Tragedies That Inspired by Hailee

Tragedies That Inspired by Hailee - August 2022 Scholarship Essay

Throughout the course of my childhood, my mother struggled with alcoholism resulting in many of her teeth rotting and needing to be extracted due to the potential risk of gum disease. As a result, she struggles to find the confidence to smile or take photos with family. This setback for my mom is my biggest drive in being the first to go to college to become a dental hygienist. In the town I grew up in, dental care was not strongly grounded and if there was care available, it was beyond anyone's financial reach so in many cases it was disregarded. For this reason, I became invested in this career path and asked for guidance from my community on how to get into the dental field to help those in need. I admire those who enjoy helping others gain a beautiful smile, as I hope to do the same for my mother by becoming a dental hygienist.
I believe that the Varsity Tours Monthly Scholarship will greatly assist me in pursuing my goal of giving back to my community. In recent years, my community and I dealt with one of California’s largest forest fires in my hometown of Paradise, resulting in the complete loss of homes, structures, and loved ones. Through this experience, I was able to witness firsthand how far a little help goes in the face of tragedy. It was in these moments that I reflect on today that inspired me to want to do more for those in need. I know I am not a superhero and saving individuals' lives may not be an option for me, but I can make certain situations less painful by utilizing my gained education in dental hygiene to provide oral hygiene where dentistry is non-existent and provide free, low-cost care for those in need.