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Maren, a determined mother of three, faced incredible challenges on her journey to becoming a licensed dental hygienist. Just weeks after a car accident that left her with a concussion, she lined up at 4 a.m. at the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners’ annual licensing expo in Austin, Texas. With her temporary dental hygiene license in hand by lunchtime, she was able to start her new career immediately—a remarkable achievement given the high stakes and tight deadlines she faced.
Balancing motherhood, rigorous coursework, and the demands of clinical training, Maren relied on her strong support network, including her children, family, classmates, and mentors. She credits her perseverance not only to her own determination but also to her faith and the encouragement of those around her. Her story of careful planning and sheer grit demonstrates that even under extreme pressure, success is possible. In this interview, Maren shares her journey from navigating the competitive dental hygiene program to launching her career and providing a new chapter of stability and opportunity for her family. We are so appreciative to her for taking the time to tell us about her journey and honored to have had the opportunity to walk alongside her as she worked to achieve her career goals. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Jorge: How have things been since you finished your program?
Maren: It’s been really good. Honestly, things moved fast for me. Right after finishing the program, I had an interview and got hired on the spot—before I had even taken my boards or gotten my license. The offer was basically pending my exam results, but it all happened immediately after my graduation date.
My practical board was the same weekend as my interview, so I sent those results to my employer as soon as they were available. Then, about two weeks later, I took the written board and sent that over once it was done.
That part was tough. A week before my written exam, my family and I were rear-ended in a car accident, and I ended up with a concussion. Everyone told me not to take the exam and to postpone it so I could recover. But I felt like I couldn’t delay it—everything was riding on me taking that board.
Jorge: That is so wild you had to take your written exam while you were still getting over the accident.
Maren: Yeah, I felt like I had to do it because in Austin they have a one-day-a-year licensing expo for graduates. If you show up with all your paperwork—your board results and everything—they process it on the spot, and you walk out with a temporary license. You can start working the same day. I really needed to take advantage of that.
Normally, especially during graduation season, the licensing process can take three to four months.
Jorge: Wow, you were really on it!!
Maren: I had to take my boards early so I could get the results in time for the expo. I told the doctor at urgent care, and I was completely out of it because of the concussion, but I said, “I have to take this exam in a few days. I can’t postpone it.” She told me, “No studying for the next three days—just sleep and rest.” So, in the end, I had only about two days to review. I went in, took the board, and passed. So, yay—but it was really crazy.
At the same time, I was living with my sister with my kids because she was helping me get through school. She ended up having her first baby, so there was even more urgency for me to find a job and move out so she could have her space. She had her baby last week, and I thought, I really need to find a place for us. I took my offer letter to a realtor and was actually able to secure a home with just that—no pay stubs yet. The landlord approved it, and we moved in last week.
So I went to the expo, got my license, and started work two days later.
Jorge: OMG—everything happened back-to-back. There was no room for error.
Maren: Exactly. Last month was incredibly stressful. Everything had to go perfectly: passing my boards, getting the license, starting the job, getting the house. It was a lot. But I managed to pull it off. Here we are now.
Jorge: Congratulations on holding it all together.
Maren: It was insane. But I got my first paycheck last week, and that was so exciting. You never see a check that big before and it hits you—this is really happening.
We finally made it. And it’s huge for my kids too. They’re so happy that we have our own home again and don’t have to stay with relatives or friends. It’s been really good for us.
Jorge: Can you tell me a little about how you went from prerequisites to getting into the program?
Maren: Sure. I actually started college back in Austin around 2007–2008, planning to study dental hygiene. But I got married, dropped out, and had my first child, so I didn’t finish. Fast forward, I’m a single parent and realized that to be independent with my kids, I needed to finish my degree.
About three years ago, I started looking into going back to school. I saw how competitive dental hygiene was, but I discovered that HCC offers a bridge program for dental assistant graduates. So I finished my prerequisites—some of which I’d completed years ago, though I had to retake sciences like anatomy and chemistry because they expire after five years. I also redid a few other classes to boost my scores and competitiveness. Then I completed a year in HCC’s dental assisting program and immediately moved into the hygiene program. Doing that extra year helped me be a stronger candidate and gave me great support from faculty.
Jorge: We always hear how competitive the program is. So how did you distinguish yourself?
Maren: HCC’s bridge program reserves two spots in the hygiene program for students who complete the dental assisting program there. So I did that first to avoid rejection and give myself an edge. It took a little longer, but it worked out best for me. I also built a support network with mentors and faculty who were there for me throughout the two years in hygiene.
Jorge: That’s a great strategy—building your community.
Maren: Absolutely. Having those mentors cheering me on made a huge difference.
Jorge: When do you come onboard as a fully sponsored Capital IDEA Houston participant?
Maren: I joined right after I got my acceptance letter into the hygiene program. I attended an informational meeting at Coleman College and started with the Capital IDEA Houston program at the beginning of my hygiene studies. It seemed too good to be true, but it turned out to be a huge blessing.
Jorge: So, beyond the financial sponsorship, what other support did you receive from Capital IDEA?
Maren: Everyone at Capital IDEA Houston was incredibly supportive. They helped with tuition, textbooks, and even program materials, which people often overlook. For example, my equipment alone—things like $2,000 loops and telescopic glasses—would have been a huge stressor. Capital IDEA also helped me attend two conferences, which was invaluable for networking and learning about the latest industry trends.
