There was a period in my life when faith became more than a belief system; it became a necessity. Faced with a professional and personal crossroads, I encountered an obstacle that challenged my confidence, resilience, and sense of direction. During this time, it was my faith that sustained me and ultimately guided me forward. After years of working in healthcare, I reached a moment of deep uncertainty. I was juggling demanding responsibilities, professional expectations, and personal stressors that left me emotionally and physically drained. Despite my experience and dedication, I began to question my ability to move forward and whether my efforts were making a meaningful difference. The weight of these doubts felt overwhelming, and I struggled wo maintain clarity and motivation. In the midst of this uncertainty, I turned to God for strength. Rather than viewing faith as a passive comfort, I relied on it as an active source of grounding and purpose. Prayer was always a daily practice but became more consistent offering me moments of reflection and peace amid chaos. Having faith, I learned to release the need for immediate answers and trust that challenges often serve a greater purpose, when their meaning is not immediately clear. Faith has also reshaped how I approached the obstacle itself. Instead of focusing solely on what felt impossible, I began to focus on perseverance and patience. I reminded myself that setbacks were not indicators of failure but opportunities for growth. This shift in perspective allowed me to face each day with renewed determination rather than fear. Faith gives me the courage to continue showing up, even when progress feels slow or invisible. Additionally, my faith encouraged me to seek support rather than endure the challenge in isolation. I leaned on trusted mentors, colleagues, and loved ones, understanding that faith does not require navigating hardship alone. Their encouragement reinforced the belief that I was not meant to overcome this challenge by my own strength alone, but through the grace of God. Ultimately, relying on my faith helped me emerge from this difficult period with a deeper sense of purpose and confidence. The obstacle that once felt insurmountable became a defining moment of personal growth. I learned that faith is not the absence of fear or doubt, but the willingness to move, forward despite them. It provided clarity when answers were uncertain and strength when my own felt depleted. This experience reaffirmed that by trusting God, I am able to overcome any challenge that seem impossible and emerge stronger, more grounded, and better prepared for obstacles in the future.

The courage to return to school did not come from a single defining moment but rather from a gradual process shaped by experience, self-awareness, and professional growth. After more than a decade working as a dental assistant, I developed a deep understanding of the healthcare environment that extended far beyond clinical tasks. While my primary role has been to support patient care, my experiences have exposed me to the administrative challenges that affect the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. Over time, this firsthand experience fostered confidence and revealed that I possessed valuable knowledge and insight, rather than being someone starting over from the beginning. As my career progressed, I began to feel the limitations of remaining within a role that no longer fully aligned with my goals. What once felt comfortable gradually became confining, prompting me to question how I could contribute more meaningfully to healthcare systems and leadership. These questions signaled personal and professional growth, and although returning to school felt intimidating, staying stagnant felt more discouraging. Pursuing further education became a necessary step toward expanding my ability to influence systems that affect patient care and workforce outcomes. Which also aligned with my long-term goal of transitioning from a clinical role to a managerial position. Another significant source of courage came from my academic success in completing my bachelor's degree. Balancing coursework with professional responsibilities demonstrated my discipline, resilience, and commitment to personal growth. This achievement replaced self-doubt with confidence and affirmed my readiness to succeed in advanced academic study. Returning back to school also required balancing personal responsibilities, professional commitments, and academic expectations, which further strengthened my determination. This experience has taught me the importance of perseverance, time management, and adaptability skills that are essential in healthcare leadership. As I continue my academic journey, I am committed to applying both my clinical background and administrative training to support ethical decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and advocate for patient-centered care. Scholarship support would not only alleviate financial barriers but also enable me to fully focus on developing the skills necessary to improve healthcare operations, promote effective leadership, and contribute meaningfully to the communities I serve. This educational pursuit is not only an investment in my career but a responsibility I carry to contribute positively to the healthcare system and serve as a role model for others considering a similar path. The courage to pursue higher education ultimately came from trusting my growth, recognizing my potential, and choosing progress over comfort.

