TO BE EXCELLENT AT WHAT YOU DO YOU MUST LOVE WHAT YOU DO
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in unexpected ways. In an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, many schools across the country closed before spring break and will remain closed through the end of the school year. While teachers and administrators work hard to make sure students maintain their academic progress through online education, cutting the school year short has meant that many high school seniors are being robbed of the traditions and rites of passage that come with senior year. In the face of illness and growing unemployment, not being able to walk across a stage to collect a diploma can sound like a trivial matter to some adults. But if you’re the parent of a high school senior, it’s important to acknowledge what your student has lost. The graduation ceremony, prom, senior skip day, and even that last school lunch with friends are all wonderful life events that many students look forward to for years. Along with this loss, they are grappling with an uncertain future. So how can parents help their children cope with this grief? Start by asking them what they need. As a parent, you may feel the impulse to “fix” the situation with a backyard family prom or a graduation ceremony via Zoom, but now is not the time for surprises. Your child is working through loss, and everyone grieves in different ways. Bethany Raab, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in treating adolescents, advises parents to open the door for conversation but not to force the subject. SENIOR YEAR CUT SHORT? HELP YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR COPE WITH THE LOSS
Our Beaumont Family Dentistry dental hygiene mission statement motivates us to give our all to our patients: “Using the best new technology and treatment available, your well-trained, experienced team is committed to providing thorough patient care in the most compassionate general manner. We highly value the lifelong trusting relationships
we develop with our patients and their families. We strive to give our patients an honest diagnosis and to educate them on the best treatment options individualized to their needs to achieve optimum oral health, thus improving full-body health and wellness. A healthy body begins with a healthy smile.” Our head hygienist, Candi Kershaw, has been part of our team for the past seven years, and her dedication to her work and her patients follows our mission statement completely. Candi is an energetic and cheery individual who cares deeply for her patients. “I care for my patients like I care for my own family,” she says. And anyone can attest that she brings that mindset and passion into the office every day. She has a great ability to connect with each of her patients, creating a trusting and lasting relationship with every person who comes to us. “It’s what makes me happiest and what I strive for the most,” Candi says. “As a hygienist, I have become very close with my patients over the years; you watch kids grow up and families expand; it really is wonderful. The work we do helps make a difference in our patients’ overall health, and I’m so proud of my entire team that we can help people experience these life-changing moments.” Our hygienist team is made up of 18 exceptional hygienists, who Candi oversees across all our locations. “I can honestly say we have the best team out there,” she says. “Each of them has the qualities of enthusiasm, humor, patient optimism, and warmth all coming together to form one powerful, professional team of dental hygienists. It’s been a privilege to be a part of an office so educated and passionate about making sure each patient has the best smile they deserve.” “Someone once told me,” Candi remembers, “that to be excellent in what you do, you must love what you do. I can truly say I absolutely love what I do and look forward to coming into the office each and every day.”
“Don’t give too much advice just yet,” Raab recommends. “We really don’t know enough to give long-term advice at this point.”
It’s also important for parents to recognize their own grief during this time. Many parents look forward to celebrating these milestones with their children, so missing these experiences can be traumatic for parents too. It’s okay to acknowledge your own loss and disappointment, but avoid projecting your feelings onto your child. We cannot take back the experiences stolen by COVID-19, but as parents, we can be there for our kids and help them work through this uncertain time. And remember, no matter what happens, you can still mark the occasion with a nice graduation present.
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