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Jessica Udovich prepares for her next passion: dental hygiene // 9.26.19

By Washington Huskies

September 26^th, 2019

Growing up, my best friend’s dad was my dentist. I grew up always knowing my dream job was as a dental hygienist but having that dream isn’t enough to prepare you for a career. What made dental hygiene for me was soccer.

This past spring I graduated the University of Washington and wouldn’t have changed my path for the world. This school has been amazing to me and has not only challenged me but has taught me how to be a great student. These past four years now running into my fifth, I have learned how to problem solve, how to be a team collaborator, how to manage my time, and many more great qualities that a dental hygienist requires.

My soccer career was different then most. I came in as a freshman who was determined to make a difference, to make the All-Pac-12 First Team, and to play every minute of every game. This dream came crashing down when I tore my ACL a month into the season. This crushed me. I remember thinking “what now, what is my identity if soccer is gone for the next nine months as I recover?” All I could think about was getting back onto that field. That year taught me what hard work really is, how communication with teammates and relationship building is everything, and how time management is a skill.

As a dental hygienist, how you work as a team is very important and without communication, the office would fall apart. There isn’t much time between each patient so being diligent with your time as you finish with one patient and prepare for the next is very important.

Coming into my sophomore year ready as ever, I tore the same ACL exactly a year after the first. My dreams of being better than before gone AGAIN! This time, I thought to myself “I did it once, I can do it again.” This year taught me how to be resilient, how to work under stress, and how to find the positives in everything. In dental hygiene, not every patient is going to love going to the dentist as much as I did, so by finding a way to make it a positive experience for each patient is very important. I think by balancing school, soccer, and a social life has given me an advantage in handling stressful situations, and in a dental office this can be a useful trait.

When people ask why I want to become a dental hygienist I tell them I love the idea of helping and educating people. I love working with others towards a common goal, and I want all my patients to love coming to the dentist and to never dread it.

My senior year came around and you wouldn’t believe it, I tore my other ACL at the same time in the season as two years before. I left that field saying goodbye to soccer forever. After surgery I asked myself: if you have worked for 18 years of your life for one thing and you had one more chance to do that thing one last time, would you do it? My answer was easy: of course I would. As I rehabbed not knowing if I would come back fully and play or not, I had so much time to prepare and adjust to my next chapter in my life. As my time as a soccer player comes to an end, I cannot wait to put all of my commitment, dedication, energy, and heart into my next passion, dental hygiene.