You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.

-Gatorade

I've done my fair share of wanting to throw in the towel, particularly in the last few weeks. When I started Dental School, they told us there would be at least a time or two that we wondered what the heck we were doing there, what we had gotten ourselves into, or whether we had really made the right choice. I swore I would never wonder any of those things and that this was exactly where I was supposed to be and I would be just fine. THEN, 2 weeks ago happened. I failed a practical on account of one DEF on one of 13 criteria for a Gold Onlay Prep. There was an undercut in my box (not gonna lie I still to this day have yet to find where it was...). I was 1 of 44 people that failed so I swallowed my anger and frustration and just said "oh well, it was my time." The prof swears everyone fails at least one in dental school and he's prob right. I needed to pay my dues. So I was doing okay. Frustrated, but not throwing in the towel.

Then Wednesday came. Wednesdays are denture day ALL day and they are always really rough. This one- BEYOND ROUGH. Or patient ended up finally going into a position we had previously registered as something else. While this was not entirely our fault (3 different doctors missed her class II skeletal relationship- NOT just a rookie mistake on our part), it resulted in us essentially starting where we had been 2 weeks prior to that. and doing 3 weeks worth of work in less than 24 hours so that our denture could go to the lab on time (A BIG DEAL). So that was the day I called mom, started crying (I was stressed!) and basically questioned whether or not I could actually be a dentist. Poor Tommy thought someone had died when I walked in the door I think.

The denture went out on time. I did 4 near-perfect preps and passed the practical retake. I'm back on the court and I didn't throw in the towel, I just needed a water break (literally, water-works and all).

I also realize a few things. I learned more in 1 week than I had in probably all of summer semester. I know a handful of denture tricks I never would have learned had a I not had to basically redo the entire thing in a time crunch. I can make some killer gingival rolls in half the time thanks to Dr. Imp. I know how to window a trial base (technically not allowed in the class!) thanks to the maverick Dr. Eicholtz. And, I know I can pull stuff off in a panic. I also know I can fail a practical and be just fine.

I can also run 10 miles at an pace under 10 minutes a mile. Which means I am on target for my half marathon!

AND- Muddy Buddy is this Sunday. Things are looking up and Summer Semester is looking all downhill from here :). Good thing I didn't throw in that towel.

And heck, maybe now I have even more reasons to do pediatric dentistry- no onlays or dentures involved!!!

Next time you hit the rough patch, don't throw in the towel. Wipe that sweat and keep on going.

Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.
David Ogilvy

So I have been seriously slacking on the blog updates this summer. I guess between spending 15 hours+ a week in the lab working on projects for dentures, studying for other classes, running 25-30 miles a week, and "wedding planning" (read: looking on the knot for ideas but not ACTUALLY making any decisions) I lost track of the blog updates! So here are some updates in condensed form:

School: is less fun in the summer. I would rather be outside in the sun soaking up some rays, getting a tan, and synthesizing vitamin D instead of in the sim lab (read: dungeon) making a denture. There are several Wednesdays where I wonder how the heck ANYONE ever makes a denture in less than 8 weeks. Then I remember they have experience, assistants, and a lab to ship everything off to to be done. But our patient is wonderful, patient, and SO EXCITED to have teeth. & when she smiled with our trial denture in last week it made the entire frustrating morning of ripping out and moving teeth and replacing wax worth it. At least until the doctor made us redo the entire mandibular tooth arrangement (16 wonderful teeth) all over again in the afternoon. I'm starting to get used to doing things 4 or 5 times at this point...

I was also recently elected ASDA Vice President, and Vendor Fair Chair. I've never really been a sidelines, not involved person- apparently that hasn't changed! I will be organizing the vendor fair, learning the ins and outs of ASDA and attending various conferences throughout the year. I am VERY excited about all of it. ASDA is a wonderful way to learn about organized dentistry and I can't wait to be involved.

Running: Last Sunday we ran 9 miles! & this week, we dropped 2 minutes off of our 3 mile time. 2 whole minutes. It was awesome. 13.1 miles is seeming more and more possible. We had a rough week a few weeks ago where I wasn't feeling well and that made a 7 miler miserable, but I have since bounced back and the runs have gone well. Training isn't supposed to be easy, so a rough run every so often I can take in stride. We have also OFFICIALLY registered for the Lake County Half Marathon on September 4. YAY!

Wedding: I have begun looking into florists and music, as well as working on our wedding website! more to come there...

Life: Sarah Fred came this past weekend and we were off to Colie's lake house for the Princess Koronis Olympics and an epic weekend of reunited-ness. That will get its own post as it was EPIC. Then next weekend is Casey's bridal shower (the wedding is coming up fast!). I am so excited for her and can't wait to start celebrating! The weekend after that I am off to Carroll, Iowa for Abby and Tony's wedding weekend. I am SO excited for them and I can't wait to see my pi phi ladies! The second half of July involves Thriller at Miller and Muddy Buddy. It will be a busy, exciting and fun month with some tests and dentures mixed in! oh yay!

Family: I'm missing them like crazy. Kimmy got to go home last week and I was SO jealous. Matthew and I will be spending a week at home in August but that still seems so far away. Matthew is studying away for the CPA and takes test 2 of 4 next Tuesday. Still no results from the first test, but they should come in the next few weeks! Keeping our fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers. Pico is active and hilarious as ever. Last week he learned to climb the clothes drying rack we have. Instead of yelling at him I took pictures and sent them to my sister via BBM. Sometimes he's just too cute and funny to be upset at!

Well, more specific posts to come on various events, but this was the overview :). Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!