Why do we sacrifice the best years of our lives?

[Doctor Thriller]

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Don't get me wrong? I am sure I will enjoy my life after dental school is over, but in the mean time this **** sucks. I just graduated in 09 from undergrad and am in my first year of dental school currently, yet I look at my buddies from college who have real world jobs (i.e., investment bankers and engineers) and they are having the time of their lives in the best years of our lives (your younger and mid 20's). I would love to travel to Vegas or different countries with them while we are not married, planning on popping out babies with the significant other, yet I do not have the time because my whole life is dedicated to the field of dentistry. When I graduate dental school I will be 27, which is relatively young, and I feel like with society expects is for me to plan on or be married while I am 1) paying back dental school debt, 2) trying to finally establish my career, 3) trying to catch up on the fun I didn't have while I was in dental school. Maybe I'm being a bit immature and love the single lifestyle too much right now; however, the only people who seem to enjoy dental school are my collegues that are married or in serious relationships. I feel your first two years of dental school should be all about you and correct me if I am wrong but a guy has needs so what do you do? Go out when you know you should be studying and just settle for B's and C's or stick it out and look at the long term goal that we have busted are ass for since freshmen in undergrad? Do your last two years really offer you more time to do more stuff that you really enjoy doing? Maybe it's true what they say, "more than 50% of students in medical and dental school are depressed" and that why I am writing on a blog right now looking for answers.

 

[DrReo]

Don't get me wrong? I am sure I will enjoy my life after dental school is over, but in the mean time this **** sucks. I just graduated in 09 from undergrad and am in my first year of dental school currently, yet I look at my buddies from college who have real world jobs (i.e., investment bankers and engineers) and they are having the time of their lives in the best years of our lives (your younger and mid 20's). I would love to travel to Vegas or different countries with them while we are not married, planning on popping out babies with the significant other, yet I do not have the time because my whole life is dedicated to the field of dentistry. When I graduate dental school I will be 27, which is relatively young, and I feel like with society expects is for me to plan on or be married while I am 1) paying back dental school debt, 2) trying to finally establish my career, 3) trying to catch up on the fun I didn't have while I was in dental school. Maybe I'm being a bit immature and love the single lifestyle too much right now; however, the only people who seem to enjoy dental school are my collegues that are married or in serious relationships. I feel your first two years of dental school should be all about you and correct me if I am wrong but a guy has needs so what do you do? Go out when you know you should be studying and just settle for B's and C's or stick it out and look at the long term goal that we have busted are ass for since freshmen in undergrad? Do your last two years really offer you more time to do more stuff that you really enjoy doing? Maybe it's true what they say, "more than 50% of students in medical and dental school are depressed" and that why I am writing on a blog right now looking for answers.

Just relax. Sure everyone makes their real life jobs exciting. Would you rather set sail your 20's or make sure you do something the rest of your life that you enjoy.

You can sure go to Vegas. It isn't like all your working lads are hoping on planes constantly. They have jobs to work and commitments. There are breaks in dental school...

The last years are clinically based. So all the time you've invested start to pay off as you realized you do not know much about dentistry.

The attitude the first 2 years are all about yourself will get you in trouble real soon.

You can go out and not settle for grades. It's all about time management. Once you adapt to the amount material, you will figure this out. There is an equilibrium between fun and studying. Find what works for you and marks that will make you satisfied.

 

[ML86]

i'm pretty depressed all the time, and this is my 3rd year (beginning). been chronically depressed and suicidal since my first week. i don't know why i'm still here.

 

[8 SNAKE]

Your investment banking friends are flying around the country having the time of their lives? The newly minted investment bankers that I'm aware of fresh out of school barely have time to sleep.

 

[yappy]

l

 

[Stroszeck]

WOW. this is the FIRST thread/post ive ever read on these forums that absolutely hit home with me. The problem is that most of us weren't born into any kind of wealth or anything like that so we have to hustle and work hard to "make something of ourselves." But the problem is that we ultimately do lose out on a lot. My friends who didn't do anything past high school or college are all married, have kids, have decent paying, relatively low stress jobs and a bulk of them invest in various industries and do ok. Here i am running around working my A off for years and years and bouncing around like a headless chicken, kissing butt, trying to do something and i just feel like the best years of our lives, namely our 20s are gone. Sure one day i'll be able to drive a really nice car etc but whtas the price i paid for it, you know? I'll end up being like one of those ridiculous old white hair guys you see rolling in ferraris and corvettes, dating inappropriately younger women to make up for all the bs and to prove to themselves "yeah, see, it was worth it!". Kinda depressing thought....

