Comments on: Why Are You Still Trying?

By: max

max — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:39:12 +0000

Good luck man I’m also studying for the dat but this is my first time around. I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do with my life and career and after some research and gong over my undergrad transcript dentistry is the best option for me. I love helping people and making sure they are healthy. Best of wishes

By: Aalok Shukla

Aalok Shukla — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:15:54 +0000

Hi Alex, Keep trying, it’s a great profession to be in with unlimited potential, especially for a motivated individual that thinks out of the box like yourself. I have similar goals in innovation in dentistry and am working on those.

Looking forward to seeing you at the conferences.

Best,

Aalok

By: How to Study with Focus, Confidence and Purpose | Health, Wellness & a Good Life

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:23:37 +0000

[...] to Study with Focus, Confidence and Purpose In my previous article, Why Are You Still Trying, I mentioned that I failed to get into Dental School a couple of times since graduating University [...]

By: How to Study with Focus, Confidence and Purpose | Alex Shalman . com

How to Study with Focus, Confidence and Purpose | Alex Shalman . com — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:19:26 +0000

[...] my previous article, Why Are You Still Trying, I mentioned that I failed to get into Dental School a couple of times since graduating University [...]

By: Rigdha

Rigdha — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:57:13 +0000

Thanks for sharing the story Alex and good luck! I hope you will get in.

This comes at a perfect time when I’m going through tons of “failures” in my own life but I’ve learned not to give up even if I get completely beat down in the battle. Sometimes all you need to do is hang in there just a little longer!

By: Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com

Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:09:34 +0000

Hi Alex,

I love the saying “How can you live if you stop trying? That’s the formula for regret.” It’s absolutely brilliant! Your girlfriend is indeed a genius.

Cheers~

Mark

By: Lisis

Lisis — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:39:23 +0000

Hi, Alex! What a neat story! I am so inspired that you have not given up and that you have found something you are really passionate about trying. Even if it turned out that it was not all you dreamed of (like Shanel’s story), it is still a worthy pursuit right now because you want it right now. Once you have achieved your goal, you can set new ones, or redefine that one; but, by golly Don’t Give Up!!

PS: I don’t think you’re a slow train at all.

By: Glorious Snowfall | Insight Writer

Glorious Snowfall | Insight Writer — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:07:25 +0000

[...] Why Are You Still Trying? Alex Shalman talks about his experience of attempting to get into Dental School and failing. Yet, he isn’t giving up. This is an inspiring story that may help us to hold onto our dreams. [...]

By: Mark Lewis

Mark Lewis — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:25:08 +0000

I started to learn that “failures” are just lessons and experiences.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:45:39 +0000

In the words of the venerable Zig Ziglar, “A big shot is a little shot who keeps on shootin’ ” I am very inspired by watching you chase down your dentistry dream. I will be one of the one’s celebrating when you pass! Then you can come to Chicago, open your clinic, and work on my teeth!

By: Alex Shalman

Alex Shalman — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:37:09 +0000

@Sarah Merion – Seth Godin quote “The only thing worse than starting something and failing… is not starting something.”

BTW guys, I love reading all your responses. Since I’m studying so much, I feel like somewhat of a hermit, and my interaction with people is limited. So your responses make up a nice little chunk of that overall input I get from people each day. Nice that you’re all so supportive – love ya!

By: Sarah Merion

Sarah Merion — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:33:09 +0000

I forget who said this, but it went something along the lines of:

“The only thing worse than failing is doing nothing.”

Great article Alex, really motivates me to keep doing what I’m doing, even if it may be hard, out of the box, unconventional, scary, etc.

By: Alex Shalman

Alex Shalman — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:03:20 +0000

@Clayton A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

@LisaNewton Yes, I totally agree. As long as there is a clear line between revamp your dreams and dilute yourself!

@Julia S. Art is necessary! Did you just call me a slow train? lol.

Shanel Yang – You mean she wasn’t in love with Biochemistry… shocking..

By: Shanel Yang

Shanel Yang — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:24:57 +0000

Everything we “try” is a valuable lesson, so it’s actually “doing” something that helps us get to where we eventually need to go. One of my sisters had a dream to be a doctor. She struggled with the infamous college premed weeder course, biochemistry — and ended up taking it 3 times! Each time, she got a slightly better grade. But, what she really got out of it (though you may not want to hear this) is that she didn’t really want to be a doctor after all if med school was more of the same. That forced her to realize that what she loved most about the idea of becoming a doctor was not the prestige of being an M.D., but the idea of helping people in pain. So, she became an R.N., instead. ; )

By: Julia S.

Julia S. — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:05:27 +0000

It is very bizarre to hear almost verbatim what I would hear about studying art!! Especially for something as necessary as dentistry!

You keep trying because you love it – that is the best reason!

Remember – a train going 50 miles per hour and a train going 20 miles per hour STILL GETS THERE – and you will too. Keep it up!

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:02:13 +0000

I firmly believe that the only failure is in giving up. Oh, you may revamp your dreams, looking at them from a different angle, but giving up on them is true failure.

By: Clayton

Clayton — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:18:53 +0000

Chase your dreams mate.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you want isn’t possible, even your spouse. If it was, we wouldn’t have Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Bill Gates and anyone else you care to add to that list running around creating billionaire fortunes and changing the world.

All the best for the exam.