hygienists' Association) official pictures that is in all the programs for conventions and such throughout the year.  She just looks a little different, and I imagine hygienists' (especially those seeking to be Association Presidents') to look more like Costley to be honest.  Anyway, when she sat behind me at the banquet I knew I needed to take advantage of the opportunity to take a picture with her.  I learned my lesson about poking fun though, because she was SUPER NICE.  I took the picture thinking to maybe do a mocking sort of post, but no more.  She was really nice, and I learned my lesson.  It was funny though to see Costley come up and schmooze her.  Thanking her for coming over and over again.
 

The picture I poked fun at all year long.

The picture of a real nice lady. And me. Also a real nice lady.

Another side story.  After taking this picture with the UDHA President, Costley gave me a hug and said congratulations.  I assume she meant for the Golden Scaler award, but then she said, "No, aren't you expecting??"  I got that again from Prof. Bossenberger later in the evening.  "Congratulations!"  "For what?"  "When is this little baby due?"  It was funny, because I hadn't even thought they'd be congratulating me for that.

TWINNERS!