"Delay of gratification"

[ramseszerg]

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I think a big part of why people work is to be part of society and contribute to it. Now going into medicine or dentistry needs at least 5 more years of training compared to people who get jobs right out of university, and it's kind of like you can't even BEGIN your contribution/helping/finding your place in society until you are done the long years of training. Anyone else have this motivation problem?

 

[tizom]

no. being a dentist is more difficult and you need to be much more prepared than somebody who is jumping in a cubicle behind a computer. plus you are dealing with somebody's health which brings in tons of other reasons why we need to be more prepared

 

[newyorkblork]

For me the motivation problem comes more in the form of, "I probably won't be seeing a real paycheck for another five years, while my friends will have gone through several raises and promotions".

Then I talk to my friends about their work, and am promptly reminded about why I would much rather be working towards dentistry than I would be striving to make a corporate position work for me. With the possible exception of a career in publishing.

Also, if my shadowing taught me anything, it's that the potential community benefits of working in dentistry far outweigh any of the delays. Simple comparison: compare your average starting desk job to a hands-on healthcare job. It's difficult to say which contributes "more" since "societal contribution" is a difficult parameter, but who will actually feel like they're doing something for society on a day-to-day basis?

It's delayed gratification, but not a motivation problem for me.

 

[ramseszerg]

I know intellectually that I want to do the 5 more years of delayed gratifications, I know the benefits and why I want to do it. But just sometimes, emotionally, I feel like I've happily delayed gratification for myself all this time starting with not getting high and getting good grades way back when, and I've reached the limit of just how much I can delay. Just sometimes.

 

[Stephie3]

the above poster is right. it's easy to say and think, but hard emotionally sometimes.

at the end of this month, one girl i know that is my age is getting married to this one great guy....and i'll be entering dental school boyfriendless, husbandless, technically homeless, and pretty much moneyless. plus...i'm moving to a new city so i really don't even have more than a friend in my new city yet.

so the next time a patient complains about you making too much money.....

 

[newyorkblork]

I know intellectually that I want to do the 5 more years of delayed gratifications, I know the benefits and why I want to do it. But just sometimes, emotionally, I feel like I've happily delayed gratification for myself all this time starting with not getting high and getting good grades way back when, and I've reached the limit of just how much I can delay. Just sometimes.

Oh. Well, this seems to be a pretty far cry from your original post of helping or contributing to society, and closer to my complaint that my friends are making money already. In which case, yes, I'll agree, sometimes I do feel bad that I didn't get a business or tech or finance degree, and make bank straight out of college. Delayed gratification on par with "not getting high and getting good grades" really isn't the same as delayed gratification from not contributing to society 😛

 

[bennijai]

I think it's exciting, another 4-5 years to solidify your career and future isn't that bad. Imagine all the experiences and people you will meet in dental school. =)

 

[cybermech]

Speaking to the original point posed in this post, I wonder if the majority of people do what they with a "greater societal contribution" in mind. When I talk to my friends, some of whom are working right out of college and some of whom are going to grad school, it's pretty much understood that we're doing what we're doing because we like a certain subject, want to make money, or simply have nothing else better to do.

The idea of a society contribution is nice though.

 

[sketo43]

If you haven't entered dental school yet, it might be beneficial to take a year or 2 and just work, and see what it's like to look at a computer screen all day every day, doing work you don't care about, knowing that even if you finish your work early, you'll still have to stay there and act busy. Since you're not the boss, the bureaucracy will make decisions you don't like but have to comply with. Promotions and firings are often based more on politics than merit. As a dentist, you can make a difference in people's lives on a daily basis and be a part of your community, you can set the office policies however you want, and the amount of money you make depends on your skills as a dentist and as a businessperson. And you can work as many or as few hours as you want.

Like other posters said, maintaining motivation is easier said than done, but working in an office job for a few years helped me - it motivated me to work really hard in my postbac, and now I'm ready to bust my butt in dental school.

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

I understand all of the posters above. The encouraging thing is that you are not alone. I also have friends who have graduated same year as me and found jobs/carriers that they like (in computer technology mostly). Sometimes it is quite sad that so many of my friends are already set for life with a career but I still have at least 4 years to go. But every pre-professional student has to go through that: it is an investment not only of money, but of time, effort, and emotions for the better of your future life. Knowing what awaits you during dental school and after graduation is what makes me feel better.

 

[karrotcake]

i like this thread. 🙂

 

[Chrono]

If you haven't entered dental school yet, it might be beneficial to take a year or 2 and just work, and see what it's like to look at a computer screen all day every day, doing work you don't care about, knowing that even if you finish your work early, you'll still have to stay there and act busy. Since you're not the boss, the bureaucracy will make decisions you don't like but have to comply with. Promotions and firings are often based more on politics than merit. As a dentist, you can make a difference in people's lives on a daily basis and be a part of your community, you can set the office policies however you want, and the amount of money you make depends on your skills as a dentist and as a businessperson. And you can work as many or as few hours as you want.