 

[Doctor Thriller]

WOW. this is the FIRST thread/post ive ever read on these forums that absolutely hit home with me. The problem is that most of us weren't born into any kind of wealth or anything like that so we have to hustle and work hard to "make something of ourselves." But the problem is that we ultimately do lose out on a lot. My friends who didn't do anything past high school or college are all married, have kids, have decent paying, relatively low stress jobs and a bulk of them invest in various industries and do ok. Here i am running around working my A off for years and years and bouncing around like a headless chicken, kissing butt, trying to do something and i just feel like the best years of our lives, namely our 20s are gone. Sure one day i'll be able to drive a really nice car etc but whtas the price i paid for it, you know? I'll end up being like one of those ridiculous old white hair guys you see rolling in ferraris and corvettes, dating inappropriately younger women to make up for all the bs and to prove to themselves "yeah, see, it was worth it!". Kinda depressing thought....

Hit the nail on the head. I've been up since 4:30 getting my last bit of studying for a biochem exam, morph id practical, and radiology midterm today. I'm sure the "real world" people our age have never done that a day in there lives and probably won't. You are thinkin glike me, outside of the "ethical, straight A, patient first" type dental student. What about my time?

 

[OceanDMD]

I used to be an engineer, my brother is an engineer, my dad is an engineer, now I am a dentist. Way better job and lifestyle. Your 30s will be just as fun as your 20s could have been.

 

[Daurang]

I used to be an engineer, my brother is an engineer, my dad is an engineer, now I am a dentist. Way better job and lifestyle. Your 30s will be just as fun as your 20s could have been.

TRUE. I was an engineering student then switched to dental school halfway; and hated dental school even when I think about it today. I tell everyone just to look at dental school as a four years jail term and just serve your time. The reward is you're able to enjoy your 30's and retire in your 40's.

 

[DrReo]

TRUE. I was an engineering student then switched to dental school halfway; and hated dental school even when I think about it today. I tell everyone just to look at dental school as a four years jail term and just serve your time. The reward is you're able to enjoy your 30's and retire in your 40's.

Is this while driving your 911 Porsche and living in your 6,500 sq ft house? 😀

I thought I read on DT that 3% can retire by the age of 65. 👍

 

[oralcare123]

Why do you need strait A's? Study to become a good dentist, not to have good mark's and you will have life. Plan it, like married people do, if you spend that much time studying. And , if you are male- do not marry in your 20's, have fun first

 

[loveboatdoc]

i'm pretty depressed all the time, and this is my 3rd year (beginning). been chronically depressed and suicidal since my first week. i don't know why i'm still here.

Please reach out for support/help. Dentists and physicians have very high suicide rates. If nothing else, call the suicide hotline.

Google depression support/chat, and you'll see there are many out there with similar feelings.

Even if it means leaving dentistry (if it's making you miserable), don't become a statistic.

 

[Streetwolf]

It's only 2, maybe 3 years tops of hell... and you don't even lose your social life during all of it.

4th year is pretty awesome so far.

Chill out guys haha. If you make lots of friends in school you'll survive with little to no problems.

 

[youknowthedrill]

Yes, it may seem like your dating and married friends have it easy, but they don't. By the time you're 35, some of them will be divorced and visiting their kids on the weekends. The others will be fighting over money and wishing they would have gone to dental school. We have a friend who is a network engineer and he's been laid off 3 times in 5 years. He has 3 kids and a wife who stays home. Talk about a stressful life! Another friend runs his family's retail business and hasn't drawn a paycheck in over a year. They are having trouble conceiving a child, but they can't afford fertility treatments.
You don't have to be the most intelligent one in the class, just stay focused and finish the race. You chose an awesome field. You can make great money and work reasonable hours.

What do you have to look forward to down the road? You'll find the right one soon enough, get married and have a family (if that's what you want). You may struggle financially for a couple of years, but if you maintain a modest lifestyle, you will pay off your debt and have a great life. My husband has been out of school for 7 years. We bought a modest house and drove our old cars. We moved up (quite a bit) in house and just paid it off. We live in a great community, have lots of friends, and two wonderful children. We struggled for many years, but the payoff finally came.

