Alex Jeon '19

Name: Alex Jeon

Graduation Year: 2019

Major: Biology

Your Story: 

I came to Gustavus with the plan of pursuing a career in the health field, but
did not have one particular area I felt was my life path. Many peers around me
seemed to have a laser determination to get into medical, dental, or optometry
school, but I simply did not. In short, I felt the pressure to pick a path without having
any true interest in it. So I spent first year taking all of the introductory science
courses and decided I needed to expose myself to some of the possible career paths.
In the end, I chose to shadow my dentist who had been patient and kind to my
family ever since we had immigrated to the U.S. and who I felt could offer genuine
insights into dentistry as a possible career path.

Shadowing my dentist was ultimately the catalyst for my pursuit of a career
in dentistry. I had the opportunity to learn not only the physical work of a dentist,
but the social and business side of dentistry, as well as a better understanding of the
diverse population of patients that dentists get to meet day to day. With piqued
interest, I explored further through the January Interim Pre-Dental Career Exploration program at Gustavus and gained more insight. With the combined exposure of dentistry I gained from
shadowing, the Summer Health Professions Education Program, close friendships
with my fellow pre-dentistry classmates, and talking with a variety of dentists, I
finally felt I had found a career I truly wanted to pursue.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)

1. G Sharp A Cappella

2. Three Years as a Collegiate Fellow

3. Gustavus Choir

4. Summer Health Professions Education Program

5. The Gustauvs January Interim Pre-Dental Career Exploration at four different sites

Advice:

1. Shadow. I personally believe that no one knows if they are, or will be, passionate
about something unless they expose themselves to it and go out and experience it.
Therefore, shadow as many dentists as you feel necessary to get a full
understanding of what dentistry is.

2. There is no cookie-cutter dentist (or in this case a pre-dentistry student). Be
yourself, and experience things that you want to experience. Do not force yourself to
go volunteer or do research if it is not something that will add true value and
lessons learned to your life. Most importantly, do not do something just because
everyone else is or because someone told you it was good for your resumé. Go out
and find things for yourself and determine whether those opportunities are right for
you.

3. Use your resources. Talk to Heather Banks. She has helped tons of people get into medical, dental, and
whatever other health related school there is to apply to and she has experience and
knowledge about good opportunities and ways to equip yourself for applying to
schools. Although I ended up getting into dental school regardless, I do feel that I
should have utilized her help a lot more than I did; it probably would have made my
life a bit more relaxed.

Future Plans: I will be matriculating into my first year of dental school at Loma
Linda University School of Dentistry this August, 2019. My long term plan is to open
up a practice someday and find fulfillment in serving the underserved and those
who face barriers to care, such as recent immigrant families.