Tania Bhinder, Class of ‘19
Bachelor in Dental Surgery, Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences at University College Cork
It’s been a while since GIS and I am in my 4th year of dental school now.I can hardly believe next year I will be a full dentist. Since last year we have been able to see our own patients and actually manage their treatment. Somehow I managed to do some fillings. Recently we had our clinical pledge ceremony where we kind of had to recite this altered version of the Hippocratic oath.
Who or what inspired you to choose your selected field of study?
Personally I really loved the healthcare field since I was young, I always wanted to be some kind of doctor. As time passed , I started doing research and shadowing different people and the world of dentistry really stuck out to me. The way art and science mix in this career is beautiful and I knew this is the perfect balance for someone like me, plus restoring someone’s smile is one of the best and most rewarding feelings in the world.
What are some skills that you have developed at GIS, and did it help you in your life after GIS? If so, how did it help?
GIS really helped to push me out of my comfort zone in the sense that I was involved in a lot of activities that I would normally not gravitate to. Being organised was one of the main skills, in my opinion, and we always had tons of workshops and CCAs that would help us sort out all the many things we had going on and make a plan. This skill has served me immensely in dental school, and I know it will carry me through the rest of my professional career. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
What advice would you give to the current GIS students who are interested in similar career choices?
Most importantly I would say don’t give up on what subject or degree you really want to pursue. With fields in healthcare especially it can seem impossible to get a place on the course sometimes but anything can be done with perseverance.If you want it work for it. Make sure to keep an open mind and reach out to your teachers and seniors as we are always willing to help!
Which subject did you enjoy most at GIS? Did it help solidify your interest in taking up Dentistry?
My favourite subject had to be biology. The content of the syllabus was vast and there were some really interesting topics but it is my teachers Ms Taylor and Ms Davies that taught us the curriculum so well, making sure we understood and engaged in the content. They gave me that extra push to keep moving forward. I would say that studying the subject made me more well aware of what pursuing third level education would be like in a science degree so it did help me move forward with that.
What is your fondest memory of your time at GIS?
It would definitely be the last week of Y13 where we all got to dress up with different themes every single day and plan a whole host of pranks to play on our teachers.The emotions going around were a mix of excitement but also sadness at the same time as we were coming to the end of our school years.
If you were to sum up your time as a student in GIS in 3 words, what would that be?
Supportive, Enjoyable, Engaging
If you would like to thank a few people, who would that be?
I would love to thank Dr Browning who was always there for me during my tough dental school application journey and also to my previous Biology teachers Ms Taylor and Ms Davies who really inspired my love for learning.
Thank you Tania for taking the time and sharing your experiences and journey with us. If you would like to feature as part of our ‘#GIS Alumni Around the World’, just get in touch with us: alumni@gardenschool.edu.my. Because every story matters. Connect with us on social media via Facebook and LinkedIn or if you would like to read another article via the Global Alumni Website. If you haven’t become our registered member yet, please do so via this link.