Don't get me wrong? I am sure I will enjoy my life after dental school is over, but in the mean time this **** sucks. I just graduated in 09 from undergrad and am in my first year of dental school currently, yet I look at my buddies from college who have real world jobs (i.e., investment bankers and engineers) and they are having the time of their lives in the best years of our lives (your younger and mid 20's). I would love to travel to Vegas or different countries with them while we are not married, planning on popping out babies with the significant other, yet I do not have the time because my whole life is dedicated to the field of dentistry. When I graduate dental school I will be 27, which is relatively young, and I feel like with society expects is for me to plan on or be married while I am 1) paying back dental school debt, 2) trying to finally establish my career, 3) trying to catch up on the fun I didn't have while I was in dental school. Maybe I'm being a bit immature and love the single lifestyle too much right now; however, the only people who seem to enjoy dental school are my collegues that are married or in serious relationships. I feel your first two years of dental school should be all about you and correct me if I am wrong but a guy has needs so what do you do? Go out when you know you should be studying and just settle for B's and C's or stick it out and look at the long term goal that we have busted are ass for since freshmen in undergrad? Do your last two years really offer you more time to do more stuff that you really enjoy doing? Maybe it's true what they say, "more than 50% of students in medical and dental school are depressed" and that why I am writing on a blog right now looking for answers.

 

[yappy]

Dont know if this fits into the topic perfectly... but its on a simular thread. For those in dentistry right now... is it realistic that if you have been working for five years and own your own practice you could be earning $150k/yr in general practice? I love assisting in dentistry where I volunteer but I really have no idea how much they make. 150 is what a stat said - but sounded really high (relitive to the jobs i've worked before deciding to persue dentistry).

thanks

 

[TwentyTwelve]

You know what really sucks?? Being 23, sitting in a gray cubicle and staring at a computer screen all day while occasionally being interrupted by an unreasonable boss just because he likes to hear himself talk. Ive been there, done that in the 'real world' and now im a pre-dent looking forward to the rigors of dental school. Why? Because I would rather hate two years of my life rather than the next forty, because I don't want to fear losing my job, house, family trust, etc. every economic cycle. Because I can be my own boss, create my own hours, work any place in the country, help others, use my hands, and make my 30's my 20's.

I get what you are saying and most likely when I get into dental school and begin my first year I will wonder why I starting this journey, why I left my good paying, benefit laden sit on my ass all day 8-5 job. However every pre-dent, and dental student needs to keep their head up and chug along because the grass is greener on the other side. And truthfully, from experience, there are not many professions out there that you can say that about. I honestly think dentistry is reverse from what most people feel about school/the real work practice. I loved school, but hated my job/profession. I know there will be times I hate dental school, but I will love the profession...

Good luck...

 

[8 SNAKE]

Hit the nail on the head. I've been up since 4:30 getting my last bit of studying for a biochem exam, morph id practical, and radiology midterm today. I'm sure the "real world" people our age have never done that a day in there lives and probably won't. You are thinkin glike me, outside of the "ethical, straight A, patient first" type dental student. What about my time?

I'll be blunt - you don't know jack about the real world yet and you're too immature to know what you don't know. You have managed to position yourself incredibly well in life and, assuming you actually like dentistry, will probably end up the envy of the people you are jealous of right now. Half of them would probably even trade places with you today if they had the opportunity.

Go tell a new parent that you got up at 4:30 this morning to study for an exam. See how much sympathy you get. Your 20s are a fine time, but if they're the highlight of your life I will feel tremendously disappointed for you. I really hope that you're just blowing off steam, because otherwise I'm afraid that the real world is going to punch you square in the mouth one day.

 

[8 SNAKE]

Dont know if this fits into the topic perfectly... but its on a simular thread. For those in dentistry right now... is it realistic that if you have been working for five years and own your own practice you could be earning $150k/yr in general practice? I love assisting in dentistry where I volunteer but I really have no idea how much they make. 150 is what a stat said - but sounded really high (relitive to the jobs i've worked before deciding to persue dentistry).

thanks

Those figures sound a bit on the conservative side to me.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

The grass always looks greener on the other side. You look at the friends of yours having fun now, but it could quickly end. In the end, you will have a very good, very stable, very profitable career which will allow you to retire much earlier than your friends. So, 4 years of buckling down now can pay you back many more years of fun later on in life.

Who says these years are the best of your lives? I will have to say, I loved my early to mid 20's - I believe the years you are in right now. I had lots of fun. I traveled a lot. I skied a lot. I got introduced to riding crotch rockets. I was an adrenaline junkie. Back then, I thought that was the life.

Then a few years later, I met my wife. I thought our early years of marriage were great even with the separation we had to endure due to me being in the military and she being in pharmacy school. We still found time to have. Still, I look back at that time now and I don't believe that was the best time of my life at all either.

