Cathleen S Story
Cathleen S Story
Cathleen S Story
Cathleen S Story
Cathleen S Story

Keep going: How you can make it through dental hygiene school when the odds are against you

March 17, 2014
I find the stories of the following students incredibly inspiring. These are my own students and they have gracefully allowed me to share their experiences. I hope they serve as motivation for any of you struggling and wondering if you are going to make it.

March 26, 2014

I have been a dental professor for five years and I am always inspired to see my students overcome incredible obstacles on their way to becoming registered dental hygienists. Dental hygiene school, as we all know, is incredibly demanding with its science-based coursework and equally rigorous clinical components. Even though students are warned of the difficulty of the curriculum, they are always shocked when they experience it firsthand.

I find the stories of the following students incredibly inspiring. These are my own students and they have gracefully allowed me to share their experiences. I hope they serve as motivation for any of you struggling and wondering if you are going to make it.

Within every single college and university, there is a division of student services or student affairs specifically dedicated to providing anything a student needs to succeed. These services include tutoring, supplemental instruction, test preparation, study strategies, counseling by licensed professionals, health care, and physical fitness programs. If you feel stressed and overwhelmed, there are plenty of resources available to you.

But it is my hope that you find the greatest inspiration from knowing that inside you exist all the skills and abilities necessary. Talk to others, share your story, and find comfort in knowing you are not alone.

Diana Macri is the editorial director of RDH Graduate. She is a registered dental hygienist in New York City and co-author of the hygiene blog Empire Hygeniuses. Currently she is an adjunct lecturer at New York City College of Technology and an assistant professor at Hostos Community College. She is a strong advocate for the profession and seeks to promote its expansion and visibility. She practices and teaches in New York City, where she happily resides with her three sons. She may be reached at [email protected].