Like other posters said, maintaining motivation is easier said than done, but working in an office job for a few years helped me - it motivated me to work really hard in my postbac, and now I'm ready to bust my butt in dental school.

Very true. It's one thing that I love about dentistry - the ability to do things how I want. No one orders me or tells ME what to do. I'm the boss. I have worked throughout undergrad and worked various jobs and my "boss" was usually a total idiot and less educated than me.

 

[DLC9647]

This is an interesting thread with some great points. I think the most mature posts are the ones by individuals who have seen the real world and are making informed the decisions. I think the most immature posts are ones from individuals who haven't seen the real world yet. I agree with whoever said go work and/or see the world first. Posts that indicate the only other option is sitting in a cubicle staring at a computer are misleading. There is a whole world of great careers out there....dentistry is certainly one of them but not the only one. I have friends who started business' and are thrilled with their contribution to the world and psyched to go to work each day. Just one example. I think dentistry is ideal for the hands-on nature but I won't be so close-minded as to think everyone else is just sitting in a cubicle watching a clock...that attitude give dentists are bad name and pre-dents a worse name. Just like those who think dentists spend their whole lives in a dentists' office seems pretty boring...not fair.

My roomate from college went straight to dental school....I thought at the time it was kind of a boring career choice. Now I think it's great and want to do it.....now he wonder's what it's like to something else because he never will....and he's done with his residency and in private practice...the promise land...and yet feels he's stuck doing this (and only this) until "the end".....I've had another profession that was great but not a long term option, seen the world, decided what was important to me...I can't imagine having become a dentist a age 25 and doing one thing for 40 years.

Just an observation, I'm a non-traditional student taking pre-reqs and considering going back to school........my point is: I would be very short sighted and naive if I thought I knew all of the world's options when I was a college student and hadn't seen the world yet. Just an old dude's observation. Keep an open mind while in college and respect other's choices.....lot's of people of making awesome contributions to the world.

Great post and great points by all.

 

[newyorkblork]

If you haven't entered dental school yet, it might be beneficial to take a year or 2 and just work, and see what it's like to look at a computer screen all day every day, doing work you don't care about, knowing that even if you finish your work early, you'll still have to stay there and act busy. Since you're not the boss, the bureaucracy will make decisions you don't like but have to comply with. Promotions and firings are often based more on politics than merit. As a dentist, you can make a difference in people's lives on a daily basis and be a part of your community, you can set the office policies however you want, and the amount of money you make depends on your skills as a dentist and as a businessperson. And you can work as many or as few hours as you want.

Like other posters said, maintaining motivation is easier said than done, but working in an office job for a few years helped me - it motivated me to work really hard in my postbac, and now I'm ready to bust my butt in dental school.

To be perfectly honest, all it took for me was about 15 hours of sitting in a cubicle while people gossiped all around me, waiting for remotely meaningful work to do, and trying to get a paragraph typed into standard English before sending it through 4 different parties who wanted it worded slightly differently before rerouting it to me, to realize that a whole lot of jobs can suck.

Encourages entrepreneurial spirit, fulfills desire to work in healthcare, and allows me to see results based on my own skills? I'm there, I'm 150% freaking there.

 

[beeho]

the above poster is right. it's easy to say and think, but hard emotionally sometimes.

at the end of this month, one girl i know that is my age is getting married to this one great guy....and i'll be entering dental school boyfriendless, husbandless, technically homeless, and pretty much moneyless. plus...i'm moving to a new city so i really don't even have more than a friend in my new city yet.

so the next time a patient complains about you making too much money.....

hey, steph, i'm available! 😀

back on topic: i understand how it can be emotionally difficult to justify the time and investment that can only pay off many years later. it's good to have positive and supportive people around you to keep you on your feet. also, i love to watch comedy materials when i'm feeling down. picks me right up!

 

[setdoc7]

the above poster is right. it's easy to say and think, but hard emotionally sometimes.

at the end of this month, one girl i know that is my age is getting married to this one great guy....and i'll be entering dental school boyfriendless, husbandless, technically homeless, and pretty much moneyless. plus...i'm moving to a new city so i really don't even have more than a friend in my new city yet.

so the next time a patient complains about you making too much money.....

I have never read anything so to the point like this on SDN before.

Dentistry is a great career for those who like to march to the beat of their own drum and avoid the corporate marching band. I have worked in other fields (music production, film and television) over the years that I have been a dentist, as I was always thinking there was something more. In the end, dentistry has been the best decision I have ever made.