NEW BEGINNINGS

New Beginnings

August provides a range of emotions for parents and students.  Transition from summer into fall is extremely hard.  As your orthodontist, I confess I am not a fan of the start of the school year.  I really enjoy the summer schedule, tan faces, little to no stress in the lives of our patients, and stories of summer adventures. 

Eventually, summer always comes to a close and the stress of school resumes.  My encouragement is to begin this year with a focus on embracing new classes, new teachers, and new challenges.  I am confident great opportunities will come your way.  Experiencing new opportunities will require work, determination, time, and encouragement from your friends. 

Each school year has its own set of blessings and burdens.  I often recall more of the burdens during my years of school than the blessings.  This is because I am confident the burdens along the way shaped me more than the blessings.   I love this illustration sent to me by a friend this summer.

We all make mistakes.  I encourage you to be quick to learn from yours, take responsibility, laugh at yourself, and apologize when needed. I like to think of a new school year as an opportunity to hit the "restart" button.  We all need a fresh start at times. Choose today who you want to be this 2015-2016 school year. What do you hope to accomplish?  Set your intention now to be that person and to reach for your goals (regardless of obstacles or past mistakes.)

Our family at Kelley Orthodontics looks forward to sharing this school year with you.  We look forward to what this year will bring.  We are confident great things are coming your way. Education is a privilege. Therefore, try to make the most of each school day.  Blessings to you as you embark on a new school year.  And remember, don't be afraid to hit the "restart" button along the way.

Dr. John Kelley

FINISH STRONG

The beginning of May brings back a host of memories of completing the school semester and taking finals.  As I drive through the TCU campus, I almost shudder recalling the years of taking finals and the stress accompanying them.  As I watch my own daughter prepare for her 8^th grade finals, the stress she is under permeates our home.  not at all fun for our family of 6

My encouragement to all of our patients who are pursuing education is to Finish Strong.  You will survive finals and make it to the summer.  The question remaining is, "Will you provide your best effort?”  There are a host of reasons to Finish Strong: achieving the grade you desire, genuine interest in the subject matter, desire to make your teacher proud of you, and fulfilling the expectations your parents have requested. Most of the meaningful accomplishments in my life came through hard work and determination.  I was a good student, but not a great one.  I was one of those guys who had to work HARD.  (How I envied some of my buddies who seemed to never crack books and still fly by with A’s and B’s.) Though honestly, I do not know anyone who made it through their school years without a few bumps along the way.  I can almost guarantee you will experience disappointment.  I know I did.  Thus, please do not let a professor, teacher, instructor, or grade define you.

I had one of my favorite professors in college tell me, "The only reason you are pursuing dentistry is because you want to be a doctor."  I was devastated.  I thought he knew me better and the goals I had in my life. At that point, I had a choice.  Would his opinion "define me," or would I allow this to simply be a "defining moment". I chose the latter. This became a moment in which I determined to prove his words a lie.  I searched my heart and validated my reasons behind my career choice, and I worked harder to become who I knew God had called me to be.  This bump became a defining moment for me in a very positive way.

Thank goodness I chose to pursue my heart’s calling and not let one person or his opinion of me define me.  As your orthodontist, I desire to provide you with the best smile imaginable and encourage you to pursue your dreams.  I know you can Finish Strong with hard work and a little sacrifice.  For me, the sacrifices I made are worth it everyday. I have the privilege of being your orthodontist, getting to know your heart, and seeing you achieve your goals. Choose for those bumps in life (those crummy grades, those not so understanding teachers, those circumstantial friends, those nasty lies, & those personal mistakes along the way) to simply become defining moments.  Remember, they do not define you.  You are bigger and your dreams are reachable.  Finish Strong, friends!

Dr. Kelley

Great Things Happening in May at Kelley Orthodontics!