It’s exam season, but when isn’t it? We’ve spent months cramming endless material, running on caffeine and deadlines, while balancing clinic, classes, and whatever is left of our personal lives. The weight of it all is heavy. The pressure to perform, the financial strain, the unspoken fear of falling short. In dental school, there’s no room for error, and yet, mistakes are inevitable. It’s exhausting. But it’s also transformative.
I remember my first term, staring at my notes at 2:00 a.m., convinced I wasn’t cut out for this. I had done everything right to get here—worked through undergrad, pulled all-nighters, pushed through burnout, and yet, I still felt like an imposter. Every bad mark felt like proof that I didn’t belong. But I also remember the shift. The moment I realized that getting into dental school wasn’t about being a great dentist already. It was about becoming one.
This journey was never meant to be easy. It’s meant to test us, to push us past comfort, to shape us into professionals who can handle both precision and pressure. But the hardest lesson isn’t mastering cavity preps or pharmacology. It’s learning that our worth is not measured by a grade. A single bad exam does not erase years of dedication. We didn’t get here because we were perfect. We got here because we refused to quit.
It’s easy to lose ourselves in the chaos, to absorb the collective anxiety of our peers. People will pull you into their stress storms so they don’t have to weather them alone. But you don’t have to join them. Protect your peace. Step away when you need to. Let go of the guilt of not always grinding. You don’t earn success through suffering. You build it through sustainability.
I think about my parents a lot during exam season. The sacrifices they made, leaving behind everything they knew to give me this chance. The weight of their hopes is something I carry, but I’ve learned that repaying them doesn’t mean drowning in guilt. It means honoring their sacrifices by taking care of myself, by becoming someone they would be proud to see thrive—not just survive.
So, take a deep breath. Exams will come and go, but who you become in this process is what matters. Wear something that makes you feel good. Light a candle. Make a homemade latte. Find small moments of joy even in the chaos. One day, we’ll look back and realize that the hardest moments weren’t roadblocks. They were turning points.
You’re not here by accident. You belong. You are enough. And you’ve got this!
About the author
Sormeh Mehrabi is a dental student at Dalhousie University. As an immigrant and first-generation healthcare professional, she’s passionate about creating supportive spaces for students navigating high-stakes academic paths. She shares her journey through writing, mentorship, and community-building, empowering others to embrace their challenges with confidence. IG: @health_sormeh