Terell Reed '22 Recruiting Profile

I had never felt a sense of passion until I picked up my first tennis racket. The intensity of the game and my constant drive to practice at any free moment have motivated me to continue playing since my first match. During this time, I also began to take an interest in healthcare after watching my mother, a physical therapist, work enthusiastically with each of her patients during their rehabilitation. I knew from an early age that I wanted to work in a profession that combined science and patient care. After an informal internship in Dr. B’s office, I knew I had found a career that was not only exciting and variable, but one that would challenge me on a daily basis while allowing me to play the role of both a teacher and a healer. I had finally discovered something that would fill me with the same energy and emotion that tennis did.

 One aspect of tennis that fascinates me is how each player can learn from the other throughout a match. I have noticed a similar dynamic between the patient and doctor during my time volunteering. While the dentist is teaching her patients how to better care for their teeth, she is also gleaning important life lessons from each patient. When volunteering with the North Carolina Mission of Mercy clinics, I not only learned the proper way to suction and the differences between dental burs, but also that people can be very brave when faced with their worst fears. While volunteering, I discovered both the procedure of an extraction and the sacrifices that many patients make in order to receive basic dental care. I have always appreciated that dentistry will give me the opportunity to help guide an individual towards a healthier body and lifestyle, but I have become even more intrigued after realizing the impact each patient can have on a dentist.

            Whether it be watching film before a game or running an extra mile during practice, every athlete must be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. As a pre-dental student, I have spent years with a variety of organizations and dental clinics to become well-acquainted with the expectations and hardships of a career in dentistry. While observing the amount of precision and detail Dr. T used when shaping a crown, I came to find that dentistry is both scientific and artistic. This is particularly inspiring for me as I enjoy spending free time painting and have found myself utilizing the same techniques that a dentist would to illustrate the shadow behind a tree or the curve of a face in a piece of work. 

During my time volunteering with Give Kids a Smile, it became clear a dentist must work well with diverse personalities. Because of this, each day at the dentist’s office is unique and poses its own set of challenges. While working at Cabarrus Health Alliance, I learned that practicing in a public health setting not only meant caring for each individual patient, but also treating the community as a whole. Through each of these experiences, I have built a solid foundation for a career in dentistry and I know that what I have learned over the years will help shape me into a more efficient and effective practitioner.  

  When I began playing tennis, one of the hardest skills to learn was my serve; however, if I missed my first serve, I had a moment to clear my mind and refocus for a second try. In many ways, my college experience was very similar because I was fortunate to have a second opportunity to demonstrate my competence with the sciences. Although I initially had a difficult time adjusting to the rigor of undergraduate science courses, I was eventually able to identify the proper study methods that worked best for me. I gained the skill to retain large amounts of information and my 3.8  grade point average in my advanced Biology courses attested to this. After excelling in a series of upper-level science courses, I am prepared for the rigor of dental school and the continuous education that comes with a career in dentistry. 

   Since the beginning of high school, dentistry has been a career that has captured my attention and is a profession I have spent countless hours researching and exploring. I strongly believe that my background and intellect will allow me to make a significant difference in the evolving world of dentistry and I am excited to become a part of it. Like my experience with tennis, I know that dentistry will be a life-long passion that will both inspire and challenge me each and every day.