Throughout the Vancouver Island University Dental Hygiene Diploma Program professionalism has been something I have really had to continuously and still am perfecting. Professionalism to me is to demonstrate through continuous learning and the ongoing consistent integration of new knowledge and skills learnt into the clinical space and to make sure to do them appropriately. From the very beginning of the program, I have been challenged to explore each and every new concept, develop technical hands-on abilities, and apply evidence based learning into real clinical settings. Each course and clinical experience in this program at VIU build soon the next. It was constantly getting harder and harder and perfecting skills without even realizing it was grasped because you are already onto the next subject. The goal is to be a responsible dental hygienist and self reflecting in the profession as an oral health professional to the best of my abilities. This required adaptability, critical thinking, and commitment to growth. This ongoing process of learning and applying myself has strengthened my professional competence and prepared me to be a professional and provide ethical patient care.

I feel evidence-informed practice comes naturally to me, as it reflects how I already move through my life. I am a person who needs information to be supported, justified and backed up with evidence before I can trust it. I cannot make decisions based on habits, assumptions, or because "that's the way they have always been done". Because of this, integrating this into my practice in dental hygiene does not feel like a new skill, just an extension of how I already think. In dental hygiene clinics, combining current research, patient needs, and expertise needs to be done for efficacy and ethical reasons. I like this approach because it respects science and the patient as a whole person. For me, this makes patient education much easier and enjoyable. When I am confident that what I am saying is backed up, it is easier for me to educate and feel confidently supported. When I can explain without someone questioning because I am using factual information, it makes me feel less judged or pressured. It makes the conversation also feel collaborative rather than authoritative because it isn't opinion or judgment. This program has shown that it isn't about having all the answers right away, but knowing how to find them and keep an open mind to changes and new evidence emerging. Learning does not stop after graduation, and since dental hygiene is a self-regulated proffesion, this means it comes with responsibility to stay current, reflective as well as accountable. 

I love communication, but I also find it very challenging. I have a strong personality and naturally communicate in a direct and confident way. While this can be a strength, I have learned in this program that it can also be intimidating or overwhelming to others, especially in a group of strong, diverse personalities, like in dental hygiene. Learning how to adjust my communication style has been one of the most significant learning curves for me. Dental hygiene is self-regulated, which means there is not only one right approach to a situation. Early on, I struggled with this concept because I tend to challenge ideas and question decisions when something does not align with my original understanding. While this comes from curiosity as well as engagement, I learnt that effective communication needs more than just being right, it requires listening, empathy and adaptability. This growth has not been easy, but I value how much I have seen the growth in myself these past two years in this valuable area. I have been able to work with people I never expected to collaborate with, and by that, I have developed a deeper respect for all communication styles and their perspectives. In the clinic, communication is very important and more so when we're communicating with patients. I always try my best to communicate in an honest, approachable way. My goal is to make people comfortable asking questions and keeping it light. Through this program, I learnt communication is not about speaking or controlling the conversation, it is about connection. This realization is helping me grow every day as a student clinician and as a person. 

There is now a deeper meaning to collaboration for me after this program. Like communication, collaboration needs flexibility, respect, self-awareness and patience. Working closely with people from different backgrounds has taught me that collaboration isn't about agreeing on everything, but about working towards a shared goal. I must value each collaboration that comes my way, especially in dental hygiene, because it extends past classmates and instructors. It's about the patients as well and how they are an equal part of the care. One of my strongest values is that the relationships I create with my patients are balanced and genuine. I cannot see myself as being above my patients, partly because I am young, but also because I, too, was brushing wrong, not flossing, and had many cavities myself. I prefer a relaxed, casual approach that allows people to feel comfortable, heard and respected with me. This model encourages better compliance and trust, from my experience. Because of the unique experiences we as dental hygiene students get in the clinic, I have seen how collaboration makes relationships thrive. I like how we learn to involve our patients in the care we provide for their goals and treatment plan. Collaboration within the clinic team is in itself essential, with sterile bay, dentists, hygienists, assistants, receptionists, etc. We are truly a team and would not be able to do our job without a team. Learning to accept feedback, share responsibilities and support others has helped me grow immensely. Humility and openness are qualities that are just as important as technical skills. When I move forward in my career, I know that my ability to collaborate with others will continue to shape the quality of care I provide and all the relationships I will and have built. 

This is an area I feel naturally confident in. I love to be organized and stay on top of responsibilities, complete tasks, and check off my checklist. I think this is naturally from being an older sister and mother-like figure in my homestead. I like structure and planning as well as routine in my life. This has definitely helped me in my life and this program. However, I have also been challenged to slow down during my time at Vancouver Island University. I can tend to be rushed and controlling. But this has changed since appointments can take longer than expected, patients can arrive late, and treatment doesn't always go as planned. I have learnt to accept this and learnt that productivity doesn't always mean speed and that I need patience for my practice. Balancing this with flexibility is a key growth area for me; I am constantly adapting to unexpected changes. It is not about the time blocks and schedules, but problem-solving and communication under pressure. I think this kill will be great in my transition into professional practice, where all these things start to intersect. 

