Seeking and Finding Inspiration In My Classmates

My name is Shruthi Srinivasan, and I am the ISP-1 ASDA representative. When I was asked to write a blog post about myself for the Colorado ASDA, I came up empty. Was I expected to write about my path as an international dentist, the challenges I faced, or my journey so-far at the University of Colorado? Did I want this post to be a mere reflection of my accomplishments or setbacks? Somewhere amidst my musings, I had a spark of an idea. The last few months have been a whirlwind of didactics, labs and clinics, interspersed with emotional highs-and-lows, self-doubt and anxiety. At the same time, I have had the opportunity to silently observe my classmates, learn from them and be amazed at their accomplishments. I am the kind of person who resorts to ‘seeking inspiration’ when faced with challenges. This post is intended to celebrate the insanely gifted ISP Class of 2022, who inspire me to be a better human, classmate and a dentist.

If you are a prospective dental student, feverishly searching for ‘diversity statement’ ideas on the internet, look no further. Let me tell you some stories. Delving a little into my background, I came to the United States right out of dental school in India. I had just turned 24, moved to a new city with no family around me, and consistently sported a ‘deer-caught-in-headlights’ expression. All I wanted to do was sit in a classroom, listen to lectures and learn how to prep a crown. Dramatically enough, I felt like I bore the burden of the world on my shoulders. Fast forward a couple of years, I now sit in a classroom with people who owned practices, were specialists and even served as faculty in their home countries! They left everything behind to start here at ground-zero. A truly humbling and inspiring experience, I cannot help but be amazed by their resilience, courage and passion for the field.

The rigors of dental school life are plenty, but on days you feel dejected or overwhelmed, just look around you. You will be surprised by what you learn and from whom. We recently started clinical rotations, and I was slightly perturbed by what it entailed. While I mulled over what I could be doing, a bunch of friends piqued my curiosity. I watched them plan out every step of the procedure, every minor detail (including where shimstock is found) was charted in different colors, and contingency plans drawn for unexpected failures! I could never plan so well, but it set me on the path for better preparedness.

In my non-exhaustive list of inspirations, families play a pivotal role too. I know of people who live so far from their families, the duration of the flight they take home is as long as the breaks we get. But at the same time, I also know of families who moved half-way across earth showcasing their support. Last month, I watched a classmate virtually plan the birthday of her child who lived on another continent. And recently during lunchtime, I watched a classmate eat and plan her child’s school routine a thousand miles away. It is important to realize that there is so much thought behind every action. If these humans don’t inspire you, who will?

Finally, on days you feel very proud of your accomplishments, give yourself a pat. You deserve it more than anyone else. But if your feet start hovering a few feet above ground, just look around you. Someone around you probably played in the Olympics, auctioned their art or just wrote a book. Remember that if you wish to inspire someone, the first step is to always be inspired.