The life of my dreams begins with waking up in a beautiful two-story home nestled in the countryside, where the mornings are quiet, peaceful, and filled with fresh air. From my window, I see vibrant rolling green hills and a blue sky that feels endless. After my morning stroll, I fix myself a full breakfast and enjoy it on my open porch with a cup of coffee as the sun rises. My days are purposeful yet flexible. I lead a successful healthcare business, and in this business, I make a real impact on people's lives by combining innovation with care. The business leverages telehealth and mobile clinics to ensure accessible and affordable care for rural communities. By doing so, I help bridge the gap in specialty services and preventive care. In order to make this a success, I partner with providers throughout the state to expand its reach. I am in full control of my time and finances, creating wealth that gives me the ultimate freedom to live on my terms. I am married with a husband by my side, and together we have built a life filled with love, laughter, and support. Our two children are grown and successful and have begun to create families of their own. I am surrounded by a strong network of inspiring people who push me to grow and celebrate all of my wins. To maintain this balance, I prioritize family evenings with a dinner at the table for my husband and self to reflect on our day. I schedule work efficiently by maintaining a structured schedule that does not allow me to bring work home. And to recharge, I take regular weekend wellness retreats to the spa to receive mini facials and full body massages. When I am not leading the company, I love to explore new places with my husband. We travel to beautiful destinations and indulge in unforgettable experiences, like local culinary tours and scenic outdoor adventures. Hobbies outside of traveling that I most enjoy consist of bowling in the local league, reading mystery novels, and entertaining family and friends with small cookouts at least once a month. My lifestyle is abundant, not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually. I worship in a family church, where I also help with the food bank and give food to families in the community who are in need. Each day feels like the perfect balance of peace and excitement. I live with intention, freedom, and fulfillment.

Success as a single mother working two jobs while pursuing an education is the culmination of resilience, dedication, and the fulfillment of dreams that may have seemed out of reach for most. But for me, I wake up every day with the determination to provide a better future for my daughter, balancing the demanding responsibilities of work, parenting, and academics. My success is not just about my achievements but creating a legacy of perseverance and empowerment for my family. For me, success means managing the chaos of daily life while keeping focus on my goals. From late nights studying, to being present for my daughter at dance recitals despite exhaustion, and finding creative ways to meet financial demands, my success reflects my abilities to juggle responsibilities driven by sacrifice, which in turn opened doors for greater opportunities. I hold pride in every small victory, whether it is facing a challenging exam, earning another certification, completing a practicum, or paying another bill on time, but I always look forward to hearing my daughter express her admiration for my hard work. Being a single mother, success has become transformative in the lives of my daughter and me. When I earned my dental certification, I was able to transition into a stable, fulfilling career in dentistry, improving my financial situation, and me to spend more quality time with my family. That was my first step in showing my child that determination and hard work can lead to profound change. I continued to obtain my bachelor’s degree once she was in high school as inspiration and reminder to always dream big and pursue goals relentlessly. Success is achieving self-sufficiency, breaking the cycle of struggle, and creating a nurturing environment where we can thrive. This scholarship is more than financial aid, but a pivotal role in helping me achieve my success. It will ease the overwhelming burden of tuition, books, and other educational expenses in support of completing a Master of Science in Health Administration at the Medical University of South Carolina. In reducing this financial strain, this scholarship will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on how I will make ends meet. More importantly, it will open the door to opportunities that I might otherwise have had to forgo, such as internships, networking events, or professional development programs that can advance my career prospects. Furthermore, this scholarship will offer the much-needed boost of confidence and validation of my vigorous efforts and potential. It will serve as a reminder that others believe in me and my ability to succeed. Offering the much-needed boost of confidence for myself during challenging times, symbolizing hope, and reinforcing my belief that hard work and sacrifices continue to be worthwhile. In essence, success as a single mother working two jobs while pursuing an education is the realization of a better life, not only for myself but for my daughter as well. Success is proving that with support, perseverance, and opportunity, anything is possible. This scholarship accelerates my journey and enables me to stay on course, despite the obstacles I face. With this opportunity, I can transform dreams into achievable goals and rewrite my family’s narrative.

