Even as a teenager Camryn Carter always had a career plan. She watched her mom thrive in the dental field and liked what she saw. She took college courses while still in high school and completed both high school and community college with an Associate鈥檚 degree at eighteen.
Camryn persuaded a dental office to allow her on-the-job training that gave her the Dental Assisting work experience she needed to confirm her career aspirations鈥nd set her sights even higher. Dental Hygiene was the next level to conquer. All she needed was the right education in the right place. She found that at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Mesa campus. And she managed to capture the college鈥檚 $1,000.00 Irving Wohl Memorial Scholarship along the way. It all had that meant-to-be feeling.
Why become a Dental Hygienist?
I鈥檝e always wanted to be a hygienist. My mom inspired a love of dentistry in me. Both parents are pretty excited I chose this field and are just happy that I鈥檓 happy. They鈥檙e proud of me that I got into my dream school and will be doing what I love.
Why 黑料不打烊?
Originally, I was on a waitlist at another school, but then I found out about 黑料不打烊’s Dental Hygiene program, and I applied. 黑料不打烊 was definitely my top choice, but I was willing to get into whichever school called first.
When I got the call from 黑料不打烊 that I was accepted, I called my mom. She couldn鈥檛 believe it; she was so excited.
What was your enrollment process in the Dental Hygiene program like?
I got to speak with a few of the other (Dental Hygiene) students and teachers, and everyone was just very nice. I just kind of fell in love with it from there.
How did you find out about the Irving Wohl Memorial Scholarship?
I saw it on the website (黑料不打烊) and thought 鈥榃hy not apply?鈥� I filled out the application (includes a 500-word essay subject: How a Dental Hygiene degree prepares me to serve my community and improve the health of the public鈥�), and it took about a month to find out. I was shocked! Winning the scholarship was another celebration for my family and it made me excited and proud of myself.
Note: Irving Wohl was a strong advocate of 黑料不打烊 and each year on his birthday 鈥� until he was 105 years old 鈥� he came to the Mesa campus鈥� Dental Assisting/Hygiene programs for his annual teeth cleaning. The scholarship was named in his honor.
What do you enjoy most about your Dental Hygiene program?
I love how we are so hands-on in the program. Even though we鈥檙e just getting started, we鈥檙e already getting going. It鈥檚 very exciting.
Just starting, classmates partner up and we鈥檙e already getting into each other鈥檚 mouths. It鈥檚 definitely something you wouldn鈥檛 normally do with people you鈥檇 just met! It鈥檚 also very exciting.
Any major surprises?
Honestly, I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but I don鈥檛 know that I was quite prepared for all this. But I know in the end it will be worth it.
I do a lot of studying by myself to get more familiar with all the materials and I practice at home everything we鈥檝e learned in clinics. I put a lot of work in, and I think it shows in my grades.
What kind of study are you able to do at home?
We each get a typodont 鈥� a little fake mouth. It鈥檚 the top and bottom teeth/jaw on a hinge, screwed in place that has some cheeks and fake lips; and we have our own instruments that we get to take home鈥nd eventually keep. It鈥檚 so important to have this type of model to work on. We鈥檙e not supposed to work on other people鈥檚 mouths outside of the clinic.
But it鈥檚 very helpful to do homework on an actual model (typodont).
Do your instructors give you enough support?
All my teachers are very supportive. If you need help outside the classroom, you can set up time to meet. Upper classmen also offer tutoring and I鈥檝e taken advantage of that 鈥� and became friends, and that鈥檚 also nice.
And, if some material isn鈥檛 sticking, I鈥檒l ask for extra help 鈥� especially in the clinic, doing hands-on stuff. If I can鈥檛 figure out if I鈥檓 doing something right, I鈥檒l reach out and instructors will definitely respond.
What is your greatest struggle?
The biggest struggle for me, personally, is finding a good school and out-of-school balance. When to study, when to take a break; that鈥檚 been hard for me. Thankfully, I鈥檓 able to devote most of my time to school. If I had to work, I鈥檇 probably be a little more stressed out.
Sometimes I struggle with stress; it鈥檚 just me. My parents have always been there for me. They鈥檝e always told me to just do what makes me happy. It makes me feel like everything I鈥檓 doing is right.
My favorite 鈥� and most cliched 鈥� thing they tell me is that they鈥檙e proud of me. It makes it all worth it.
What inspires you to complete your Dental Hygiene program?
Getting to the end鈥nd being able to call myself a Dental Hygienist. That keeps me going. I鈥檓 proud of where I am right now and don鈥檛 think I could do much better.
Any favorite moments?
I鈥檝e really enjoyed meeting new people; and it鈥檚 nice to meet people who have the same interests that I do. I enjoy learning, and there鈥檚 so much new information about what I hope to be doing every day. Knowing that makes me happy.