413109_494487183929313_1394944085_oWhat does it feel like to have a life long dream almost within your grasp? David Alport is just a few months away from becoming a dentist so we asked him to shed some light on how this feels. (We also can’t resist his wit and humour, so he seemed like a bit of a shoe in for this month’s client hero feature.)

When we go to our dentist, or see our physician, or optometrist we often don’t think about the path that lead them to where they are today. As a patient we take it for granted and assume it was just a straight path. We don’t get a behind-the-scenes look at the grit, determination, all nighters and cold pizzas that it took to get there. (And since we know David pretty well we know there were a lot of cold pizzas!).

After nine years of university, David is inching closer to his dream of being a full-time dentist. We are damn proud of him and salute the courage, and the stamina that it took to reach his goal.

Below is a glimpse into what David is thinking about today.

What is the most exciting part of finishing dental school?

After nine straight years, I won’t be writing the University of Saskatchewan any more cheques.

12191348_675475860023_6816342171814040560_o What will you miss the most about dental school? 

The social aspect. Spending 60+ hours a week with a group of like-minded people; that can never be replicated.

Where are you from originally?

Regina, Saskatchewan with summers at Katepwa Lake.

What is your favourite hobby?

Learning/playing/studying music/musicians.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I enjoy making my own wine.

What is your top money frustration?

Knowing how many years I’ll be repaying my student loans.

Money and I get along like:

It’s hard to say, we haven’t seen each other in a while. 

Financial security to me means…

The ability to someday do for my kids what my parents have done for me.

What was your latest splurge?

Lunch.

Who is your role model and why?

My role model(s) would have to be my parents. Apart from everything they taught me in life, they both work in patient care and I’ve consistently been told how good they are at what they do and how much their patients love them. Going into a patient care field myself, it’s easy to see how I just have to strive to be as they are in order to be successful and respected in my chosen field. Clear choice for Role Models.

If you could give a first year dental student one piece of advice, what would it be?

Dental school is a long and hard program, you need to find a balance and try and have some fun, while still taking your studies seriously. You’re going to learn as much or more from treating patients as you ever could from books, so don’t get too bogged down by testing, numbers, debt and finances. Have some fun and be smart and balanced.

If you could ask a financial planner any question, what would it be?
 
How do I plan to provide for my family while still doing the things I love and being able to do the things I love when I can no longer work?

 

TCM: Is there trepidation when a dream is within your grasp? Most certainly. Is there bravery required to start something new? You bet. The times in our life that cause us the most reflection often occur when a major life change is on the horizon.

Having a financial plan during these times allows us to feel less vulnerable so that we can embrace the changes in our lives with all the gusto that it deserves. Join us as we dig into David’s question in our next blog and until then ‘Cheers to David’ and to all those who are passionately pursuing life long dreams. It all starts with a dream, right?