When life has its transitioning moments, career goals often do too. I became a mother at 18, placing my career goal of becoming a dentist aside. For eight years I made ends meet working low-end jobs to support my daughter. I grew tired of living paycheck to paycheck; I dedicated myself to jump-start my career goals and earned my certificate as a dental assistant. This allowed me to give her a safe place to live and to enroll her in extracurricular activities throughout her childhood, including Girl Scouts, softball, cheerleading, and dance classes while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Proud of her accomplishments it pushed me back to school, two years shy of her high school graduation, obtaining my associate's and then bachelor's degrees shortly after. Balancing my 12-year career in dentistry, raising a dedicated athlete, and pursuing a master's is no small feat. I allow the many challenges to fuel my ambition and shape my vision for a career in dental health administration. Managing a full-time profession and being a mother, finding time for academic commitments can be a struggle. A typical day started as early as five in the morning with breakfast and ended as late as two the next morning once dinner was prepared, homework checked, a few chores done, showers and bed. I remember many late nights at dance practices or competitions where I had to bring my laptop to meet the strict deadlines as an undergraduate. Despite the challenges of busy clinical and academic schedules, I made time for dance practices, dance competitions, Girl Scout meetings, and teacher conferences. Only a few times did I allow work or schoolwork to interfere. One birthday, I threw her a sleepover but had to leave my mother in charge to take a test before midnight, however, she knew my support remained unwavering in any part of her life. I always want to be the inspiration that motivates her to advance in her education and career. A lot of emotional strain goes into being a mother to an athlete during her most formative years. I am emotionally available to listen actively and provide encouraging confidence even after my long days at work and long nights of schoolwork while in undergrad. During my daughter's high school to college transitions, it began to be a very taxing task as a single parent. Yet, to overcome this challenge I set aside time to listen to her concerns and achievements and ask her questions helped reinforce the positive support my daughter needs as we continue to grow together. Funding the college education for my daughter and myself has to be the biggest challenge in shaping my career goals. I currently make the sacrifice of working two jobs to pay for both livelihoods as well as for tuition, books, and room and board for my daughter. Now I have the challenge of paying tuition for the master's program as an added priority. Here is where I want my daughter to foster gratitude and a growth mindset. I have modeled the ability to become resilient, strive for goals, balance a demanding career, and manage difficult challenges. I want her to gain the same independence and allow self-growth as I transition from being the primary caregiver to giving my daughter some financial responsibility. As I now pursue my master's degree in health administration, I am reminded that balancing work and family is not about perfection but about embracing each role with purpose. I hope to use my journey to inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter the challenges endured.

In the future my dream self will be in a rural area that suffer from disparities in healthcare providing dental services as a general dentist.

My name is Ashley Law and I am a single mother of a 17 year-old daughter, named Aayanna. She is the light of my life. She is an honor student and have thrived in dancing since the age of four. Aayanna graduates from high school this coming May and has truly been the inspiration I needed to go back to school. I currently attend the Medical University of South Carolina pursing a degree in Science as I also work full time as an oral surgeons dental assistant. My experience in dentistry has allowed me to help others on many occasions, pushing me to pursue my dreams of becoming a general dentist. When I turned 32 years-old, I realized that my daughter will soon be graduating high school and going off to college and I will soon have an empty nest. I made a decision that it was the time to become the best example to Aayanna. Being a single mother already came with many obstacles which we conquered them together. But I wanted to show my daughter that in-spite of life choices, personal goals can be accomplished. My younger years allotted me the opportunity to gain a certification as a dental assistant but as times continue to change, I knew a degree was needed. Since beginning my career in dentistry in 2013, I have had the opportunity to work with children and adults, as lead dental assistant of two offices. The outpouring support from patients have ensured me that I can be a better asset to my community as a dentist. Which I plan to move forward in achieving once I complete my current program. In 2019, I took a leap of faith and applied for my Associates degree in Science. I continued to work full time as well as get a second job to cover the cost of school and dance classes for Aayanna. Times got challenging but I was able to finish with a 3.2 from Orangeburg Tech in Orangeburg Sc. And from there I knew that nothing could not hold me back any longer. Unfortunately, within the pass few months earning my bachelors degree has become a financial struggle. The cost of tuition and books have become extremely high even with a full time job. My senior has also suffered from lack of financial support, making her senior year of high school not as memorable. Which has made me feel as if I have failed her in attempt of chasing my dreams. With this reward I can complete my third semester of school bringing me closer to the finish line where I can then focus on helping Aayanna start her aspirations and dreams of going to college also. Thank you for your time and consideration for this well needed reward.

