A day in their scrubs
Meet third-year dental student and two-time Aggie Tyson Petersen.
Tyson Petersen wasn’t quite sure what to expect at the prospect of relocating from a quiet community in northern Utah — population 4,512 — to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, with a combined people count just shy of 7 million.
It’s been two years, and Dallas has grown on him. So much that he and his wife, Sarah, named their son after the Texas city. But don’t expect this Aggie to sport solely maroon — you may find him donning the navy and white of Utah State University, his undergrad alma mater, which happens to share the same mascot — sort of.
Hometown: Perry, Utah
Dental school survival strategy: Late nights and early mornings some days. And just remembering that tomorrow is another day. There’s always another day after a rough day.
Most productive time of day: Probably early mornings, but I usually end up doing everything late at night. Usually I like waking up early, but if I have a late night, I like to sleep as late as I can in the morning.
Best way to unwind after a long day in lecture, lab or clinic: Go home and hang out with my wife, Sarah, and play with my little boy, Dallas, who is 10 months old. He was born at the start of second year. You always think you are busy until life gets busier, and then there is a shuffling of schedules and priorities.
Favorite energy food: I am a big fan of cold cereal. That’s always a good late night snack. I usually eat Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds, but I’ll have pretty much any kind of sugary boost-me-up cereal. Or yogurt or chips — anything that’s quick and easy.
Goal after graduation: I’d like to pursue a one-year general practice residency and certification program. From that I’d like to go into practice somewhere. We don’t know where yet. Maybe Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming — somewhere near Utah, closer to family, who all live in different areas of the state. I’m the only boy with three sisters. My two older sisters each have two kids. Dallas is just getting to the age where he’s interacting with them more.
What people may not know about you: I went to Utah State University, where the mascot is the Aggies as well. But the animal is a bull. I guess I’ll be an Aggie twice.
