I love the quote "a smile is the prettiest thing you can wear". Helping people become more confident in themselves, with their smile, will make me smile. Knowing that I have been a part of something that will improve someone else’s day, or maybe their life, will be really rewarding.
Why dental nursing? A few months ago, I first visited the dental hygienist. At the time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. But as I was lying there, I thought this could be a really interesting job. The hygienist was so nice and I started talking to her about her work. It sounded a really good career path! After that visit, I started looking into dental nursing more and just knew it was what I wanted do!
I became homeless in the summer of 2017. I wasn't getting along with my mother. There was also a lot of drama and stress at home, and in the end, I had to leave. One year after being in temporary accommodation, things really started to improve for me. The biggest turning point came from within myself - I started to motivate myself and working more. I've become more independent. Last month, I was able to move out of the hostel and into my own place.
I have really missed learning, so am just so excited to study again! I want to learn all about our teeth and how to look after them. It will be really interesting to treat and advise patients of all ages. After finishing my dental course and starting full-time work, my plan is to study further and work my way up to become a dental hygienist at a really good practice.
Lauren is working with Beam as she was homeless within the last year. For personal reasons Lauren has chosen to use a pseudonym rather than her real name.