2019 Future Alumni Essay Contest
Endless days and nights were fueled by the needs and cries of little ones. Sleep was no longer a priority, but more of a luxury. I was a mother trying to cope with parenting a one-year-old daughter as well as a newborn daughter. My life 7 years ago seemed fulfilled by the love of a husband and the blessing of children. I thrived as a stay-at-home mom who was lucky to experience and enjoy each day with my children as they learned new things. I told myself that I would be the most upstanding wife and mom by doing everything possible to keep our home clean and organized. My husband worked effortlessly to keep a steady income that provided for our family. The struggles of providing for a family of four with one income began to be daunting. The monotony of each day slowly started to bring on a sense of sadness and missed opportunity.
Refusing to settle for a life of living paycheck to paycheck is what inspired me to pursue new opportunities. With the support of my husband and family I decided to apply for the Dental Hygiene Program at Trident Technical College. The thought of juggling home life and school life was honestly gut-wrenching. From the moment I received my acceptance phone call, my life was forever changed.
Attending TTC means so much more than getting a degree. The academic portion of college remains to be of utmost importance, but without knowing who you are as a person, that knowledge can only take you so far. The time spent at TTC has been exciting, yet stressful. It has taught me so many life lessons outside of academics that have helped shape me to the person I want and need to be in order to be successful.
There are two main aspects that have proven to be influential in my life. To begin with, I have learned that there will always be obstacles to overcome and that I am not alone. You must push through and fight for the end reward. Nobody can make you do the hard work, but my TTC dental hygiene faculty and student peers have certainly helped me be my own advocate and helped me to understand that there are so many amazing opportunities after college. Being licensed as a dental hygienist does not come easy. Our faculty has always said, “You will probably cry at least once in this program.” We have found this to be true! But, the tears have always seemed to make the turn from tears of sadness to tears of joy. The emotion involved in this program has built relationships that will last a lifetime. We are strong individually but are stronger together.
To this day I have moments of being shy and unwilling to step outside of my comfort zone. Amazingly, the dental hygiene program at TTC has helped bring down the barrier walls of social anxiety. We are a small, close-knit group of girls which makes no room for hiding in the corner! Watching others in this group speak openly in lecture, and the level of confidence they carry, has been so inspiring. The instructors push us to our limits with competencies that seem unachievable. The adrenaline and fear of removal from the program helps in unimaginable ways to face the fears and come out stronger. We are being instilled with the qualities that are necessary to educate our patients. Without being pushed outside of your comfort zone, you have no idea how capable you are!
TTC has also been valuable by supporting the community. The college is determined to provide accessibility. There are several different campuses that allow for easier access throughout the tri-county area. Studies are achievable through diploma, certificate, and/or continuing education. TTC also knows that the community needs flexibility in regards to scheduling. Several students strive to keep a full-time job while being enrolled in a program. To help this situation, TTC offers day and night campus classes as well as online classes. As practicing dental hygiene students, we are able to reach out to our community through the TTC dental clinic. We provide several dental services such as cleanings and x-rays. Our services come at a highly reduced rate in order to better serve patients with dental needs. The patients that we have been able to meet have been so appreciative and humbling that it has inspired all of us to want to do more for the community.
Needless to say, TTC is helping my family tremendously. Being involved in the dental hygiene program has given me responsibilities outside of the house that helps me feel like I am not stuck in a rut. My husband and I have learned how to better work as a team and we strive to support one another. The education that I am receiving is set to the highest standards and will reflect the college in an outstanding manner. The skills that I am being taught will allow me to pursue a career that helps relieve the financial burden in my house. And, in a few short months, I am confident that I will be able to say I am a Trident Technical College alumni!
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