Modern Hygienist - February 2009 - (Page 36)

life | SURVIVING PRODUCT GUIDE Tricia Jinbo, RDH, BS, is a clinically practicing dental hygienist living in Honolulu. born, I decided to go back to school. I had two main motivators: First, being a stay-at-home mom isn’t as easy as it looks on TV; second, you can’t get a good paying job without a degree. Originally, I thought nursing would be the fastest way to finish school and get a decent salary; I could get a nurse’s aid certificate and then work at a hospital to get my foot in the door while working on my LPN. I had always wanted to help people. It looked as though “Plan B” was coming together. I got the certificate and a job at a hospital near school. I worked from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m.,and then I’d go to class from 9 a.m. until about 3 p.m. I would sleep in my car waiting for class to start. At the time, I figured from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. my daughter would be sleeping, making her easy for my parents to care for, and during the day, I would use what little cash the state gave me to pay for a baby sitter. After a few years, “Plan B” unravelled. Seeing people sick and dying was too hard for me. I wanted to be a dental hygienist, but I thought the schooling was too long; the University of Hawaii only has a bachelor program. My nursing advisor told me to do what I could imagine myself doing as a career. So, I applied to hygiene school. Luckily, as a single parent I had a scholarship and grants available. While in hygiene school, I was president of my class, which led to leadership scholarships. I was in school from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. most days, with clinics from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. My parents were a huge help. After finally graduating in 2002, I got a job as a full-time hygienist. I’ve been volunteering my time on the Board of Trustees for the Hawaii Dental Hygienist Association for the past six years; I feel the need to give back and support my profession, which did so much to support me. I have also recently bought my first home—all by myself. I am thankful for my parents, for their support and for raising me to never quit. I’ve had a long, hard struggle to get here, but I wouldn’t change a thing. My experiences have made me stronger, and I am a better person for them. mh ad index ADVERTISER American Dental Association Colgate Conﬁrm Monitoring System Crosstex International GC America Inc. Keystone Industries National Children’s Dental Foundation Plak Smacker Preventech Pro 2 Solutions Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble Saf-T-K-Dent-Tip Splintek Sunstar Americas Inc. PAGE 11 7 6 2A, 42A 5 18 26 9 C3 12 C2 15 CV 4 6 17 32 advertising sales VP/GENERAL MANAGER Richard Fischer 773-249-4526 Fax: 773-249-4502 rﬁscher@advanstar.com NORTHWEST Chrissy Byron 925-548-7128 cbyron@advanstar.com NORTHEAST Steve Kessler 732-357-7501 Fax: 732-627-0214 skessler@advanstar.com DISPLAY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Linda Barrier 800-225-4569 ext.2701 Fax: 440-891-2650 lbarrier@advanstar.com MIDWEST Angela Gibbs 773-249-4515 Fax: 815-772-7871 agibbs@advanstar.com E-MEDIA Dan Krippner 773-249-4587 Fax: 773-249-4501 dkrippner@advanstar.com SOUTHWEST Dana Chiuminatta 714-513-8606 Fax: 714-513-8845 dchiuminatta@advanstar.com 36 modernhygienist.com | February 2009 http://www.modernhygienist.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Hygienist - February 2009

Modern Hygienist - February 2009 Contents Editor's Letter Letters News Modern Solutions Caring for Kids The DNA Difference A Healthy Perspective The Economic Impact on You How Single Moms Make it Work Ad Index Classified Economy 101

Modern Hygienist - February 2009

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