Hello, my name is Sam
My time in Oregon changed my life forever. I spent all of my time learning and teaching the principles of my religion, providing service to those in need, and teaching other missionaries.
More than half of the two years that I spent on my mission I was assigned to train new missionaries on the missionary schedule, mission policies and procedures, and developing their teaching abilities. I also served as a district leader over groups of 8-12 missionaries. This involved various duties like information gathering, teaching, and serving as an example to other missionaries.
I spent a year as the service chair and a year as the vice president. I spent my time establishing our web presence at dental.byu.edu and streamlining our membership process. During my time, we experienced growth over 100%, and we had activities planned nearly every month so students could learn more about dental school. Several of our activities were focused on the application process and DAT preparation courses.
New Student Oreientation was one of my favorite activities at BYU! I got to serve as an NSO leader three times during my time there. Each time involved approximately 10-20 hours of service over a single weekend. The goal was to introduce students to BYU and familiarize them with the campus and history. I also liked to share my own tidbits of information that I had learned from my years there.
I loved new student orientation at BYU, so I decided to do the same thing at Midwestern! I spent seven hours leading high school students around the midwestern campus. We visited the dental sim lab, optometry lab, and patient simulation center. It was a fantastic experience to see students in high school interested in medical school and to be able to share my experiences with them.
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The H.O.M.E. program stands for Health Outreach through Medicine and Education. I spent time at CASS (Central Arizona Shelter Services) giving Intraoral and Extraoral examinations under the supervision of an experienced dentist. I learned so much about myself and that I love using my new-found skills to benefit my community.
Give Kids a Smile is a yearly program ran by the Midwestern Dental Clinic. We volunteered from around 7 AM to 2PM helping children and parents get to the proper operatory and provide a general sense of excitement to be there. This program offers free dental care for underserved patients and is a critical link in the net to take care of children that may never see a dentist otherwise. I was proud to participate and I look forward to doing this every year of dental school.
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Includes visual interpretation of apertures, view recognition, angle discrimination, paper folding, cube counting, and 3D form developmentIncludes mathemiatical problems in Algebra (equations and expressions, inequalities, exponential notation, absolute value, ratios and proportions, and graphical analysis), Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Sufficiency, Quantitative Comparison, and Probability and StatisticsThe Reading Comprehension Test contains three reading passages on various scientific topics. Prior understanding of the science topics is not a prerequisite to answering the test items. The reading passages require the ability to read, comprehend, and thoroughly analyze basic scientific information.Includes Cell and Molecular Biology, Biological organization and relationship to major taxa, structure and function of systems (Integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, immunological, digestive, respiratory, urinary, nervous/senses, endocrine, reproductive, integrated relationships), developmental biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, and behaviorIncludes stoichiometry and general concepts, gases, liquids and solids, solutions, acids and bases, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics and thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, oxidation-reduction reactions, atomic and molecular structure, periodic properties, nuclear reactions, and laboratory techniques.Includes mechanisms, chemical and physical properties of molecules, stereochemistry (structure evaluation), nomenclature, individual reactions of the major functional groups and combinations of reactions to synthesize compounds, acid-base chemistry, aromatics, and bonding. |
The HPSP scholarship is an extremely competitive program designed to provide medical professionals to the military in exchange for tuition and living expenses while in dental school. For me, this program was more than just a simple exchange. It was generations in the making.
Walter Max Young (1917-1974) joined the Army as an enlisted man to work on the Panama Canal. He was a man of firm resolve, saying "Dear God...I dont ask for any easy place in the lineup, place me anywhere you need me. I only ask for the stuff to give you one hundred percent of what I've got."
After getting married less than two months earlier, he joined the air force. He loved his family, and did everything possible to provide for them. Both of my grandfather's examples heavily influenced my mind as I prepared for dental school and seriously considered applying for the HPSP scholarship.
During the time when I was preparing to take the DAT, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to apply. On a late night after my test prep course, I made first contact with Omar Hernandez, a man that I would get to know over the next two years.
My first application was for the 4-year scholarship, which covers 100% of all dental school costs and living expenses. I have been fortunate to know many great men and women who did me the honor of recommending me for the scholarship. On May 9th I drove to Las Vegas, NV to stay with my uncle and his family. On the morning of the 11th, I went to Nellis Air Force Base to be interviewed by the clinic director there. The interview went well, with the man interviewing me saying that he had high hopes for me to get the scholarship. I drove back to Provo, UT just in time to get back to class!
After 6 months of paperwork, interviews, more paperwork and a physical exam, Omar called. I was not selected. I didn't know what to do, but I knew that there was no harm in continuing in the direction I was going. I decided to apply for the 4 year Navy HPSP scholarship. More paperwork, more interviews, everything over again. I had it, I knew it.
I filled out my paperwork in record time, collected letters of recommendation and completed the interview in half the time it took me last time. I also felt like a fool because I would have had a guaranteed navy scholarship if I would have started my application at the same time that I started my first Air Force application. Nevertheless, I went into the phone call with my recruiter with optimism. Another blow. I was not been accepted. Again.
I wanted this. By this time, I knew I didn't even just want it for the huge financial gains it offered. I wanted this because I now knew what my grandfathers knew: America and the freedom it offers is worth protecting. I want to do my part to defend my country and serve my God. So, I went to interview on this day for the 3-year scholarship. One year less of financial backing, but I would still be getting what I really wanted.
Omar called again. I got it. That was it. a year and a half of work culminated in one phone call. I will join the US Air Force as a Captain and a Dentist!
I took my oath, and I am now an official member of the United States Air Force. I look forward to what the future brings, and I will never forget the lessons that the past two years have taught me: Work hard, persevere, define your own future, and above all trust God. He knows where I should be.
