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Tiara Williams

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Bio

My name is Tiara Williams, and I am a mother of three who currently works as a Dental Assistant. I am looking to further my education by becoming a Dental Hygienist and adding to the 3.7% of minorities that currently work in the dental field. I enjoy what I do and being able to restore patient smiles and love educating my community on the need for and importance of proper oral hygiene.

Education

Columbia College

Associate's degree program
2012 - 2022
  • Majors:
    • Education, General

Fulton Sr. High

High School
2001 - 2004

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Associate's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Dentistry
    • Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Dental Hygiene

    • Dream career goals:

    • Pharmacy Technician

      University Missouri Healthcare
      2006 – Present19 years
    • Dental Assistant

      Heartland Dental
      2013 – 202411 years

    Sports

    Basketball

    Junior Varsity
    1997 – 19992 years

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Community dental events — Dental assisting
      2016 – 2022

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Jennifer Gephart Memorial Working Mothers Scholarship
    I am a mother of three, I currently work as a dental assistant for a local dental office. I have been working in this field for over 10 years now and love what I do. I decided to return to school in 2018 to finish the necessary course work to pursue dental hygiene school. I work a second job on the weekends with individuals with special needs by helping integrate them in the community and taking care of them in their homes to help supplement my income to pay for college courses out of pocket. My oldest will graduate from high school this year and I felt the need to focus on myself more and tap into my potential and passion. There is a huge need for dental hygienist and especially in the minority communities. Many do not understand the education that comes along with proper oral hygiene care. I would love to become a hygienist so that I am able to provide the necessary education to others and continue on with my passion. The percentage of African American women in the field is very small, I would love to be able to add to that percentage. I had my oldest at a very young age and I was told that by having her my world would stop and I would never amount to nothing more than just someone that takes care of her. I stayed in a slump for many years and struggled with finding a job because I had no college degree. I lucked up on the opportunity to become a pharmacy technician and things that for me from there. Having a very small village to help with my child, the challenge of returning to school and pursuing a degree was hard. I eventually began to take some online courses but having no real direction on where to start, I wasted a lot of federal money just taking unnecessary classes. I had to put my plans on hold as I didn't know what I really wanted to go to school for, I ended up taking a 10-week course every Saturday still working as a technician and being pregnant with my second child through a local dental office for dental assisting without truly knowing anything about Dentistry as I thought this could possibly be similar to nursing and the easiest way for me to get there. The two were nothing alike. but I enjoyed it. I was able to secure a job with a local dental office before I finished the course, and I was taught everything that I really needed to know about Dentistry from the two Doctors that I worked for. I remained with those Doctors for two years and felt that I needed to do more. I gained my credentials to work without doctor supervision and landed a job in community health where I worked for 5 1/2 years. The joy that I receive from the helping those in the community and being able to educate others is all that I need on top of being a good mother and showing my kids to move at your own pace. Everyone's path is not yours and you can never give up.
    Tiara Williams Student Profile | Bold.org