6 minute read
KAELEIGH GRAGG
Destined for Dentistry
Kaeleigh always knew that she wanted to do something related to science, and she loved anything associated with biology. She was also a strong student who loved an academic challenge, even going as far as attending the Early College program at CCC&TI to earn her Associates in Science and Arts.
Once she graduated high school, Kaeleigh’s ambition carried her far—she began to explore different programs like Nursing or Radiography. Nothing sparked her interest as much as she had hoped; that is, until she considered applying to the Dental Hygiene Program at CVCC.
She had no dental assisting experience, but Kaeleigh was determined to set her self up for success; so, while she applied to CVCC’s Dental Hygiene program, she also applied for a position at Green Park Dentistry so that she could get a feel for the true dental world.
While she didn’t get the job on the first try, Kaeleigh did transfer to CVCC to complete any remaining prerequisites in her college degree, and after the initial coursework was completed, she submitted an application to the CVCC Dental Hygiene program. With high hopes for the answer, Kaeleigh could not wait. She remembers the day she received the final email.
“I was working a shift at Chick-Fil-A,” she says, “when I saw the email notification on my phone. The subject line said: 2021 Dental Hygiene Program Status. Dear Kaeleigh, The Dental Hygiene review has been completed and your name has been placed on the list of ALTERNATES for the Fall 2021 Dental Hygiene class.”
The news struck her hard; not only did she lose the opportunity to have a dream job at Green Park Dentistry, but also, she did not get a smooth entry into the program of her dreams. Swirling through feelings of defeat and confusion, Kaeleigh wondered if this meant that dentistry isn’t the right path for her.
“I remember thinking...I’ll have to go back to the drawing board and to find something else to try.”
At the bottom of this email, Kaeleigh noticed a message about CVCC’s Dental Assisting program, a separate yet similar degree which could put her on the right path.
And, after she applied, Kaeleigh was thrilled to be accepted to the Dental Assisting program that semester. With a refreshed ambition, Kaeleigh reached out to Green Park Dentistry again just to let them know she would be interested in applying for any open assistant positions that students could hold without a degree.
Green Park hired her for the job before the CVCC Dental Assisting program began.
Kaeleigh was proud of herself, and for good reason: she used her unexpected news to carve a new channel of learning that both satisfied her dreams and gave her opportunities to grow.
She gained lots of encouragement from Dr. Nikki Hicks, Department Head and Instructor of Dental Education at CVCC.
“She was an amazing educator and made the class a lot of fun,” Kaeleigh remembers. “Although we all came across challenging points during the program, Dr. Hicks was always so supportive and uplifting.” One of the unexpected benefits of the CVCC Dental Assisting program is that our students are able to shadow professional dentists in their local offices. Kaeleigh and her classmates were assigned different offices to shadow so that, beyond the classroom, they were able to explore a variety of field specialties— periodontists, oral surgeons, and pediatric dentists.
“I believe that shadowing was a really important factor in the program,” Kaeleigh emphasizes, because it showed us the distinct parts of a dental office along with potential options within the dental assisting role.”
During class, students worked together to help each other learn course material and they all encouraged each other to finish strong. There was a lot of detailed information that had to be translated from the textbook to hands-on practice; if a student did something successfully, everyone was there to cheer them on. If they couldn’t figure out how to complete an assignment or project, someone was always nearby to help. “Having that type of support system is such an important aspect when it comes to any course or program,” she says.
Six months later, Kaeleigh completed the Dental Assisting program and continued working at Green Park Dentistry with full plans to reapply to the CVCC Dental Hygiene program. She was right on track for a successful degree; yet, someone at the Green Park office changed her mind about her career plans and what she was capable of accomplishing.
“I remember talking about my plans with one of the dentists at the office,” she recalls, “and he said that I should look into becoming a dentist since I liked assisting so much. After that conversation, becoming a dentist was all I could think about. After the encouragement and support of friends and family, I decided that dentistry is what I wanted to do.”
By enrolling in the Dental Assisting program while working at a professional dental office, Kaeleigh increased her access to hands-on experience. Unlike shadowing someone else’s work, hands-on learning allowed Kaeleigh to actively take part in oral care and gain the right knowledge to help her excel.
“Experience is your best friend,” she remarks.“Try finding a dental office that is willing to let you work or volunteer as an assistant, even if it’s for a short amount of time. Putting yourself in the fast-paced environment of a dental office and working with patients can really give you a better understanding of how everything works, plus, it can also help you decide if a career in dentistry is right for you.”
Kaeleigh is currently earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from UNC Charlotte and plans to graduate in the fall of 2024. After graduation, she aims to enter a dental school program in the fall of 2025.
“From my previous experiences, I’ve learned that patience, determination, and commitment are all important things to have. The road to success looks different for everyone, but being consistent with your intentions will get you where you want to be in the end.”