I am about to turn 38. To me, right now IS the best time of my life. I love my wife. I love the profession I am in. I was blessed with 2 beautiful babies 6 months ago. I have absolutely no time to do the things I once loved. I spend all my free time with my babies when they are awake and as much time as my wife and I can spare afterwards before she and I get to studying (dental school for me and my wife working on her MBA from U of Texas). I get little sleep because I need to take care of things around the house and needing to study. Right now, THIS IS the best time of my life!!!

Your perception of the life you lived at various times/stages in your life is what determines if it is or isn't the best years. Plus, the way you look at things will changes over the years. Things that once were important to you will not be so important later on in life. You will have a different set of criteria that will determine what are the best years of your life.

Don't worry about what others are doing. Worry about becoming a dentist at this point. You will get revenge on your friends later. Eventually, you will be able to take time off that your friends will not be able to do.

 

[Daurang]

Dont know if this fits into the topic perfectly... but its on a simular thread. For those in dentistry right now... is it realistic that if you have been working for five years and own your own practice you could be earning $150k/yr in general practice? I love assisting in dentistry where I volunteer but I really have no idea how much they make. 150 is what a stat said - but sounded really high (relitive to the jobs i've worked before deciding to persue dentistry).

thanks

$150K/yr is not high and not even worth it due to self employment taxes, huge student loan debts, huge practice debts, years of life sacrificed, and all the headaches of dealing with your own biz. After five years with your own practice you should be earning at least $250K.

 

[squeegeediver]

You know what really sucks?? Being 23, sitting in a gray cubicle and staring at a computer screen all day while occasionally being interrupted by an unreasonable boss just because he likes to hear himself talk. Ive been there, done that in the 'real world' and now im a pre-dent looking forward to the rigors of dental school. Why? Because I would rather hate two years of my life rather than the next forty, because I don't want to fear losing my job, house, family trust, etc. every economic cycle. Because I can be my own boss, create my own hours, work any place in the country, help others, use my hands, and make my 30's my 20's.

I get what you are saying and most likely when I get into dental school and begin my first year I will wonder why I starting this journey, why I left my good paying, benefit laden sit on my ass all day 8-5 job. However every pre-dent, and dental student needs to keep their head up and chug along because the grass is greener on the other side. And truthfully, from experience, there are not many professions out there that you can say that about. I honestly think dentistry is reverse from what most people feel about school/the real work practice. I loved school, but hated my job/profession. I know there will be times I hate dental school, but I will love the profession...

Good luck...

You took the words right out of my mouth. Very well-put. 🙂

 

[jay47]

Yes, I'm pre-dent, but I'm 38 and married to a physician. We got married before he started medical school, so I've been with him through the bad times and the good ones too. Yes, it may seem like your dating and married friends have it easy, but they don't. By the time you're 35, some of them will be divorced and visiting their kids on the weekends. The others will be fighting over money and wishing they would have gone to dental school. We have a friend who is a network engineer and he's been laid off 3 times in 5 years. He has 3 kids and a wife who stays home. Talk about a stressful life! Another friend runs his family's retail business and hasn't drawn a paycheck in over a year. They are having trouble conceiving a child, but they can't afford fertility treatments.

My husband described medical school as an endurance race. You don't have to be the most intelligent one in the class, just stay focused and finish the race. You chose an awesome field. You can make great money and work reasonable hours.

What do you have to look forward to down the road? You'll find the right one soon enough, get married and have a family (if that's what you want). You may struggle financially for a couple of years, but if you maintain a modest lifestyle, you will pay off your debt and have a great life. My husband has been out of school for 7 years. We bought a modest house and drove our old cars. We moved up (quite a bit) in house and just paid it off. We live in a great community, have lots of friends, and two wonderful children. We struggled for many years, but the payoff finally came.

Well said. Like a later post, the grass is always greener on the other side. My first year I was kinda crazy too- studied way too much, lost way too much sleep. This year, I've decided that I definitely don't want to specialize- I'm going to take it easier, try to always do my best, but I'm not going to get angry when I get a 92 instead of a 97. I have realized that I've got to make more time for myself, my wife, and my LIFE because as great as dentistry is- why do we do it to begin with? So we can have a stable, well paying, rewarding career and have time with our families (at least I did).

If you are having trouble getting through the first year- look at the big picture. I like to think of dental school as a hole. You have to dig deep, sometimes, really deep, to get to the gold (figuratively, not referring directly to money) to get what you want. But while your friends out of school sometimes strike it rich, most of them are just finding a few nuggets while you are still digging, but you are taking the sure fire route. You'll get to the gold at the bottom of the hole, and in the long run, it will be worth it.