The VIP meetings were also great. They covered relevant topics like stress management, time management, and preparation for medical professions. It felt personalized for students like me, and I could connect with other future healthcare professionals. They even brought in guest speakers from community programs. All of that made the experience feel tailored and supportive.
Jorge: We were talking about the supports beyond the financial — the things that helped you get through the program on a personal and emotional level. That also makes me think about the environments participants enter once they start working. I’ve been thinking about toxic professionalism, or how professionalism can sometimes be used to keep certain people out of a field.
Maren: Oh, like gatekeeping.
Jorge Yeah. Was that ever addressed? Or did you run into anything like that in your working experience?
Maren: I don't recall a VIP meeting that covered that topic, but to be totally honest, I do think there’s a lot of that in the dental hygiene field. It’s getting better — enough younger people are entering the profession that it’s starting to change — but there’s definitely a sense of gatekeeping. A feeling of “only some people get to be here,” and not everyone is welcome. I felt that, and my mentors who were already practicing hygienists told me it’s definitely a thing.
There’s a kind of attitude, like a chip on the shoulder. And after going through the program, I understand why — it’s so rigorous that once you finish, you’re just thrilled you survived. I can see how someone might develop a superiority complex, or look down on others in the office. There’s a lot of toxicity at times between dental assistants and hygienists, where hygienists treat assistants poorly because they think, “I’m the hygienist, I make more money, I do more.”
That’s actually one reason I’m glad I did dental assisting first. It gave me so much respect for how much assistants have to know and do. Their scope is broad, they’re the backbone of the office, and they don’t get paid enough. Since I went to school for assisting, I know I’m not going to develop that attitude of, “Oh, they’re just an assistant.” Their work is essential.
At my current job, I have a great relationship with our dental assistant because I understand what she handles for everyone. It even makes me more inclined to help her when I have downtime — even if it’s just sterilizing equipment. It builds more professionalism, more camaraderie, more teamwork. And honestly, I know that’s not the norm everywhere. I’m grateful I took the route I did, because it probably kept me from picking up that gatekeeping mindset.
But you do see it, especially during externships. That vibe of, “We’re in this club and you’re not.” And you’re just expected to wait your turn.
Jorge: Sometimes that comes from seniority or, like you said, a higher degree.
Maren: Right. There’s this sense of, “My degree was harder, so I’m better.” And yes, the program is hard, but at the end of the day, the focus is the patient. It’s not about status — it’s about taking care of the person who came in for treatment.
Everyone is contributing something valuable. A piece of paper doesn’t determine whether someone is more important to the team. Maybe someone has more specialized training, but that doesn’t mean they’re more valuable. Every dental office depends on assistants. They’re essential. The whole team depends on each other to keep the place running.
I think talking about this would be a great idea, because I don’t want anyone to get out into the field and feel discouraged — or fall into that toxic mentality themselves.
Jorge: Was there ever a moment for you when you felt like you finally had your footing — like you thought, “Okay, I’ve got this”? When did you feel like you found your stride academically?
Maren: I’m going to be honest — in this program, I don’t think I ever felt safe or secure. The entire time, I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I didn’t know I would graduate until 48 hours before the ceremony. That’s how intense it was. I was supposed to give the graduation speech, and I didn’t even have one written because I didn’t think I’d be there.
I was on the verge of dropping out. The program was so stressful and high-stakes that there was never a sense of stability or certainty. It wasn’t until the pinning ceremony, walking up to get my white coat, that I realized, “Oh wait, it’s actually over. I’m here.”
Even then, I didn’t feel proud or excited right away — that came later. I think I was just so shell-shocked by everything we’d gone through. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. You couldn’t think too far ahead; you just had to keep showing up every day, no matter what. It often felt miraculous — like things worked out at the very last minute. That was pretty much the whole experience for all of us. No sense of safety or certainty — just showing up until it was finally over.
Academically, the lecture classes were fine. I’ve always been strong there. Writing papers, doing the coursework — that was the easy part. The hard part was clinicals. You have to bring in public patients, and you don’t know whether they’ll meet the criteria until they’re in your chair. That uncertainty was terrifying. It felt like gambling — hoping it would work out.
Jorge: And so, where did you get the motivation to stay focused throughout all of that uncertainty?
Maren: Oh, gosh. I mean, my classmates were amazing. We were lucky because, in some classes, there’s a lot of bickering and toxic behavior, but our class wasn’t like that. We didn’t compete with each other; we just tried to help each other get through it. Having a strong class made all the difference. We shared patients, helped each other with any issues, and came together to figure out plans when someone needed support. That was huge because knowing people were rooting for you really motivates you to keep showing up and find a way to make it work.
Then there was my family, friends, and especially my kids. They never gave me grief for being gone a lot for school and work. I barely saw them in the last couple of years, but they never complained or made me feel guilty. They would cheer me on and say, “We know this is temporary, Mom. We’re proud of you—just keep going.” Their understanding and flexibility were incredible.
Also, honestly, a lot of it was my faith. I started going back to church and asking for grace to stay sane through it all. Church became a hard reset every week. I would go in, come out refreshed, and say, “Okay, whatever happened last week, leave it behind and focus on this week.” That’s really how I stayed motivated to keep going.
