As I get older, I see how life takes us places. Time passes and opportunities arise and it is up to us to recognize them for what they are. I have not known my entire life that I wanted to be a dentist; however, in retrospect, I can say that everything in my life has led me to dentistry.



My father is a Jack-of-all-trades and uniquely a master of most. I have learned many lessons and skills while working with him. As a teenager, before I could go with my friends, I had to work with him. I remember wiring a neighbor's home for electricity, roofing my Uncle's home, and framing walls for our home. I learned how to change our car's oil and repair most minor car problems. By helping the neighbors I learned that people need a break now and then, and I should help if I can. Building my Uncle's roof wasn't my first choice on how to spend a weekend as a teenager, but I learned that family comes first. It was easier to have a dealership fix our cars, but I learned that I could solve problems by myself. I have always worked, knowing that if I wanted more I had to earn it. Working gave me confidence at a young age to pursue different areas in life.



High school was confidence and character building. I was encouraged to embrace opportunities. I held leadership positions, including Student Body President, every year; solidifying intrapersonal skills and confidence in others and myself. This confidence allowed me to sing in choirs, act on stage, and play tennis and football.



At age seventeen, my parents allowed me to live with my brother where we had the opportunity to foster a young man from a broken home; this, in itself, proved to me an immense opportunity for growth. At age nineteen I served as a missionary and ambassador for my church in Thailand. These two years were rich in culture and life and I often tell people it was ten years of experience and relationships rolled into two. I learned to speak Thai fluently and cook as they do, which proved difficult but very rewarding. The Thais embrace so much that I took for granted. They taught me many of the most lasting lessons of my life: gratitude, sacrifice, selflessness, perseverance, and a desire to serve the less fortunate. Thailand will constantly be a part of me. I hope to have the opportunity to help the underserved hill-tribes in northern Thailand by providing free oral education and treatment.



Upon returning from Thailand I began pursuing my love of music at university. I realized after my wedding the financial considerations that needed to be addressed. Soon, I found a niche in personal finance where I successfully managed a company branch for three years. Management came naturally and I was offered a position in Arizona with a larger firm. Eventually I came to a crossroads in my life. The firm's expectations and goals were not congruent with the standards I had spent my entire life building. Unhappy with what I foresaw in my distant future, with a never-ending pursuit of other people's goals and expectations, I stood back and reevaluated my wife's and my situation. Stability, family, and time to build life-long dreams; these were missing in my life. I needed a career that would advance my entrepreneurial spirit and give me time to serve others.



My older brother and I have always been close and our lives have emulated each others in many ways. Years ago he also found himself at a crossroads. I recall discussing his similar desires for stability and achieving life dreams. I admire the enthusiasm and satisfaction my brother, now a dentist, and others I know receive from dentistry.

Because of life experience and the examples of my father, my brother and others I am where I am today. I have finished my bachelor's degree which has given me the opportunity to take extra upper division science courses. I now have a true passion for the sciences.



Walt Disney once said, "...there are [no] heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true. This can be summarized in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy; and the greatest of these is Confidence." I am confident that given the chance, my work ethic and willingness to sacrifice will help me become a great dentist. I am a man of faith, integrity, and unwavering commitment to family and friends. I know that nothing in this world comes without hard work and sacrifice, of which I am willing to put forth.