Don't forget to floss!

The night before graduation, our school had an awards ceremony to recognize our class. I was sure that I was not going to win anything, so I told my parents not to come. Much to my surprise, I ended up taking home one of the awards that night. Our classmates and teachers voted to select the winners. I was honored to receive the Preventive Oral Health Care award. The award was given based on compassion for patients and promoting preventive oral health.

After the ceremony we enjoyed some drinks and appetizers with friends at the McMenamin's Grand Lodge. It was a good night!

Finally-graduation!

Wow-I can't believe that it has happened! It has been years in the making. First, taking night classes at PCC after working 8 hours at Regence. Then condensed summer classes to get A's in chemistry. Finally, two grueling years of hygiene school. It is official-I am a dental hygienist!

Graduation was in mid August. It was a beautiful ceremony on the lawn of the main campus of Pacific University in Forest Grove. In one hour, my 28 fellow students and I were transformed from hygiene students to official graduates with a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene. I thought that this might be a sad time for me but shockingly-I was so happy to be done that I couldn't even shed a tear!

After some quick photos with friends, we headed to Milos' for a celebration brunch with the whole family including Mike and Linda who had come up from Eugene. It was a long journey and I am glad that it is finally over!