Extracurricular Activities
Volunteer at FFA banquets, Several fundraisers for IEP experience with Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech, International community outreach program - August 2023, Employed at local pet store
A Little Bit Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Me
I grew up in the teensy little town of Scio. When I was just two years old, my parents adopted my two cousins, so I grew up in a house with five siblings who I have always considered to be my very best friends. My boyfriend and I have two dogs: a miniature weenie named Polo and a great dane, Bruno. I work part-time at a pet store near my house and am currently trying to raise money for an international dental mission trip to Grenada this summer. I am extremely dedicated to my education and have worked hard to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout my time at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech. Outside of school, I try to spend the majority of my free time with my nieces and nephews, who mean the absolute world to me. I also enjoy raising a wide variety of house plants in my home and greenhouse!
Why I Chose Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech and My Major
When I was a child, I feared the dentist and absolutely despised having to go. Then my family moved and my siblings and I started seeing a new hygienist named Star. She was able to completely change the way we felt about the dentist and made it so we were actually excited to be getting our teeth cleaned! I then decided that I wanted to make that same difference for people. My sister graduated from Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech in 2020.
My Influential Professors
One of the most admirable things about my time at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech so far is that I have yet to encounter a professor who has left anything but a positive impact on my education. The Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech professors go above and beyond to help their students feel supported and set up for success. Two names in particular that came to mind when referring to the most influential professors are Paula Hendrix, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech’s DH program director (Salem campus) and Charisse Botsch, Sophomore clinic lead. Throughout my first two years in the program these two individuals have left a huge impact on the way I am able to feel comfortable, supported, and proud of my accomplishments thus far.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech
Some of the greatest learning experiences that I've had within my time at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech revolve around the time I've been able to spend in a clinical setting, preparing for my future career as a dental hygienist. One of the most rewarding experiences being the opportunity to clean teeth at a local Boys and Girls club. Many of those kids don't have easy access to care or much knowledge at all on proper oral health. Being able to provide them with the resources and education necessary to make a difference was extremely rewarding.
My Plans After Graduation
After graduation, I plan to begin working in private practice somewhere close to home. I also love the idea of working in a hospital setting or care facility, providing dental hygiene services to patients who don't have the ability to travel for routine dental care. I hope to be able to work as much as possible for my first few years out of school and get my student loans paid off as quickly as I can. I would love to travel at any opportunity I get, but also have hopes of starting a family soon!