 

[Nat426]

In a developmental psychology class I took we read a study that questioned people in the 80-90's and asked if they could relive any 10 year period of their lives, when would it be. I thought that was a no brainer that everyone would pick their 20's but the highest response (by far) was 50's. At this point most people are financially stable, all their kids are gone, and they still have their health. They have the money and freedom to do whatever they want. So the way I see it you have a long way to go before you hit the good times! Be willing to sacrifice while you are young so you don't have to when you are older.

 

[GTFOOMICT]

In a developmental psychology class I took we read a study that questioned people in the 80-90's and asked if they could relive any 10 year period of their lives, when would it be. I thought that was a no brainer that everyone would pick their 20's but the highest response (by far) was 50's. At this point most people are financially stable, all their kids are gone, and they still have their health. They have the money and freedom to do whatever they want. So the way I see it you have a long way to go before you hit the good times! Be willing to sacrifice while you are young so you don't have to when you are older.

Nice post. I believe it as well.

I actually believe dental school was not sacrifice at all, but was in fact the most selfish period in my life thus far. It was 100% about me, my education, my future. I benefited from it. No one else did.

I did a recent spam of my high school facebook page and friended about 200 of them (and quickly unfriended them when my survey was over) and a majority of them aren't doing anything with their lives. I went to a upper-middle class, majority college educated now, and still nothing.

This is not sacrifice to be in dental school, it's a privilege. Although that privilege feels like torture when you're in it....no doubt.

 

[gryffindor]

The lifestyle of your post-college-with-a-paycheck buddies does seem envious now. I know, I used to think like you too in dental school. But in my experience, now that I'm out, the tables have turned. I'm the one with no boss, takes off whenever I want, don't live in fear of being fired, works part-time if I feel like it, etc. Also, I don't know why you think you have to get married ASAP. Of my 6 guy friends from dental school who are all now in their early thirties, only one is married with a kid on the way. Some of the others are in relationships, but they all own their own practices and control their own futures. Maybe it's because we all live on the east or west coast? I found that the dental people I met from the middle of the country during residency were usually married by their mid-twenties and had a kid or two or three by their early thirties.

 

[newyorkblork]

Everything I said has been said by more experienced people. So I'm just bumping the post, since I think a lot of d-students have this concern.

 

[Doctor Thriller]

In a developmental psychology class I took we read a study that questioned people in the 80-90's and asked if they could relive any 10 year period of their lives, when would it be. I thought that was a no brainer that everyone would pick their 20's but the highest response (by far) was 50's. At this point most people are financially stable, all their kids are gone, and they still have their health. They have the money and freedom to do whatever they want. So the way I see it you have a long way to go before you hit the good times! Be willing to sacrifice while you are young so you don't have to when you are older.

This week is finally over. Great! I was blowing off a lot of steam when I intially posted this forum and didn't think I would would get so much feeback. Thank you to the dentist, dental student and pre-dental students who care enough.
About this statement. Obviously I'm in my early 20's and have not experienced my 50's, but I am just foreseeing that with wrinkley balls, having to pop a NO antagonist to get me hard, and if I do have kids being called a grandfather soon not the best years of my life.
Youth is something that all older folks want again; why you think the cosmetic medical and dental side has been seeing such an inclide since the turn of the century. It's hip to be young, healthy, good looking with no "procedure" to worry about and taking 15 different medications to feel normal. Gray hair or your hairline might just be magically disappearing so let's set up an appointment with a derm. Get out of here; I don't but that for a second.

 

[yappy]

Oh man Thriller. I'm no where near 50... I'm actully in my 20's like you but know enough that 50's doesnt have to be that way. A guy I see at the gym is in his 50's although he looks 30-40 & reps 225 on the bench press! Take care of your self now and you can still be healthy and youthful in your 50's - it doesnt have to be the way you described. I'm not there yet either, but I have a feeling grandkids will be more meaningful/fun than some of our shallow exploits now that define our "youth".

 

[AUtiger5]

Chug along my friend...I agree with the poster who said make a lot of friends. My classmates and their individual senses of humor get me through tough days.

 

[8 SNAKE]

About this statement. Obviously I'm in my early 20's and have not experienced my 50's, but I am just foreseeing that with wrinkley balls, having to pop a NO antagonist to get me hard, and if I do have kids being called a grandfather soon not the best years of my life.
Youth is something that all older folks want again; why you think the cosmetic medical and dental side has been seeing such an inclide since the turn of the century. It's hip to be young, healthy, good looking with no "procedure" to worry about and taking 15 different medications to feel normal. Gray hair or your hairline might just be magically disappearing so let's set up an appointment with a derm. Get out of here; I don't but that for a second.