Education is also natural to me, I grew up with a ton of little sisters whom I have spent a long time teaching, explaining and guiding. Because of this, educating patients does feel familiar and also enjoyable. I like teaching and helping reinforce my own learning in the process. It allows me to connect with people in a meaningful way. Prevention and health promotion are the core of dental hygiene, and I value how much we can make an impact on long-term health goals. I love breaking down complex information into simple, relatable concepts with a little bit of humour because that is how I digest it. When things are relatable, it makes it feel meaningful; when patients understand why something matters, it makes it matter and allows them to actually follow through. Education doesn't have to be rigid and overwhelming; it can be fun, and this is an area where my belief that prevention is a powerful tool. Helping people is not something I really thought I was good at, but it aligns deeply with my values and strengthens my sense of purpose in the profession. 

This, to me, represents hands-on aspects of dental hygiene. This is where my heart lies. I love working with my hands, being in a profession where I can physically create, refine and apply skills in a really fulfilling way is great for me. This requires precision, patience, and attention to detail, whether fabricating some sort of appliance or performing a clinical procedure. I enjoy the balance of function and aesthetic. To me, it is satisfying knowing that something I created not only looks good but serves a purpose, especially when it comes to improving someone's health. The mechanical nature of dental hygiene keeps me engaged and motivated. I love that there is always room to improve my skills and refine techniques. Learning some of which and seeing my progress over time is so rewarding. I have extreme excitement when it comes to this aspect of dentistry. I appreciate lifelong learning. I hope to keep growing my skills and be a dental hygienist who is confident that I chose a profession that aligns with me, my strengths and interests. 

In conclusion, I have met the entry to practice competencies in each domain throughout my dental hygiene education at Vancouver Island University. From professionalism, evidence-informed practice, communication, collaboration, practice management, prevention/education/health promotion, and clinical therapy. As I conclude I can confidently say that through academic coursework and achieving not only the examples such as fabricating sports mouth guards and whitening trays, contributing to the enhancement of patient knowledge, skills, and oral self-care habits, coordinating patient appointments and clinical scheduling, developing relationships based on mutual trust, integrity, and respect, using electronic technologies appropriately and responsibly in clinical practice, approaching complex issues from multiple perspectives, and integrating new knowledge and skills into clinical practice.  

To me, entering the profession as a newly educated young adult means knowing that graduating is not the end of my learning, and I am in for a lifetime and career in learning. I will continue to apply and expand what I have learnt while I work in a professional setting. I feel prepared to provide care, and I recognize that mentorship and learning will shape me into the clinician I have always aspired to be. Not only is dental hygiene not just a job but a lifelong professional journey inspired by prevention, learning, relationships, and community connection. 

As for my next steps, transitioning into a workspace with independence, I would like to focus my continuing education in areas that align with my very broad special interest in working with children, business, indigenous communities, kinetic skills and aesthetics. I'm not entirely sure what this means for me yet, and that excites me. I also want to continue learning about the new technologies and hands-on creative aspects of dentistry and see how far we can go. 

Reflecting on the personal profile essay I submitted when I first applied to this program, it is so wholesome and makes me look back and see how much I have grown as a person. Starting as someone who was very young and naive from a small community, to now being able to be this professional figure. I even get shocked looking in the mirror to see who I have become, the experiences that have shaped me through this program, working with people I never expected to collaborate with and making such amazing lifelong friendships. I began this program completely unaware of how challenging and transformative this program would truly be to me. I had limited knowledge of dentistry compared to now, and my expectations for the career field were narrow; now I realize how great a door I opened for myself. I have now learnt how to communicate more effectively, accept feedback, collaborate with diverse personalities and understand my patients and be a part of their health journey. I have been motivated to strive to be the greatest I can be and even higher with my new perspectives. 

My view of the dental profession has evolved. I understand the hard work and love that go into being a dental hygienist. I have firsthand seen the social, cultural, and economic factors that affect oral health and why our care matters. We have gotten to get a real taste and diversity by doing health promotion projects, and it is really eye-opening from a public health perspective. 

Emotionally, since reaching the point of completing this program and my long, almost 5+ years journey to becoming a dental hygienist, I feel so many overwhelming emotions. I have felt a ton of self-doubt, stress, and many tears cried yet somehow I have made it. It all feels worth it, and a part of me is already sad it is over despite begging for it for years straight. I know I am going to look back and laugh at all the times I have cried and felt like I wasn't going to get through it, and that makes me really happy to be at the finish line when it finally feels practical to say that. I hope that other people, specifically my little sisters looking up to me, can learn something from this reflection and know that whatever you want you can have it, and with all the bad energy out there and bad days that will pass you get to feel how truly relieving it is to wake up one day and you are getting ready for your graduation pictures afterall. Overall, I feel proud of myself, relieved and excited to be pursuing a professional path that lets me give back to communities like the one I come from and serve as a role model for my younger sisters and other young indigenous women considering healthcare careers. 

Finally, this program is hard, but wow, is it profoundly rewarding. I hope everyone has the opportunity to experience reaching a hard-earned goal and, if nothing else, find the inspiration and strength to simply keep going despite the challenges and feelings along the way.