The Campbell Academy Blog | Colin Campbell (38)

30 up

Well, well, well, today's the day I'm 30 years qualified.

Thirty years ago today, a big fat 18-stone, 22-year-old Colin Campbell graduated from the University of Glasgow with mum and dad in tow.

I have photographs of that day, but I don't recognise the person I was then. I was starting out on this adventure into dentistry and adult life with no sort of road map or idea of what I would do.

I had a job then as a house officer, and I was ready to start in August, a few weeks after graduation.

I knew I didn't want to go into practice; I wanted to do something else. I set my heart on becoming an oral physician, just like Doctor (later professor) John Gibson.

I would start working a joint Perio and oral medicine job for six months at Glasgow Dental School, followed by six months of oral surgery, then move to England and, well, never move again.

It's hard to look now at where I am and where I've come back to that guy from 30 years ago. The transformation is quite extraordinary, and I have to pinch myself as I consider how fortunate I've been and how unbelievably lucky I've been from the help, guidance, assistance, mentoring, coaching, friendship, love and respect I've had from so many people along the way.

I would never have dreamed in a million years that I would be where I am now when I set off on that journey straight after graduation on July 9, 1994.

And so, as I reflect on my 30 years in dentistry, I have to reflect again on the fact that I have committed to another 33.

My retirement date, as set by me, is the 9th of July 2057, and there are several things that have to happen to make it to that.

I have to be and stay well enough to get there 33 years from now. That will take much more of my focus and attention, not only in how I look after myself, exercise, sleep, and eat but also in how much I work, what I work on, and how much I say no to other people.

I understand that the chances of making it and continuing to work until I am 85 are perhaps limited and perhaps fanciful, but you might as well have a target to hit; you might as well have a big, hairy, audacious goal.

If I can do that, if I can work until then and contribute positively to what we are and what we have, then I will have achieved something indeed.

If I can achieve 10% of what I achieved in the 1st 30 years, I'll be absolutely satisfied and content.

As I write this, I'm tired. It's been a crazy time over the last few weeks; there have been lots of different things with family and lots of different things with friends.

I have to understand that I cannot go as fast as I used to go, and I'm not really into an Ultramarathon to get me to that date in 2057.

It's exciting, though. Oh, boy, it's exciting.

Imagine where we may go.