Sometimes, you can find your calling in the most unusual places. In Kristie Hamilton’s case, she found it at the dental office. As a kid, she had always been intrigued by what goes on in the chair. She would ask her dentist – or hygienist – if she could have a mirror, so she could watch the dental work being done in her own mouth. When she told her high school counselor about going into dentistry, however, her counselor discouraged her because of her grades.
So what happened next?
Kristie did not give up. When her mother saw an ad for the Santa Clarita School of Dental Assisting (SCSDA) in the local newspaper, Kristie knew she had to give it a shot. She went with her mom to the open house, asked a ton of questions, went home and analyzed all the details. There were three key things that made her decision to sign up a no-brainer: 1) The fact that SCSDA’s courses are hands-on; 2) That classes were kept small; 3) That the teachers worked with students individually, harnessing their strengths and strengthening their weak points, so that they could all pursue a career in dentistry.
“Traditional classroom lectures aren’t really for me,” says Kristie. “I’m a tactile person. I learn by physically doing it. If I can touch it and see it done, I can grasp the concept.”
It was also at SCSDA that Kristie found the niche she was looking for – hygiene. “I knew I wanted to do more, and my SCSDA teachers encouraged me to pursue hygiene school. I thought it was the perfect fit.”
After getting her Dental Assisting certificate from SCSDA, Kristie promptly got a job at a dental office. She worked full-time while putting herself through hygiene school and after 8 years, graduated as a Registered Dental Hygienist – with honors.
“It took me longer than usual to get my degree because I only went to school part-time,” says Kristie, “but I was really determined to further my knowledge and career.”
Now a Registered Dental Hygienist, Kristie looks back fondly at the time when she could have been discouraged from pursuing her dream. “I’m really grateful to SCSDA,” she says. “It was the stepping stone that helped me realize my goals, and helped me land a rewarding and stable career.”
For more information about the Santa Clarita School of Dental Assisting, go to www.DentalJobNow.com or call 661-799-9JOB (9562).