Mariela Hernandez Honors Portfolio
University of Washington
Winter Quarter '24
Learning about the dental field
This quarter, I shot my shot. For the longest time I had wanted to become a dental assistant or gain hands-on experience in the dental field. I had browsed around UW Handshake and had some opportunities bookmarked since the beginning of September '23. On December 31st I submitted my applications to all the bookmarked employers. On January 10th, I heard back from Lina Kim Dental and I completed an interview on the 12th. I went into the interview ready to tell my story, and highlight my strengths and aspirations. Shortly after the interview, the office contacted me because they were interested in having a working interview with me, so I went in on January 16th. On the 19th I found out that I was accepted into the internship!
These images to the left show the family that I have been introduced to! They are all super supportive and caring people. All the dental assistants are current UW undergraduate students who are determined to become dentists. Ways I practiced intentional learning meant learning the process of sterilizing instruments and learning the procedure codes for all treatments. This specific event is called Give Kids a Smile. We volunteered at an elementary school and taught children how to brush, floss, and educated them about oral health, risks factors, and anatomy.
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Second graders learn so quickly, and I learned that there are techniques to teach children which are very different from teaching young adults. The internship in its entirety has been a learning experience and I am grateful that I have this opportunity! By pursuing my interests in dentistry in a real-world environment, I was able to practice experiential learning. Participating in non profit work such as volunteering at elementary school were ways I practices public service this quarter and I learned that I love it.
Learning how to shape my learning through independent research
I remember registering for the Ways of Feeling Honors class and feeling like I was going to be walking into a mystery class. I had never taken an interdisciplinary linguistic class like this one! Now that it is over, I do not regret a thing! I had the pleasure of learning about the overlap between culture, language, and emotional expression. It was incredibly interesting to hear about other languages and the variation in cultural expectations. Through this experience I practiced my interdisciplinarity value because I learned about language through multiple scopes which enhanced my understanding of how different cultures process their emotions. I do wish there was a class lecture focusing on Hispanic culture and Spanish language. This interest was what led me to my research topic.
We learned a lot about the Polish and Russian languages and the way they relate to our course topic; however, I was craving to hear more about Hispanic culture. Notably, there was less representation of my community in class and in the textbook. I decided I would investigate the process of grief in Hispanic culture and in Spanish-speaking communities. I thoroughly enjoyed finding more about words in the Spanish language that express our stages in grief, and the types of words and celebrations that are unique to Hispanic culture related to grief. This project was more than just an assignment because it made me take action and find a way to connect my education to my lived experiences even if it meant going outside of the norm. I practiced advocacy by taking initiative to teach others about underreported perspectives and pique interest among my colleagues and instructors.
Learning to volunteer at the largest free clinic in the U.S.
This experience might have been one of the most fulfilling events I have attended. I applied to volunteer because my coworker, Bowen, introduced me to it. I had just started to intern as a dental assistant, so I volunteered as a Spanish translator. The Seattle King County Clinic provides free dental, optic, and medical health care services for four days to those who would otherwise not access the health care they need. Initially, I thought I would be in the dental department, but was spontaneously I was moved to the optics department!
Working in a fast paced environment and learning on the spot was amazing for me because I jumped in head first and focused on helping others. Public service and experiential learning were the main values I practiced in this specific experience. I remember helping to translate for patients and feeling a connection because I felt like I was translating for my parents. I could relate to the disparity that my community faces in accessing health care. This event further ignited my passion for bringing health care services to those who cannot afford it and have been marginalized by discriminatory social structures and limitations.
Something I did not expect to occur was stepping into a situation where the provider was frustrated with the patient. I felt responsible to reported the provider that was treating a patient unfairly, and not providing answers or clarity about the services she would be providing for the patient. This situation taught me how to practice advocacy in an uncomfortable situation where a patient is not being treated well. The experience as a whole was hugely beneficial for me and taught me many valuable lessons, which I will take with me on my way to become a great dentist!
Learning to conduct independent research
One of my projects for the quarter was my experiential learning opportunities with Odegaard Undergraduate Library! I have been working there since before I began my first quarter this year, and have noticed there are many resources that Odegaard offers that would be helpful for students. I especially wanted to reach students that are first generation or have financial barriers. I coordinated meetings with library specialists from UW, and directed my project throughout the quarter. My sponsor, Emily Ruder, was an amazing asset and truly helped my project come to life. Emily connected me to Maggie Faber, the UW Libraries Director of Assessment and Data Visualization. We met to analyze statistics about library resource user rates. Ultimately, I passed out these flyers to all HFS dorm halls and to different offices in Mary Gates Hall that serve minority students. I also collaborated with Odegaard staff to post an Instagram version of my infographic for UW students to view! I utilized my experiential learning and advocacy values in this experience.
Learning how to sing in a gospel choir
One night, as I looked through the UW campus calendar for a fun event to attend, I remember the surprise I felt to find a choir concert! I bought my ticket and decided I would make time to attend and be present in the moment. I truly believe that life is about the experiences you get to live. I am so glad I went to the WinterFest Concert because that is how I discovered the beautiful art that UW gospel choir, and all the choirs, practice through weekly rehearsals to present a soul touching performance that evokes emotions to the audience. After the performance, I searched for contact information and reached out to Phyllis, the gospel choir director, who welcomed me in! I spent every Monday evening in Meany Hall practicing with my choir group working toward an end-of-the-quarter performance at a church.
This experience represents my faith and the importance of practicing creative arts and I felt personal growth. It can be difficult to make time for hobbies and creative expression outside of school; however, the weekly routine and welcoming nature of the choir really helped me get out of my comfort zone. I also met people from different walks of life that came from diverse backgrounds and share the common interest of singing.
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Gospel Choir
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