Week of Welcome

With the pandemic on a downslope and things finally returning to normal, the ECU Student National Dental Association is channeling its momentum into re-establishing and reimagining some of the long-standing traditions that have been at its core for so many years. 

 

SNDA’s first annual Week of Welcome (WoW) to usher in the new school year was a huge hit this past September. It was the perfect culmination of social, networking, and service events aimed at creating a space for new and seasoned students to kindle relationships while also bridging gaps between SNDA and other organizations on campus. 

 

SNDA kicked off the week with a “9/11 Day of Service” in partnership with the Dental Student Government. Students honored our 9/11 heroes by conducting a B’s Barbecue Road Cleanup. 

 

Next up, “The Brux”, Monday’s “grinding lunch” gave students an opportunity to ask each other didactic or clinic-related questions while also creating an outlet for resource-sharing between students. This will continue as a newly-established tradition and will create a safe space for students to review content for upcoming assessments or simply socialize. 

 

Tuesday’s “Getting to the Pulp of SNDA, ASDA, and HSDA” event was an integral part of giving new students an opportunity to learn about high profile organizations on campus as well as receive some encouraging notes and goodies to help them push through the week.

 

On Wednesday, SNDA facilitated a panel discussion with some brilliant second-year students who shared things they wished they had known prior to starting their first year of dental school. Valuable information was gleaned from these panelists by first-year students looking for an edge as they settle into their new lives as dental students. As Wednesday serves as a test day for quite a few students at the school, SNDA thought it a great opportunity to offer a stress relieving social outing on Wednesday night, sponsored by Pacific Dental. The “Mix N’ Bowl” was the perfect way for students to reallocate some of that stress energy toward a competitive edge in a fun game of bowling while taking advantage of some awesome networking opportunities. You could say Wednesday of WoW was a two-in-one.

 

Thursday’s “Meet & Greet” general body meeting was the first of the school year and served as an opportunity for those interested in membership to learn what SNDA is all about and hear about the strategic goals set out for the year.

 

Lastly, “The Toothpick”, a tailgate-style picnic taking place on Saturday to get the Pirate Football vibes brewing, was a wonderful opportunity for dental students to mingle with each other as well as pre-dental students in the undergraduate chapter of SNDA.

 

And with that, SNDA wrapped up an incredibly successful first annual Week of Welcome, which aided in fostering new mentor/mentee relationships, providing service opportunities, and creating a space for social interaction and networking. Way to hit the ground running! And they are just getting started. 

 

Kayla Gorham

Historian