Of all the knowledge and skills I have acquired during my university studies, it is the experience I have gained as a researcher and dental assistant that will contribute most to my career as a dentist dentist. While a strong scientific background is essential to succeed in dental school, my unique combination of personal motivation, social skills, perseverance, and desire to help those in need will allow me to excel in this profession. To appreciate the characteristics that set me apart from other students pursuing similar goals, it is necessary to understand how I got to where I am today. At the age of 17 I moved to Florida after finishing high school in Nicaragua. Even though it was my first time living abroad and on my own, I found the transition exciting. I made an action plan to realize my dream of becoming a dentist and the first step was to overcome the language barrier by learning English. I enrolled in the Intensive English Institute at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL, where I spent the spring semester of 2009. In the fall of that year,...