28 Oct Finding a Career That Works: Sunshine’s Journey into Dental Assisting
Sometimes finding the right career is about more than the work itself. It is about finding a profession that fits your life, your responsibilities, and your goals.
While preparing for a dental implant, a Trade Works USA representative had the pleasure of meeting Sunshine, a dental assistant, and became curious about how she got into the profession.
Sunshine’s story is one of making a career change, learning new skills, and finding a better balance between work and family.
Making a Career Change at 50
Sunshine explained that she had always been interested in dentistry and was ready for a career change.
Previously, she worked as an administrative assistant, but she wanted a career that offered a better work-life balance.
As a single mom without family nearby to help, finding a career that fit her life and family needs was especially important.
Rather than staying in a position that no longer worked for her, Sunshine decided to pursue something she had always been interested in.
She took the steps needed to enter the dental field and begin a new chapter in her career.
Learning Through Hands On Training
Sunshine earned her professional certificates through San Diego Dental Careers, a training facility that provided the hands on education she needed to prepare for her new profession.
Her advice for anyone considering a career in dental assisting is to find a program that offers practical training.
Gaining experience with the tools, procedures, and daily responsibilities of a dental office can help students build confidence and develop the skills they need to contribute in a professional setting.
For Sunshine, that training helped her make the transition from administrative work into dentistry.
Finding a Career That Fits Her Life
Now, at 50, Sunshine has been working as a dental assistant for a year and a half.
She enjoys her new career, feels valued in her workplace, and has found a balance that works much better for her as a single parent.
Her experience is a reminder that career changes are not just for young adults entering the workforce.
Sometimes people discover a new direction later in life, when their interests, priorities, or family responsibilities change.
Sunshine had an interest in dentistry, found a training program, and took the opportunity to pursue a profession that better suited her needs.
For Sunshine, this career change has been about more than entering a new profession. It has been about finding a way to work, parent, and live that feels right for her.
As she puts it, she finally has a life that works.
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