Circumstances have forced me to re-evaluate some of the decisions I've made as well as some I've yet to make. Next week, my birthday will mark the 4 month anniversary of completing my course, and I'm no closer to finding a job than I was then. In some ways, I'm actually further behind. I spend my days watching several websites hoping for new ads and then sending off a resumé and customized cover letter to all that look in any way promising.

Still nothing.

Because of the lack of experience, my resumé focuses on my skills rather than job history. My highlights include words such as "team player" and "compassionate and caring", and "positive attitude and demeanour" (which may mean the same thing). As time goes on, I'm finding my attitude less and less positive but my compassion and caring haven't diminished. Apparently it's rather obvious, if the rate at which I get called a "bleeding heart" is any indication.

Bleeding heart. Is this supposed to be an insult? It isn't, not to me, anyway. In fact, I think it's an accurate summation of who I am. Why is this seen as such a bad thing? Are we not supposed to care about others, and help them as we can? Modern dentistry is leaning more toward prevention than restoration. 10 minutes spent teaching a patient the proper way to brush and floss their teeth does far more for their health than half an hour later drilling and filling their decayed teeth, not to mention the hours spent on a root canal and crown prep. It's a lot cheaper, too.

Why is this such an easy concept to grasp when talking about teeth, yet so difficult when discussing crime... especially young offenders?

Call me a bleeding heart all you want. I like it, it fits, and right now, it's pretty much all I have going for me.

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