South Fairfax News

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR OTHERS WHO ARE DEAF

 hearing loss. Also, students who are deaf or hard of hearing can join the group and learn about self-advocacy in school and scholarship information.

What brought you to NOVA? They have a good dental hygiene program and are local! 

Can you share a fun memory or anecdote about your time at NOVA? I met this amazing patient with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). She told me her story of surviving a crash off a cliff in California. She went on to work for a TBI organization in DC. I enjoyed having her and listening to her story each time. We shared a lot about our disabilities and could relate in many ways.

What professors and classmates from NOVA do you still stay in touch with? I keep in touch with Betsy DiSilvio and several classmates, including one of my best friends, who I met at orientation!

Somewhere in the middle of orientation, they asked us to say hi to the person next to us. I introduced myself to the person sitting next to me, "Hi, my name is Amanda," and she said, "Hi, I'm Cali. Like California Cali." We realized we were in the same dental hygiene program. In every class, she sat behind me, and we supported each other throughout the program along with our friend Emily. Puppies, marriages, out-of-state moves and babies later, the three of us still talk daily! I would not have survived hygiene school without Cali and Emily.

What are your educational goals? As technology and research improve, I continue to educate myself on the ever-growing dental industry. I aspire to become a myofunctional therapist. It would be great to have that knowledge since many of my patients have sleep and airway disorders. 

What are your career goals? I'm focusing on growing my speaking platform and branching out nationwide as more and more

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