“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference.”
-Robert Frost

Why did you take up BDS? If this question is asked the most common answer is “I did not get MBBS and could only manage the BDS seat.” There are few who take BDS due to their parents’ wish or pressure– either one of them is a dentist or they are eager that their child must somehow have a prefix “Dr.” before his/her name! Very few are the exotic breed who took dentistry because they loved it. Well, what category do you belong to?
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After 4 years of “drilling”, finally during internship, the “student doctors” are suddenly exposed to the realities of clinical practice! When the “student doctor” steps out of the college as a real doctor, he/she has diminished confidence and is severely affected with “what-to-do-next” syndrome; ironically the best student is the worst affected. All these cannot be changed!

The crucial decision as to what to do and what not to do, now rests on the shoulders of the “doctor”. There is little time for the fresh dentist to search for options, because a load of exams, opinions, opportunities and of course criticism meets him/her straight on the face even before the next step could be thought of. So this series of articles are with a view to help you in that crucial decision making process.
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The Golden Rule in career planning-“Take Counsel, but make your own Decision.”

When we spend so much time planning our week end, doesn’t our life and career deserve some quality time for making a choice? Many fail to realize that and just carry on without the least idea what they intend to do-“flow-with-the-current” attitude. That might not always work. If it fails we end up at the starting point again and must start over again! I’d rather say we must take time to choose what we need to become! That doesn’t mean rigid unchanging path. It rather means that flexible and firm ideas must be rooted in our minds before we proceed to jump into the “career-cart”! Remember that we are running a marathon race– slow, deliberate and quite loooooooong! We must keep the tempo high and going in spite of some set backs, which might plague us.

Career is not an MCQ-no choice is correct or wrong nevertheless it has a definite answer-unique for every individual. Here is choice maker itself is the key setter!

So let the series of articles that will follow help you in finding out where your interests lie, choosing what suits you best and pursuing them…….I plan to include detailslike economic considerations, safety and security issues, satisfaction, prospects and the possible troubles and difficulties while discussing each option.

The articles are at best the North Star- your steering guide, and only you must captain your career!
Always remember that we

“…….. have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
-Robert Frost

Au revoir!