Every year, Floss Boss, the mobile dental clinic I volunteer for, organizes an event called Give Kids A Smile (GKAS for short) which provides free dental health education for 2nd graders. On February 24, 2025 we went to McMickens Heights Elementary School to teach ~100 students about oral care and preventative health. I remember translating for a student that was Spanish-speaking and seeing the impact that languages makes in connecting concepts. Not only did students grasp the material better in their native language, but they also felt represented. We had our tooth fairy come in and teach the children about nutrition, and detail which foods are beneficial and detrimental to our oral health. Altogether, I believe the children had a great time learning about their teeth and how to take care of their body. 

The higher neuroplasticity in the little kids was amazing to see in real time. We went over the anatomy of our teeth and during the Kahoot they were able to recall a lot of the material. The students impressed me with their nearly immediate grasp of the knowledge. The volunteer dental assistants were amazing with the kids, and they all enjoyed the opportunity to practice public service and personal growth. Presentations skills and leadership are skills that I seek to improve constantly. This experience was also an example of experiential learning because organizing the event and bringing it to life was a process I learned outside of the traditional classroom.