Healthcare is evolving every day with greater demands in the dental industry. Going hand-in-hand, healthcare has become very challenging in the past years. By pursuing a degree in Healthcare Science, I can continue my aspirations of becoming the first general dentist in my family. Dentistry has become dear to my heart as I have continued to grow in the industry. I currently serve in healthcare as a dental assistant for oral surgery which I have enjoyed for the past five years. Before that division, I worked in pediatric dentistry for a total of six years. And as I have made a success out of my passion for helping others, I want to advance my knowledge and skills in such a field by achieving yet another level of education. Females are only 54.5% of all dentists in the United States of America; of that, 3.8% are black. I want to broaden that number by becoming a part of these statics. As an African American female raised in the south, I observe the need to diversify within the workplace as very important. Diversity allows employees to be more productive and bring together great ideas to better serve customers. Age, sex, ethnicity, education, and skills all play an important part in diversity. Patients of care especially look for this sense of comfort within a faculty from where they seek care. Diversity ensures individuals that they are being treated equally, with the utmost amount of dignity. Providers have a greater chance of being nonjudgmental and giving patient-centered care for better outcomes. As a dental assistant, I help assist, comfort, and educate patients on aftercare for all procedures. I have patients express that my gentle touch and concern for their care help to ease their anxiety they may be experiencing before or during procedures. A question I am asked often is, "are you a current dental student?". Consequently, statements as such encourage me to continue thieving to advance my education and assisting skills and obtain a graduate degree. I want to become great at helping with the expanding diverse society. Upon acceptance into dental school, I would like to begin researching a possible scientific discovery that can help patient dental anxiety. Patient fear or dental anxiety is common in all ages groups and can occur in or out of the dental office. With a better understanding on its cause, we can learn methods to teach preventative tactics that will help increase preventative care numbers in the United States. Also, by doing this patients visit their dentist at least twice a year practicing good dental hygiene.

As a black African American raised in the south, I have learned that education is the key to becoming successful. Education is earned, not given and you must want to thrive in retaining knowledge if you want to make anything of yourself in today's economy. Higher education was not always granted to individuals of my race or gender thus the importance of higher education to me is becoming the first general dentist in my family. So I look at higher education as more to pave the way to obtain a successful career, set self-confidence, and grant a good status for myself in the growing society. Females are only 54.5% of all dentists in the United States of America; of that, 3.8% are black. I want to broaden that number by becoming a part of these statics. Dentistry has become dear to my heart as I have continued to grow in the industry. I currently serve in healthcare as a dental assistant for oral surgery which I have enjoyed for the past five years. Before that division, I worked in pediatric dentistry for a total of six years. And as I have made a success out of my passion for helping others, I want to advance my knowledge and skills in such a field by achieving yet another level of education. In 2005, I became a mother immediately out of high school at the age of 18. I wanted to be the best provider and protector for my child, so I put my education aside and went straight to working. End job after end job, I realized that to provide a healthy, stable environment to raise my daughter, I needed to go back to school and fulfill my dreams in healthcare. In 2013, I made the wise decision and registered myself in a dental assisting school. I dedicated much time and remained motivated by my daughter to finish and gain my certifications. With success, I finished top of my class and went right into my career in dental assisting. By 2019, I knew I wanted more so I enrolled in community college and began my journey of completing my Associate's degree in Science. By way of my degree, I moved forward and applied to The Medical University of South Carolina for the Bachelors of Science in Healthcare Studies program where I currently am learning. The Learner Higher Education Scholarship will provide the boost I need to continue my education path. The worried burden of not having the needed materials to be successful in class can be lessened. And I can remain focused on my curriculum to keep my grade point average in good standing. By doing so. I can go further into graduate school and become the dentist that I have always dreamed of becoming.

Healthcare is evolving everyday along with the dental health field industry. Going hand-in-hand, both have become very challenging in the past few years and very important that I gain as much knowledge needed to fulfill my life time dream necessary for me to become a general dentist. Pursing a degree in STEM is highly recommended to get into a dental graduate program. At that time, I aim to aide individuals of all ages and of different backgrounds as a dental healthcare provider for clients and patients in my community. Giving back has become whom I am a person. So much, I believe it is the bigger reason I enjoy my profession as a dental assistant. It brings much joy, not to only to my patients but myself as well, once I am able to help relieve them of pain, stress or any form of anxiety. It is their gratification that gives me the gratitude needed to ensure I am doing my job in helping those around me. As a dental assistant for over eight years, I have also observed the need for diversity within the healthcare industry. Thus, continuing my education, I can help start needed innovations to expand the trust and overall health amongst the community as a whole. In my current STEM course, the work load is very demanding and requires much discipline. I can honestly say that I believe I am only able to handle it, along with other responsibilities as a parent, do to the age of my daughter at this time. Despite any set backs, I do not allow my schedule to down-play her dreams. My daughter has always been an honor student demonstrating her success as a scholar student. A dancer since the age is four, she still makes time to be a part of the community by serving as part of Girls Scouts of America, Berkeley County her in South Carolina. She has always been my motivation for me to fulfill my dreams. And not only do I want to be successful in completing school but I also want that for my daughter as well. Once I become more advanced in the dental field, I will utilize my research obtained in school to offer different mechanisms or tools to prevent different oral diseases from occurring. Periodontal disease has become one of the most prominent oral diseases in America. Starting in younger adults, periodontal disease causes bad breath along with tooth lost if not treated in an adequate amount of time. In oral surgery, I have experienced larger case loads in the past years with patients in such similar situations. In conclusion, my STEM major will allow me the chance to help make the future a brighter place. Smile.

