Dental Hygiene Letter of Interest:

Dental Hygiene

Letter of Interest: Dental Hygiene Program

I am applying for the Dental Hygiene program at Howard University for two reasons, both of which will be detailed here. First and foremost, I have chosen to apply specifically to Howard University because I have great respect for the University itself and how it has operated since its beginnings. It has been the scene of many important events in history and played an important role in the Civil Rights movement. The standards that were set - and set very high - when the school was first founded have not been lowered, and I know that I will get the quality of education that I am looking for if I attend a program there. While the University has had its share of struggles just like any institution, it is strong and healthy today and continues the important traditions on which it was founded. I would be honored to study there and to be a part of that University and that community.

Second, as for my choice of programs at Howard, dental hygiene has been my passion for a long time and it brings me a lot of joy. It is beautiful to see people smiling, and so many of them avoid doing so because their teeth are not as nice looking as they want them to be. When I see these people I am not offended like many other people in the population. Instead, I find that I have a strong desire to help these people because I feel as though their lives would be much improved if they were able to smile. Too many people hide something that comes naturally when they are joyous due to being self-conscious, and the media strengthens these individuals' belief that they cannot be attractive if their teeth are not perfect. While working as a dental hygienist would not allow me to modify these peoples' teeth, it would allow me to care for them and keep them clean, which would give both myself and my patients something that we were able to smile about.

It would also help me to encourage these people to have work done on their teeth if they are not happy with their current smile. Having a professional to talk to is very important, and a dentist can sometimes be extremely busy and not as available for consultation without making a separate appointment and paying extra. A hygienist generally has a bit more time to talk to patients, and while I would be limited in my duties and my ability to advise patients, I would not be limited in my joy and my encouragement of them. Everyone has a passion for something and I certainly understand those who do not see the fascination with dental hygiene as a career. Not everyone has a desire to stick their hands into people's mouths every day. However, I feel that my calling is to make people want to smile, and this is something that I can do for many of them as a hygienist. There are others ways to try to accomplish the goal of making people smile, but dental hygiene is one of the most direct.