As a single mother pursuing a higher education has been one of the most rewarding and difficult journeys of my life. For nearly two decades I have worked in the dental field, while raising my children and trying to create a stable future for them . There were many times that continuing my education felt impossible. Between long work hours, financial responsibilities, motherhood, and the emotional weight of trying to do it all; I would question whether I would truly ever reach my goal, but I kept going. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing school, work, and parenting while carrying the financial burden largely on my own. There have been moments when I had to choose between paying bills, buying necessities for my children, or investing in school-related expenses. Even with good credit and years of work experience, finding financial support for school has not been easy. After years of working toward this goal, I was finally accepted into a dental hygiene program, which felt like a dream becoming reality. At the same time the financial reality of tuition, supplies, transportation, and daily life as a student and single mother can feel overwhelming. The truth is, I still do not fully know how I am going to financially make it through this program. Applying for scholarships like this one has become another way of fighting for my future and trying to find a path forward. No matter how difficult things become, I refuse to give up. I have come too far and worked too hard to stop now. I am close to achieving the career I have been striving toward for years, and I am determined to keep pushing forward for myself and for my children. Despite these hardships, this journey has also been deeply fulfilling. My children are my motivation every single day. they have watched me study late at night, attend classes after work, and continue pushing forward even when life became difficult. I hope they grow up understanding the value of perseverance, education, and determination. I want them to see that setbacks do not define a person and that it is never too late to pursue a dream. Working in the dental field for many years has strengthened my passion for helping others. I have seen firsthand how healthcare professionals can change lives through compassion and education. Becoming a dental hygienist will allow me to provide better opportunities for my family while continuing to care for patients and give back to my community. It is not just a career advancement for me, it is a chance to create a long term stability and break cycles of financial struggle for my children. Furthering my education means giving my family hope for a different future. It means showing my children that hard work and sacrifice can open doors that once felt unreachable. I want to uplift my family by creating financial security, becoming a positive example for my children and proving that resilience can overcome even the most difficult circumstances. This scholarship would not only help ease the financial burden of school, but it would also remind me that my hard work, sacrifices, and determination matter. As a single mother, I have learned how to keep moving forward even when the path feels uncertain, and I am committed more than ever to building a future that my children can be proud of.

For nearly 19 years, I have worked in the dental field helping patients from many different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life. Through these experiences, I have learned that one of the most important ways to build a more empathetic and understanding community is through kindness, patience, and genuine human connection. My ability to listen, communicate with compassion, and make people feel comfortable are talents I hope to continue using throughout my career as a future dental hygienist. As a dental assistant, I have met patients who were fearful, embarrassed, financially struggling, or simply overwhelmed by life. Many patients come into dental offices carrying anxiety or shame about their oral health. I have learned that sometimes the smallest acts of compassion, such as listening without judgment, explaining procedures calmly, or simply making someone feel seen and respected, can completely change a patient’s experience. These moments taught me that empathy has the power to build trust and understanding between people, even when they come from very different backgrounds. My personal journey has also shaped the way I connect with others. As a single mother of three who has balanced work, parenting, and school, I understand how difficult life can become when responsibilities feel overwhelming. Pursuing higher education later in life has required perseverance, sacrifice, and resilience. These experiences have strengthened my ability to empathize with others because I understand what it feels like to struggle, work hard, and continue moving forward despite challenges. In addition to my work in dentistry, I operate a small photo booth business that allows me to bring joy and connection to families and communities during special moments in their lives. Whether through healthcare or small celebrations, I value creating spaces where people feel welcomed, appreciated, and comfortable being themselves. I believe these experiences have strengthened my communication skills and my ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. As I continue my education in dental hygiene, I hope to use my skills to educate patients about the importance of oral health while helping reduce fear and anxiety surrounding dental care. I want patients to feel heard rather than judged. I also hope to encourage compassion within healthcare settings by treating every patient with dignity, patience, and understanding regardless of their circumstances. Building a more empathetic global community begins with the way we treat people in our everyday lives. I may not be able to change the entire world on my own, but I believe meaningful change starts one interaction at a time. Through compassion, education, and service, I hope to positively impact my community and inspire others to approach people with greater understanding and kindness. Returning to school at this stage in my life has reminded me that growth and purpose have no age limit. My experiences have shaped me into someone who values empathy deeply, and I am committed to using my talents and education to make others feel respected, supported, and cared for wherever my career takes me.

