Maintain a Passion For Your Profession
It’s difficult to believe that 2015 is already half over. I’m sure your days have been filled with family activities and work responsibilities. But have you done anything lately to enhance your personal and professional growth?
It’s difficult to believe that 2015 is already half over. I’m sure your days have been filled with family activities and work responsibilities. But have you done anything lately to enhance your personal and professional growth? In the January issue, my editor’s note, “Your Year of Self-Mentorship,” encouraged you to make 2015 the year of focusing on your professional development—and now that the first half of the year has passed, I’m checking in to evaluate your progress.
The dental hygiene profession is rapidly evolving. Our roles are becoming vastly different than what they were just a few years ago. The future will bring many more changes, and some will be dramatic. You will be prepared if you think like an entrepreneur and invest in yourself. You are your best asset! And while you may be very conscientious about upgrading your instruments, using the best personal protective equipment, and honing your clinical skills, it means little if you don’t maintain a passion for your profession. It’s vital to remain open to new possibilities and roles. This openness originates from self-mentoring.
As I was researching this column, I performed a Web search for resources on self-mentoring. Nothing specific to dental hygiene came up, but I did find a useful site geared toward the teaching profession. Self-Mentoring™ (selfmentoring.net) grew from a need for education professionals to be more proactive in their professional development. While reading about this program, I found many similarities to dental hygiene professionals and the need to self-motivate. Taking charge of our growth necessitates being self-aware and charting our course for success. As the website states: “A self-mentor is an achiever willing to take the initiative while accepting responsibility for his/her own development by devoting time to navigate within the culture of his/her environment in order to make the most of opportunity to strengthen competencies needed to enhance job performance and career progression.” I think this is wholly appropriate for dental hygiene.
So consider this a check-up of your professional health. You are in charge of your future, so identify your passion and do what’s needed to reach your goals. There are still 6 months left in 2015. Make them count!
— Jill Rethman, RDH, BA
Editor in Chief
jrethman@belmontpublications.com
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. June 2015;13(6):10.
