Creative Writing

In the dentist office I couldn’t seem to get my mind off the fact that I will be removing my braces. I was nervous because of all the stories I had heard and experiences from my friends. It was a strange feeling because I was afraid, but I also felt relief. I had been waiting on this moment for so long. At first, I wanted braces desperately; I thought they were appealing because of the different colors, they were like jewelry for your teeth. I didn’t need braces, I wasn't qualified to get them because the dentist said my teeth were fine and straight. When I first got them, I couldn't eat, drink, or sleep for a week. Braces were the most painful thing in the world. We went on vacation the day after I had them done. I couldn’t enjoy anything. Later on, it got better and I thought I would start to like them, but I didn’t. Food always gets stuck in your teeth when you have braces, which is disgusting. As much as you brush your teeth, they never seem to be clean. Your breath somehow never stays fresh and it's the most annoying thing in the world. Thinking about that pain of getting them on, I didn’t want to feel it again. This time, it would be twice as bad. I kind of felt like leaving the office. It was almost my turn. I’ve been afraid of the dentist ever since the first time I ever took my tooth out, I was four going on five. My mom told me I had to go to the dentist to remove the tooth. In my head there was no way I was going to the dentist. It was a late night and my mom was home with friends. I went into the bathroom twisted my tooth out and finally got rid of it, I came out proud to show my mom and everyone else. And for that I overcame my fear of taking out my teeth. I guess removing my braces wouldn't be so bad afterall, I could get them removed and get it over with.








Authors note:

In my writing I chose to emulate Margaret Atwood's style of writing because she uses symbolism to represent what is going on, whereas Ken Kesey uses dialogue. For my writing piece I think Margaret Atwood's style fit best with what I was trying to do with my writing. I used a lot of symbolism to emphasize my emotions as Atwood did in the handmaid's tale. I also visited many similar memories to connect them all to one main point of overcoming my fear. I feel as though Atwood does a great job of that and I was inspired to use more of her skills in this writing for that reason.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDxAEY3l9BQ

Comments (5)

Zahira Tucker (Student 2019)
Zahira Tucker

I believe your piece succeeded in bringing together outside moments into the memory to show the process in which it happened and how you got over the fear of it. I believe that is the type of style Atwood uses throughout THT. I am left wondering if you miss your braces now and was it more painful for you getting them on or off?

Boubou Magassa (Student 2019)
Boubou Magassa
  1. Your piece in my opinion was successful. I especially liked how the different experiences that you had that all linked to the same topic.
  2. Did it hurt when you got them removed, because I imagined that it would the opposite giving you a feeling off relief.
Leah Bradstreet (Student 2019)
Leah Bradstreet
  1. This piece was very successful in showing your evolution of thought and emotion towards the dentist, braces, and the history behind it all.
  2. If you could compare getting the braces to getting them off, which would you say was worse?
Rebecca Snyder (Student 2019)
Rebecca Snyder

I think your piece succeeded in connecting your overall feeling of fear with stylistic choices to convey this sense of fear. This truly does emulate the work of Atwood. I'm still wondering how you could emphasize that this is a memory and not just you recalling emotions.

Meymey Seng (Student 2019)
Meymey Seng
  1. Your piece succeeded since you were able to connect the fear of getting your braces off, to that of getting your tooth pulled out at the dentist. Knowing that you were able to get through this, it helped you overcome your fear since you have been in a similar situation.
  2. Did getting your braces off end up being as scary as you had initially imagined or as painful?