First Year, First Impressions, Five Questions: Janaina Zanaga DMD AS 25
The first year of dental school is well known for being full of novel experiences, leading to dental students constantly balancing new emotions–ranging from triumph to overstimulation.
GSDM Communications talked to Janaina Zanaga DMD AS 25 about her first “impressions” of their first year at GSDM.
Zanaga is originally from Brazil and finished her first round of dental school in 1998. She began working as a dentist and ultimately specialized in endodontics. After her husband passed away in 2013, she decided she had to do something new with her life.
In 2015, Zanaga and her two children moved to the U.S., where she worked as a dentist hygienist in Florida. Now, she said she is thrilled to start the latest chapter of her dental journey at GSDM.
“I am in a dental school again and I don’t see any problem about that,” Zanaga said. “We have to restart many times when life asks us to do it. We have to move on and try to be better every single day and try to learn. It’s never late to learn something in our life and I’m very happy to be here.”
1.What was your transition like from Florida to Boston/GSDM?
It was a very hard decision to move to Boston because when I was working in Florida, I had my family [and] everything was so organized in my life. But then I decided to come here since I was accepted for the [Advanced Standing] program and I was very happy, very excited to start.
It was hard to move, because imagine you have one life in Florida and then you decide to move it to another state. It was difficult in the beginning. I think it is a very difficult transition, but not impossible. We can do it. If I did it, most people can do it.
2. After being here for a few months, how would you describe the GSDM community?
I can tell you that, now, my classmates, professors, and GSDM staff have become my friends [and] my family here. I don’t have a family in the United States, but they are my family.
3. What has been your favorite memory so far from your first semester at GSDM?
The first week was the most impressive with the reception [and] everything that they did for us. That was unforgettable.
Also, I think my first memory was the friends that I made. If you want to study at a university like Boston University, you have to understand that culture is very important. We are getting to know people from all over the world.
4. What do you wish you knew before you started your first semester?
We cannot leave anything behind because it’s like a snowball. We have to be on top of everything, try to keep checking your emails, everything. We have to be with our eyes open for everything. That is my tip…You’ll have to really pay attention every second.
5.What advice do you have for other people deciding to apply to dental school?
I think you have to love what you do. I have a passion for dentistry. It’s not an easy decision since sometimes you have a family [and] everything that you have, so it is a huge move. But my tip is to just focus on what you want for yourself.
And just do it. In the end, you have to be happy for your choice. That is my choice and that’s why I am very happy now.