Back to School: Reflections and Hopes for the Future
As students fill the halls of 124 Edward St., LouAnn Visconti 8T8 recounts her memories of heading back to school while Vivan An, class of 2T2 shares her hopes for her final year in the DDS program.
LouAnn Visconti, Class of 8T8
This time every year, as the days get shorter, the air just a little cooler, and the trees already starting to don their fall colours, brings me back to my memories of going back to school.
The first day of my undergraduate program at the University of Toronto in 1981, was an eventful one! In my first lecture, the chemistry professor asked who in the lecture hall wanted medicine and who wanted dentistry; most put their hands up for medicine and only a handful of us for dentistry.
Three years and much determination later, filled with both nervousness and anticipation on a September morning, I set foot for the first time into the hallowed halls of 124 Edward Street as a first-year dental student. I can still remember that first week, the great care that Dr. Ann Dale demonstrated in mixing laboratory stone, and I remember thinking at the time, “What is all this fuss about mixing stone and water together?”
Other memories that I will always cherish include: drinking copious amounts of coffee with my classmates in the Druxy’s Delicatessen across the street from the Faculty, when we would stay late while catching up on denture setups in Lab 4; Oktoberfest bus trips to Kitchener, Waterloo; the first dental anesthesia lab on a Friday afternoon in second year, where we learned to give nerve blocks on our partners and watched the effects of epinephrine on my colleagues’ ability to imbibe in one of countless TGIF events; Mrs. Chomyn’s ever-present smile in clinic, which always ensured that everything was going to be okay even if the restoration that you were doing had just become an endo; and Mrs. Jancen’s assistance when you just could not get the bite quite right on that denture!
The rigour of the program, the bonding with my classmates, support from my instructors and much hard work put me on the path of a truly great career in dentistry. From that first chemistry class in undergrad, I knew dentistry was my calling. I wish the best to the incoming class as you embark on your first days of school. You have made a great choice choosing dentistry as a profession, and also choosing U of T.
I have cherished my journey and reflecting back, realize how far I have come, how much further I still wish to go and I treasure the memories I’ll have for my lifetime.
Vivian An, Class of 2T2
As I begin to write this, I reminisce on all the wonderful memories and experiences I’ve had thus far as a student at U of T Dentistry. It has been an eventful three years to say the least and I am undeniably looking forward to my fourth and final year. Prior to COVID, my friends and I would hang out often after school and on the weekends. We would plan game nights, nights out on the town, brunches, and even trips around the world! You wouldn’t be wrong by assuming that I spent much of my free time socializing at events or with friends. In fact, it’s through the support of my amazing schoolmates that I’m getting through one of the most difficult professional programs in the world.
I imagine, with COVID still rearing its ugly head, that this will continue to be the case this year. It’s difficult not to mention COVID with how greatly it has affected us as individuals, as students, and as a profession. Luckily, we have a new satellite clinic being constructed specifically to increase student learning opportunities and our ability to provide the best care possible for our patients.
Being involved in student council, committees, and the wide variety of student-led initiatives that occur each year has always been an integral part of my school experience. Unfortunately, the last couple of years have been difficult and the graduating years missed out on their Senior Formal. But with a light at the end of the tunnel, I was inspired to take on the role of VP Student Life Internal and Formal Committee Representative in hopes of planning many events for our final year and graduating not with a fizzle, but with a bang!
With a mix of nerves and anticipation, as a senior student I am most looking forward to both being a mentor to our DDS3 student partners and absorbing as much knowledge as possible before walking down the daunting, yet exciting path of my professional career. Despite many difficulties, I truly do believe we have come out much more resilient and connected and I hope this year brings all of us more success and happiness.