For nearly two decades I have worked in the dental field while raising three children as a single mother. Although becoming a dental hygienist has been my dream for many years, life responsibilities often required me to place my education on hold while I took the time to focus on supporting my family. Today, after years of determination, sacrifice, and persistence, I have finally been accepted into a dental hygiene program. This opportunity represents more than a career advancement to me. It represents proof that hard work and persistence eventually open doors. It does not matter how long the journey takes. Working as a dental assistant for almost 19 years has shaped my values and career aspirations. Throughout my career, I have seen how oral health affects a person's confidence, health, and even quality of life. I have witnessed fear and seen how not having access to the proper education and preventative care can emotionally impact patients. These experiences inspired me to pursue higher education so that I can play a role in patient care, education, and prevention as a dental hygienist. My journey has not been easy. Balancing work, parenting, and school has required lots of discipline and sacrifice. There were many moments when financially I felt that I could not continue this path. I felt that it was not a reachable goal, and that my time had passed. However, I refuse to give up on the future plans that I have for me and my children. I want my children to see that perseverance matters and that it is never too late to pursue your goals. Even if the path is difficult. In addition to working as a dental assistant, I also operate a small photo booth business to help support my family and contribute toward educational cost. The business is difficult to keep up with since I have started the dental hygiene program because of how demanding it has been. Mainly working weekends and nights to get through clients events. I have had to sacrifice attending my children's sports events and even being able to attend school events at times. The cost of tuition, supplies, transportation, and balancing reduced work hours while attending school continues to be extremely challenging. Receiving this scholarship would help ease some of the financial burden and allow me to focus fully on succeeding in my program and completing my educational goal successfully. As a future dental hygienist, I hope to make a positive impact by helping patients feel comfortable, informed, and cared for during their dental visits. I hope to serve patients who may feel anxious about dental treatment or who have limited access to oral health education. I believe compassion, patience, and education can make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This stage of my life has taught me resilience, empathy, and gratitude. Returning to school as a working single mom has strengthened my commitment to both my own personal growth and community service. This scholarship would not only help me continue my education, but would also bring me one step closer to achieving a dream and creating a better future for my family.

In July I will celebrate a 19 year mile stone of working as a dental assistant. Throughout all these years I have developed a passion for patient care and oral health education. Working closely with patients has shown me how much being compassionate, encouraging, and helping them with proper dental care can truly change someone's confidence and even overall health. These are the experiences that continue to inspire me to pursue a career in dental hygiene. I want to continue making an impact in the lives of others. Becoming a dental hygienist has been a long term dream of mine. The journey has not been easy. I am a single mother of three children and I have been balancing work, and school, as well as my family. There were moments when life felt overwhelming, but I remained focused on my goal because I want to build a better future for my family. I also want to prove to my children that perseverance and hard work matter. After years of dedication and sacrifice, being accepted into a dental hygiene program has felt so rewarding. I am now more then ever dedicated to making sure this goal is accomplished. My heart wants it so bad and I know it is only a matter of time. My experience as a dental assistant has prepared me well for this next step. I have learned the importance of team work, patient communication, infection control, and simply helping patients feel comfortable during treatment. I hope to use my future role as a dental hygienist not only to provide good care, but also educate patients on the importance of preventative dentistry and overall health. Although I am proud of how far I have come, the financial burden of continuing my education is one of the biggest challenges I face. I work hard to support my children while attending school, and I am constantly looking for ways to make it through the program financially. Receiving this scholarship would help ease the stress of tuition, supplies, and educational expenses, which will allow me to focus more on my studies. This scholarship will not only help support my education, but also support a dream that I have worked toward for many years. I want my children to see that the length of the journey does not matter. Determination and faith can lead to success. I am committed to completing this program and making a positive difference in the dental field for years to come. As well as in my home.