My name is Ariana and my career aspiration is to become an orthodontist. For my internship experience I was placed at Pediatric Smiles, a pediatric dental clinic.
While working at this clinic I learned and observed a variety of things. For instance, I learned how to sanitize instruments and clean and set up dental chairs. I also learned how to chart and how cleanings are performed for people with and without braces. I observed how cavities are drilled and filled and how baby teeth are removed. In addition, I observed how braces are placed and removed from teeth as well as how retainers are made. I also got to see how dental clinics operate and what the workflow is generally like.
Participating in the AnnieRuth Foundation’s summer internship program helped me a great deal in preparing for future success. To start with, throughout the first 10 months of training and development, I learned a lot about the workforce. This includes topics such as resume writing, dress codes, making connections, timeliness, and more. I was also able to improve certain things, such as my interview skills and my confidence. I know I’ll be able to carry these skills with me into future workplace settings. In addition, the actual six weeks of the in-person internship experience helped me in regard to my more specific career aspirations. Being able to observe my dream job in person solidified my motivation to pursue orthodontics as a career. I had never really observed the dental field from an inside point of view and just saw it as something I was interested in. Now I am clearer of my decision than before. The experience I gained will also prove useful in the future. I now feel like I know what I am getting myself into and am excited to pursue my career further.