Kayla Hanninen '14

Name: Kayla Hanninen

Graduating Class: Class of 2014

Major: Biology

Your Story:

My name is Kayla Hanninen and I am a senior at Gustavus Adolphus. I grew up about an hour away from Gustavus in Chaska, Minnesota.

I chose Gustavus because of the strong reputation of the science program had as well as how close to home it was. I was also attracted to how small the school was, and the obvious sense of community that exists here.

My interest in pre-dental started when I was a very young girl. My mother has been an office manager at a dental office for 25 years and she would bring me to work with her and the dentist would take me around to all the patients and let me watch. I began working at the dental office at 16, filing papers and sterilizing instruments. The dentist took me under his wing and really showed me what running a practice was about, both with the patients and in the business side of things.

My most influential experience at Gustavus confirming pre-dental path was my internship at the dental office where I work. I was able to spend more time just watching the dentist interact with the patients and work on their teeth. It was a chance for me to really see what his day consisted of and it confirmed that that is what I would love to spend my life doing.

Top Five Activities/Experiences:

1. Pre-dental club

2. Big partner little partner

3. My sorority- Theta Xi Gamma

4. January Interim Career Exploration

5. Volunteering in the St. Peter community

Advice:

Try to think of three things....you wish you would have know or would encourage others to do....

1. I would try to get experience in the dental field in whatever way you can, whether that be working in a dental office, volunteering in one, or shadowing. There are also many mission trips that focus on dental health that can be very worthwhile to check out.

2. Research is a good way to get a hands on feel for science and problem solving. It helped me to gain an appreciation for being innovative which I will keep with me through my potential dental career.

3. Try not to worry about the little things too much, look at the big picture and do what makes you happy.

Future Plans:

I will be entering Midwestern University Dental School in the Fall of 2014.

Updated 4/14/2014 JMV