Graduating from a trade school led me to pursue dentistry and to become a dentist in my future. I enrolled in a trade school through my high school, specifically the dental assisting class. I had always dreamed of doing so many different jobs, but none of them truly lined up with my passion. Seeing that we had an opportunity to join classes like these and get certified within a year or two, I decided to enroll. I joined Dental Science, a one year program where we receive a certificate for dental assisting and 2 certifications for Radiology and Coronal Polishing. The first few weeks were very interesting, as it’s a new environment shaped only around your chosen field. Seeing as there were so many other people pursuing the same field as me, and the variety of other fields, such as veterinary technicians, firefighters, and welders, I felt seen. I felt as though any dream I had could be pursued in this school. It was a comforting place to be, as you could really express yourself and do what you truly enjoy. As time went on, my class began to bond and grow closer together. We had a HOSA program through the school, and I became president of my class. Every month, we had small gatherings during class where we did events for Cancer Awareness Month, Heart Health Awareness Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, and many more. These small get togethers motivated us and created an amazing community of people who all wanted the same thing in the end, a career in the dental industry. Being surrounded by such an amazing group of people who all aspire to do the same thing as you can inspire us to grow and thrive in the environment we are in. After graduating and receiving all of my certificates, I realized that dentistry was my passion. I loved and enjoyed working in healthcare and especially being alongside dentists during procedures. I had found the goal I had always wanted to reach, and nothing else could change that. Now that I am a senior in high school and a certified dental assistant, I aim to go to a university and pursue dental school after that. I plan to get a job in either pediatric dental assisting or orthodontic assisting this year to support myself and save money for my future. An adversity I faced along the way of my journey would be when I moved cities in the middle of the school year to a very small town. I had moved around a few times growing up, but stayed in Phoenix for 7 years in my childhood home. I had grown to love Phoenix and asked my parents if we would live here ‘forever.’ The answer was always yes, but as time went on, their opinions had shifted. They had learned about a growing town about an hour away from where we lived, and began looking at the houses in that area. After a few months of going back and forth on the decision, we moved to a place where we knew nobody. I was devastated as I grew up with my friends in Phoenix, knowing them since elementary school. Starting at a new school was terrifying, only being known as “the new girl.” I had no friends and didn’t know any of the students. It was a tough situation, but I made friends with a group of girls in my grade, slowly adapting to this new place. Those girls are the reason I have grown so much and have gotten to be where I am today.