“Leading to Success” Annual Winter Leadership Dinner
To kick off the winter semester, the “Leading to Success TUSDM Annual Winter Leadership Dinner” was hosted by the Office of Student Affairs and the Department of Public Health & Community Service. With an impressive attendance of over 80 students attending, this dinner was an absolute success! Leaders of the D25 class came together to share their pearls of wisdom and inspiring leadership stories. The evening commenced with group discussions at each table, facilitated by a D25 student. Prior to the event, students were asked to complete the VIA survey to gain insights into their character strengths. During the dinner, students engaged in thoughtful reflections on their top strengths, as well as their lesser strengths, discussing any surprises or expectations that emerged from the survey results.
After engaging in a time of thoughtful and introspective discussions, students continued their conversations over a delicious dinner. Following the meal, the focus shifted to an enlightening panel featuring five incredible leaders from the D25 class: Wendy Mauti, Gregory Yip, Adriana Iturbide, Kaylin Thies, and Maria Home-Gomez.
Wendy (D25) shared an inspiring account of spearheading the re-activation of the African Diaspora United (ADU). Motivated by her experiences during a visit to her home in Kenya, she was determined to make a positive impact on her community back in Boston. Thus far, ADU has successfully influenced both the TUSDM and the local Boston community through various events. Wendy concluded her presentation with a powerful quote: “Just because you feel fear doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Do it afraid.”
Gregory (D25) shared his heartfelt journey on how he ended up at TUSDM from his home back in Hong Kong. As one of the co-presidents and co-creators of the Chinese American Dental Association (CADA), the group has undeniably left an impact on not only TUSDM but the Boston Chinatown community as well. They have already hosted workshops and monthly study groups to bring familiarity to Chinese culture. Gregory imparted a meaningful message to the group: “Our patients can teach us as much as we can teach them.”
Adriana (D25) began her presentation by asking all students to think about what follows the phrase “I am…” She emphasized the idea that our words following “I am” shape our identity and who we are. Serving as the president of the Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA), she delved into the remarkable initiatives undertaken by the group, both within the school and in the Boston community. She highlighted the work HSDA has done with the Chelsea public schools, where members have helped make oral health education more accessible for students there.
Kaylin (D25) recounted her personal journey of following her heart, leading her to transition from the role of D25 class vice president to becoming the president of Autism Smiles. Autism Smiles is a student organization dedicated to helping children with autism become desensitized to dental settings. During her presentation, Kaylin metaphorically compared her own Christmas dinner plate to life. She conveyed the idea that, at times, we may find ourselves saying yes to too many things. She emphasized the importance of considering the actual time we have available, as our plate sizes in life are always changing. She emphasized, “Don’t compare your plate size to someone else’s, just follow your heart.”
Maria (D25) shared her moving story on her journey of navigating the balance between home and clinic. After welcoming her son during the spring semester of her D2 year, Maria realized that “everyone has an opinion.” She stressed the importance of knowing our boundaries and reminding ourselves that we know ourselves best and know what we are capable of. She emphasized how there are so many things that come unexpected in life and when that happens, just take it head on. Maria left the audience with the strong message of “Be truthful to who you are because you are here for a reason and with a purpose.”
The “Leading to Success TUSDM Annual Winter Leadership Dinner” left an unforgettable impact on the students who attended. Listening to insights from D25s who were once in the shoes of those in the audience created an even more special and inspirational atmosphere for all. A huge thank you and shoutout to Nancy Marks and Dainya Hannan for taking the time to organize this event for TUSDM students. This event provided students with a meaningful perspective as they embark on the remainder of the school year!
Written by Yenna Chu, D27