I see optimism as the same as having good faith. Becoming optimistic began at a young age, where for a short period of time I experienced struggles of poverty in my childhood. There were times we did not have running water. And then there was a time we did not have lights. The most memorable was when my family and I were evicted from the house were we living in and I witness the hatred and disregard one could have for human life. As the oldest of the house at that time, I helped by babysitting at night while my mother worked hard long hours to keep that roof over our heads. Yet it was not enough. I watched my mother hurt on that day as they physically removed our things, and it really was devastating site for me to witness. All in all she remained positive. Keeping us uplifted in the church setting. She made sure that our hearts were restored and instilled in us that our current struggles would not last always, to which they did not, as we were all able to move forward and grow. My mother, even went on to better her education with an A.S. degree. I have grown to become a very strong individual with strong characteristics from those tough times. Being optimistic, I too was able to overcome teen motherhood. My hopes and confidence were that I would provide a better livelihood for my daughter. Thus allowing me to become a very successful dental assistant that I am today. I continue to set bigger goals of becoming a general dentist and in the field of dentistry, despite statistics, I must remain optimistic that it will come to past. It's the faith and hopefulness that positive outcomes are anticipated.

I am a thirty-five year old, African American female, who happens to be a mother that works as a full time dental assistant. Did I mention I am enrolled in school too. Born in New Jersey, my mother moved me and my sibling to South Carolina at a very young age. Our childhood life had its rough moments where we were moving from house to house for a period of time and even homeless for a while. I, being the oldest in the house at the time, I had to babysit my three younger siblings while my mother worked. There even was a time where we to walked everywhere! Those hardships alone made me who I am today which, I am very proud of. At the age of eight teen, I was bless to bring in to this world a beautiful baby girl. The time for school was not in the picture for me. However, I did attempt dental hygiene school but unfortunately I was truly unsuccessful. The school schedule, work and having to provide for a babysitter was all to much for young me. I wanted financial stability for my daughter and I did my best by going to work full time. That is two part time jobs at once. I quickly learned I was in the wrong fields and was not making any real money. I made the decision to fulfill my dreams and go back to school. I took on a six month course in hopes of starting a career thereafter. That too was a fail. Years later I learned that I could obtain my dental assisting degree, with little to none out of pocket. I took big advantage of that opportunity and completed the program with honors. I went on to working in a pediatrics dental office for a total of three years and a half. Where I achieved the position as head dental assistant for the Charleston area office. The occasion then arose in 2017, where I was offered a position at The Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Dental Medicine’s Maxilla and Facial Oral Surgery department where I still reside to this day. I allowed a total of two years to go by with the desire to want to continue my education. In 2019, I applied to Orangeburg Technical College where I have successfully completed my Associates degree in Science as of December 2021. My daughter is my biggest influencer. Without her I would not be driven to want to do better, be better. Growing up together, I always want to be an example to her of what and whom one can become regardless of their upbringing. My success in completing school does not lie within for only myself but also for my daughter as well. I do want her to go off to college to follow her dreams whereas, I did not have that opportunity at her age. She has always been an honor student demonstrating nothing but success. A dancer since the age is four and majorette dancer for six year, she still makes time to be a part of the community by serving as part of Girls Scouts of America, Berkeley County. She now is a junior in high school with desires of going off to college therefore I want to be able to continue to support her with her dreams and aspirations. She continues to motivate me to fulfill my life time goals in dentistry. I desire to be an aide to individuals of all ages and of different backgrounds as a dentist in the community.