My name is Dominique Diaz Kotzer and I am the only person in my family to go to college and finish college with a degree. I want to do it again! My family strongly believes that being proud of my accomplishments is self- centered and negative. I do not have help or resources to fully help myself get through my bachelors of dental hygiene alone. I'm ambitious and have three little girls at home that cheer me on through it all. They are 4, 6, and 9 years old and are super excited for their mom to reach her dreams and goals. I have a support team of my husband, my kids, and my mother. My mom is proud of my accomplishments and would help me reach my financial goals but she is sick. My mom was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2024 and she needs a kidney and will be starting dialysis soon. I've been working two jobs to help support my family and try to help my mom as much as I can too. This is difficult when I have daycare, regular bills and trying to save for college tuition. I will not have enough financial aid to finish my bachelor of dental hygiene program, I will need to seek other resources. I am ambitious and not too proud to ask for help when I need it. I will continue to work as a dental assistant and utilize my free time and weekend to fill in as a "temp dental assistant" as much as possible to save money to reach my dreams and have my dream career. Anything is possible when you work and pray hard enough! Being able to achieve my goals does not only benefit myself, I will be able to show my kids that anything is possible when you put in the effort. Speaking of effort, that's my daughters favorite word. Her third grade teacher always tells her students to put in "full effort" and her class is thriving. They love to learn and are starting to talk about their own goals too. It's very important not only the younger generations we are molding to become great individuals. But, it is also important to show everyone around us that it's not too late to start over. It's not too late to push for the life we deserve. Everyone deserves to have the ability to live their best life! I'm fortunate to have a job, but I want a career. I want to be a respected individual in dentistry. I will graduate with a white coat ceremony and make everyone proud! I will be the best dental provider anyone could ask for because our overall health does start in the oral cavity. One day soon I will be able to help save and change lives! Dominique Diaz Kotzer, LDA