Growing up in a low income household, my family never stressed about the importance of oral hygiene. Throughout my childhood, I was known to be the kid with the most stains and calculus on their teeth. I felt embarrassed and insecure whenever I was asked to smile. I remember going to my dental appointment, the dentist had embarrassed me in front of my family about the calculus build up. That encounter had left me confused and upset. From that day, I was determined to show the dentist that I was able to clean my teeth well at home. I rushed to the pharmacy to gather all the recommended interdental aides needed to accomplish this goal.  I made a daily goal to practice brushing twice a day, use mouth rinse and floss. Although it wasn’t always perfect, I’ve noticed minor improvements in my oral hygiene every time. Ever since then, I’ve become highly interested and involved in my family’s oral hygiene routine and habits. Before applying to the dental hygiene program, I’ve always known I wanted to be in a humanitarian field where I can contribute my skills and knowledge to help the community and people who are close to me. My original goal was to go back to college to apply for the nursing program, but I’ve decided to focus on dental hygiene, a field and role that I’ve been practicing since I was young.