Amanda Barkes Email & Phone Number

When I was little, I often got asked the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My answer was always, "a teacher." I remember thinking how cool it would be to have a room full of students eager to learn about anything and everything I would tell them. Then, I actually grew up, and becoming a teacher was no longer a part of my plan. I had two paths I wanted to explore; becoming a hair stylist or becoming a dental hygienist. Both careers seemed fun, but at the time, I felt a bigger pull to becoming a hair stylist. I went to school, got my degree, and practiced for a few years. In that time, I gained skills in communication, customer service, time-management, and problem solving. What I found though, was that I really didn't enjoy what I was doing, but rather making people feel good about themselves. So, I decided it was time to go back to school. This time, of course, I chose dental hygiene. While waiting to get into the dental hygiene program, I got a job dental assisting and fell in love with all things dental. I began to see patients go from point A to point B in their treatment and couldn’t wait to continue on to be a hygienist one day. I gained experience with multitasking in a dental office, compassion for patients, and paying attention to the small details that make a huge difference. All skills I would need once I graduated with my dental hygiene degree. I started school and began helping patients improve their oral health through education, and I realized it made me feel the same way I felt when my hair clients would say "I love this hair cut!" This solidified my love for the dental field. I truly look forward to helping all of my future patients feel comfortable and confident about their smiles. Being a dental hygienist allows me to help my patients feel great about themselves while also using my innate love for teaching in a positive way. When I was little, I was right about wanting to become a teacher one day, I just never knew I would be teaching patients instead of students.