You have a knack for projecting ignorance. Learn to hide it.

 

[Lethstang]

The chap named snake above hit te nail on the head. You don't have a realistic view on life yet. Your life isn't over after 30. The fact that you compare dentistry to an aggregate I banking:engineering shows how clueless you are (this is not meant to be mean, just illustrative). I banking is where the elite of ivy leagues work 100 hours a week to make a **** ton of cash and live the high life. Getting is not as simple as doing well in school and applying, like dentistry. And engineering? Please. It's your average white collar job.

Quit complaining about having to spend your youth in COLLEGE. You have one of the worst cases of grass is greener I've ever seen.

 

[New2Philly]

The chap named snake above hit te nail on the head. You don't have a realistic view on life yet. Your life isn't over after 30. The fact that you compare dentistry to an aggregate I banking:engineering shows how clueless you are (this is not meant to be mean, just illustrative). I banking is where the elite of ivy leagues work 100 hours a week to make a **** ton of cash and live the high life. Getting is not as simple as doing well in school and applying, like dentistry. And engineering? Please. It's your average white collar job.

Quit complaining about having to spend your youth in COLLEGE. You have one of the worst cases of grass is greener I've ever seen.

Maybe the OP should take a little time this weekend and read Candide. He has found the El Dorado, but can't appreciate it b/c they think that their 20's is the "best of all possible" ages.
A little lesson: When insolent words swell up in your throat, swallow them, and believe those who are older, and more successful then you.

 

[SeattleRDH]

Don't get me wrong? I am sure I will enjoy my life after dental school is over, but in the mean time this **** sucks. I just graduated in 09 from undergrad and am in my first year of dental school currently, yet I look at my buddies from college who have real world jobs (i.e., investment bankers and engineers) and they are having the time of their lives in the best years of our lives (your younger and mid 20's). I would love to travel to Vegas or different countries with them while we are not married, planning on popping out babies with the significant other, yet I do not have the time because my whole life is dedicated to the field of dentistry. When I graduate dental school I will be 27, which is relatively young, and I feel like with society expects is for me to plan on or be married while I am 1) paying back dental school debt, 2) trying to finally establish my career, 3) trying to catch up on the fun I didn't have while I was in dental school. Maybe I'm being a bit immature and love the single lifestyle too much right now; however, the only people who seem to enjoy dental school are my collegues that are married or in serious relationships. I feel your first two years of dental school should be all about you and correct me if I am wrong but a guy has needs so what do you do? Go out when you know you should be studying and just settle for B's and C's or stick it out and look at the long term goal that we have busted are ass for since freshmen in undergrad? Do your last two years really offer you more time to do more stuff that you really enjoy doing? Maybe it's true what they say, "more than 50% of students in medical and dental school are depressed" and that why I am writing on a blog right now looking for answers.

If only you could look back at it from ten years from now.

When I was in my 20's I did the whole money-burning-a-hole-in-my-pocket thing. My friends and I were single, hot, and going out every weekend. I have all these pictures of us at the hard rock in vegas, happy hour at the W, partying before (and after) Seahawks games... but when I look back at them I don't re-live the good times. They weren't really that great. After a while it's the same thing every weekend just a bunch of insecure kids trying to show off their cars, clothes, and alcohol tolerance.

You're not going to see it now (I didn't) but in ten years be thankful that you didn't waste a bunch of time and money doing stupid s***.

p.s. 30 is the new 20 (especially if you're a guy)

 

[Seahawk]

For me, "losing" 4 years of my life...To be able to work in a great job that has a ton of respect, job security, hugely flexible hours, and great pay...Is worth it.

What else would I be doing? I probably wouldn't be rolling in big enough bucks with a 4 year degree to be running around Vegas and Europe and buying a white picket fence house, having two cars, and some kids. With any financial security, that is.

 

[8 SNAKE]

You have one of the worst cases of grass is greener I've ever seen.

Or the whole thing is intentionally being done to get a rise out of people.

 

[gryffindor]

Or the whole thing is intentionally being done to get a rise out of people.

I don't doubt such mentalities exist. I've encountered many who think and act like the OP in dentistry and outside of it.

 

[Doctor Thriller]

I don't doubt such mentalities exist. I've encountered many who think and act like the OP in dentistry and outside of it.

