My mom and family have always been big on faith. Ever since I can remember my mom and I always said a quick prayer thanking God for waking up another day and having each other. We always pray before we eat, and as always as family we pray before we go to sleep. Every Sunday we go to church, and come home and eat Sunday lunch with al the family. However there was a time in my life that I questioned my faith. I was born with a dental condition called Amelogenesis imperfecta. This made a huge impact on my life as child in elementary all the way through middle school. Amelogenesis Imperfecta affected my teeth to be brittle and break and chip very easily. My teeth were an ugly rotten yellow color. I was constantly made fun of and bullied because of my teeth. This made me become someone who wanted to hide from the world and people. I withdrew from talking to anyone and keeping to myself. Every day before walking into school I would say a prayer asking to God to let today be a good day and not have anyone judge me because of my teeth. My mom took me to several different dentist to try and get me the help I needed. At the time we didn't know what my condition was, every dentist we went to always called my mom a bad mother and wanted to make cps reports on her. I would pray everyday to God to help us find a Dentist that would help me. In total we went to 27 dental offices. I had given up faith that no one would be able to help me know what wrong with me and could help. Finally one day, after my called 10 dental office in and around San Antonio she found a dental office that said they could help. I remember that day because I woke up excited and thanking God that we had finally found someone. Even though the dentist couldn't give me a diagnosis, she still helped me. I had composite put on my front teeth, that made them look white. I was so blessed and cried for hours, because my teeth looked normal for once. This however was the first obstacle I went through. Next they had me get an expander which required my mom to rotate a device in my mouth which would stretch it. This ended up being so painful and would constantly cut my upper mouth causing sores, and not wanting to eat. Afterwards the dentist recommended I get a gingivectomy, which was cutting extra gums on my teeth to make room for braces. Even though I was in pain from everything I was grateful to God for the help. The dental office finally told us we had to seek further help for a permanent solution. We ended up finding an Orthodonist in New Braunfels that changed my life forever. Dr. Rapanotti was and adult orthodontist, but she took a chance at me. She interviewed me, and finally gave us the diagnosis. We were given two decisions to get dentures or get all my teeth crowned. With the help of God and my mom I was able get all my teeth crowned, and my life was changed forever.

My name is Felicta De Reyna, I believe education is of most importance. I believe with a very strong education you can be able to help your family, and community. You have the power to make a difference with education, but with education comes responsibility. I remember going with my mom to her college anatomy classes when I was 6 and I was intrigued by what was being taught.Ever since then I knew my career would be in science or healthcare. This program requires me to be responsible enough to interact with adults in the dental clinic settings, assess certain situations that may arise,get myself to and from the dental clinics, and still make sure I get my classwork done.I am currently in the dental assistant program in high school. When I graduate in 2026 my goal is to graduate as a certified dental assistant, certified to give nitrous oxide, have a certification in phlebotomy and cpr and first aid. These are just my short term goals. After high school I plan on going to college and becoming a registered nurse. My long term goal is becoming an obstetrician gynecologist. Of course none of this would be possible for me to achieve without the help of my mom. I come from a single mom background. I have these goals set for myself because she believes in me, and pushes me to be the best person I can be.By achieving these goals I have set for myself, and pursuing my education, I can give back to my community by making sure they can receive the best healthcare they can from me. This will eventually lead up to me opening up my own non profit health clinic in honor of my mom.