By Ronaldo Hirata

SUCCESS

“There is a new kind of cancer: the need to become famous. That is the SIFILIS of our time, the Tuberculosis.”
Ignácio Loyola Brandão

I read the sentence above and think now on my students, also on my teachers, and the icons of my graduation period (endless, by the way). I have the impression that we are sending mistaken and deceiving messages, with no contents, that have been brought to us when students, that to be successful is to have fame.

I have observed the reaction of the professionals during the lectures I conduct and my own reaction, and how I have tripped into a common error, we get enchanted by the popularity, through inconsequent errors and mistakes, typical of the youth(obviously, not only the youth, we know these examples, don't we?They come through our minds right now).

I assume personal errors, but at the same time, I search for basis and ideals that I had as a Graduate, I think that the initial dream and objective where basically to conduct well a profession, to be recognised and respected as such, fully legitimate, to earn money as well as consequence. We need to discover the exact moment when It was forgotten; the dentistry has to be vibrant on Its execution, solving clinical cases, purely resin, the new espatule, a new manipulation discovery, na interesting course, little pleasures that add to a healthy dentistry(It recalls me a great person that I had the pleasure to gether with, Dr. Vilattore; few days ago someone criticised him for his way too strong and traditionalist opinions and not having changed in some aspects, funny, I admired him more when I had to live with his defects as well, not only with his qualities, and these are the greatest personalities in our profession, people that we admire them also for their errors).

I look at the younger now(I am part of them) and see the anxiety to reach fame and success, It looks to me a general tuning of the society, the more intense is the search the greater is the failure obtained, more insecurity and anxiety and less pleasure for the profession Itself, like a snowball. Maybe teachers do not have the real obligation to clear up these subjects, maybe they are more involved into their Marketing lectures or to breath and sweat success.

I recall na academic week that I took part in a Symposium and It was really empty, the students were devastated, I could feel It, but realised that a successful course is not made by number of people present; today your course has 100 people, if that was less It would be a failure, in few years time, your course will have 350 people, if It counts less will you feel failed? We have above all to make clear that success is not measured by the number of people attending your course, the number of patients and how many famous patients we have, but a simple question: we recycle daily and, do we still remember our dreams as a fresh graduate? We keep our dreams, solve problems and still like what we do, It looks simple my friends, but It's not.