I'm the OP. For you, snake and anyone else thinks I am that utterly insane or simply not all up there to give giggles to myself that is fine. I am still just curious to why people give up there youth to one day to go into a stable field (and that is a maybe and relative to what y'all consider a good paying job). Noone knows if dentistry will be the same as it is today 10 years from now; thus why not live for the moment and still have a respectable, well paying, less stress demanding job now to enjoy the present? So why don't you brain busters go cure cancer or be a psychiatrist if this is all you have to contribute to this forum.

 

[Seahawk]

You don't know where your "respectable, well paying, less stress" career will be in 10 years either.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I'm the OP. For you, snake and anyone else thinks I am that utterly insane or simply not all up there to give giggles to myself that is fine. I am still just curious to why people give up there youth to one day to go into a stable field (and that is a maybe and relative to what y'all consider a good paying job). Noone knows if dentistry will be the same as it is today 10 years from now; thus why not live for the moment and still have a respectable, well paying, less stress demanding job now to enjoy the present? So why don't you brain busters go cure cancer or be a psychiatrist if this is all you have to contribute to this forum.

dude, if you are this angry about giving up your youth, quit dental school now and reapply in your 30's or 40's. If you want to be a dentist, physician, pharmacist, professor, etc that requires an adcanced degree, then you have to make sacrifices with your life. People choose to give up a couple years of life to go into a profession that meets their life goals - whether that be a job they love, provide them with a nice income, give them prestige, etc. Most people know that you rarely get what you want without sacrificing something at some point. It is up to you to choose when YOU want to make the sacrifice for what you want. You are gonig to make a sacrifice one way or another - either by giving up a few years now to be a dentist in the end or give up a nice lifestyle in the meantime so you can have fun now like your friends.

Yes, we can tell you are in your 20s. We understand you don't want to have gray hair and wrinkled balls and be on Aviagra before you can have fun again. But I can tell you that you can have a lot of fun in your late 30s. Life 150 years ago - yes, you would be making a big sacrifice by giving up 4 years in your 20's since the average lifespan was less than 40 yrs of age. But now, with the average lifespan at 78 yrs or age, if you start d-school right out of undergrad, you still have 2/3 of your life to live on average after completing d-school.

As for me, I do not worry about age. I will be competing in my first Ironman Triathlon at the age of 39. I will be snow skiing until either my legs give out or I die. I will ride motorcycles as long as my stregth and coordination allow me to. Once school is over, I plan on getting certified in skydiving. YOU are the only one who decided when old is old. If you feel you are going to be decrepit in your 30's, well sucks to be you because you have no clue what lies ahead for you. You are going to be in your mid to late 20's when you are done with school. You will many, many, many great years ahead of you where you will be able to play hard, but with one thing your friends won't have - a job that you can control your hours and even somewhat control your income by what type of dentistry you desire to do.

STOP looking at them and concentrate on you. Otherwise, the time in d-school will completely suck for you. Nuff said!

 

[quillow]

You know what really sucks?? Being 23, sitting in a gray cubicle and staring at a computer screen all day while occasionally being interrupted by an unreasonable boss just because he likes to hear himself talk. Ive been there, done that in the 'real world' and now im a pre-dent looking forward to the rigors of dental school. Why? Because I would rather hate two years of my life rather than the next forty, because I don't want to fear losing my job, house, family trust, etc. every economic cycle. Because I can be my own boss, create my own hours, work any place in the country, help others, use my hands, and make my 30's my 20's.

That's exactly why I'm going back to school to pursue dentistry. Unless you've worked a "real world" job, you don't really know what it's like. Sure there are probably people out there living it up, but many, many people aren't. Have you seen the movie "Office Space"? Because a lot of jobs are like that... except it's not as funny when it's happening to you and you don't get to destroy the office fax machine. And now, with the crappy economy, companies are suspending 401k matches and pay raises. People are getting laid off or worrying about getting laid off. As a dentist, you could become your own boss. Yeah, you might have to cut back on things as the economy goes down, but you'll still be in charge and you'll probably still have a job. And as your own boss, you won't have to be on the receiving end of any stupid performance reviews! 😛

 

[yappy]

If the OP is serious... what privileged times we live in our country that someone can be upset about attending school, a professional program, in fear they wont get to vacation as much (as other people) for a short period of time in their life.
It's attitudes like this that make me wish we had mandatory military service - maybe it would add perspective?

 

[gryffindor]

I'm the OP. For you, snake and anyone else thinks I am that utterly insane or simply not all up there to give giggles to myself that is fine. I am still just curious to why people give up there youth to one day to go into a stable field (and that is a maybe and relative to what y'all consider a good paying job). Noone knows if dentistry will be the same as it is today 10 years from now; thus why not live for the moment and still have a respectable, well paying, less stress demanding job now to enjoy the present? So why don't you brain busters go cure cancer or be a psychiatrist if this is all you have to contribute to this forum.

Um, reread what I wrote. I was simply acknowledging that many people exist with your line of thinking. I used to feel the same way in dental school and I meet people on a regular basis who still think that life is only good in your twenties and life is absolutely over if you get married.

And I don't think I gave up too much of my youth. I finished dental school at 24, so I consider myself lucky to get out and have the gift of time to allow me to enjoy life and set up my career.

 

[Seahawk]

If the OP is serious... what privileged times we live in our country that someone can be upset about attending school, a professional program, in fear they wont get to vacation as much (as other people) for a short period of time in their life.

Forgetting you said anything about mandatory military service (which is stupid with the amount of people who actively serve and the amount of people who would cost more and cause more problems than they would help).


....
👍👍

 

[8 SNAKE]

I'm the OP. For you, snake and anyone else thinks I am that utterly insane or simply not all up there to give giggles to myself that is fine. I am still just curious to why people give up there youth to one day to go into a stable field (and that is a maybe and relative to what y'all consider a good paying job). Noone knows if dentistry will be the same as it is today 10 years from now; thus why not live for the moment and still have a respectable, well paying, less stress demanding job now to enjoy the present? So why don't you brain busters go cure cancer or be a psychiatrist if this is all you have to contribute to this forum.

No one said that you were insane or stupid. You're clearly immature and have some massive chip on your shoulder, though. I'm sorry that you didn't get a trust fund so that you could live it up in your 20s, but that's life. Now you have to decide how you want to spend your time, because you will not get one minute of it back.

Why are you in dental school???

 

[yappy]

k

 

[huk1985]

Dental school is hell...

 

[Lethstang]

during my interview yesterday they asked why i thought they should pick me over other candidates. i told them ive seen my competition, and if theyre getting in they would need to come up with a fantastic reason why I wouldnt get accepted.

pertinent to the thread? thats for you fine gentlemen to decide.

this is my keepin it real post for the month, dont hate.

 

[fishyfishy]

during my interview yesterday they asked why i thought they should pick me over other candidates. i told them ive seen my competition, and if theyre getting in they would need to come up with a fantastic reason why I wouldnt get accepted.

Surprise, surprise, cockiness is not a trait that dental schools look for in applicants. Good luck next round. You don't know a single thing that a dental student has to go through, and from reading SDN posts, you think you can compare yourself? GTFO.

As for the OP:

You are right, there are people out there living better lives than us. Its not fair. Sorry, but thats life. Is it fair that talentless girls with rich families make 100K/episode of an MTV "reality show?" No. Is it fair that people born with strong bodies and coordination get paid millions/yr to play a made-up game called football or basketball? No.

Is it fair that you were born with the genetics to be intelligent and dexterous enough to pursue a career in dentistry? No! Not for the hundreds or thousands that wish they were in your place.

You play the cards given to you. Just be happy knowing your cards are already better than 99.99999% of the population of the world.

This is what other people mean when they point out that you are being immature and insecure. You feel the need to compare to other people to make yourself feel better about your decisions. This is going to prove very dangerous in the future, as well. Is it fair that a GP with a 2.9 GPA has a practice grossing 1million, while you spent 3 more years to specialize and can't cross 800K? No, but that's because you are a cocky specialist who can't get referrals or doesn't know how to run a business.

Are we getting older in school? YES. Are we "wasting our youth?" FAR FROM IT. I would call wasting your youth screwing around with random girls and blacking out from drinking binges in Vegas (I know, I'm a nontrad applicant). Everyone gets old, you will have PLENTY of fun in your 30's.

 

[8 SNAKE]

Everyone gets old, you will have PLENTY of fun in your 30's.

Excellent post, fishy. The only bit that I'd modify is the last sentence that I quoted above. The OP will have the opportunity to have PLENTY of fun in his 30s. Whether he chooses to enjoy the ride or not remains to be seen.

 

[OceanDMD]

during my interview yesterday they asked why i thought they should pick me over other candidates. i told them ive seen my competition, and if theyre getting in they would need to come up with a fantastic reason why I wouldnt get accepted.

pertinent to the thread? thats for you fine gentlemen to decide.

this is my keepin it real post for the month, dont hate.

Really? I mean, really? Are you kidding me? Keep it real there dog.