Sonya Petersheim, Dental Hygiene student

It's late Friday morning in room 214 of Penn Hall, and the lab is emitting noises not usually heard in the hushed halls of academia. There's a definite 'buzz' in the air coming from the examination chairs in the dental clinic, which are often filled with patients coming in to have their teeth cleaned.

In the back corner of the lab, having completed several hours of hands-on learning, is second-year student Sonya Petersheim. She moves about her work space with efficiency, discussing the various aspects of the program and why they've reinforced her original desire to become a dental hygienist. It's clear that Petersheim has already developed a level of professionalism and personal care that will extend far beyond the walls of NCC.

"I'm in clinic three days a week, so I see a lot of patients and the clinical experience is absolutely essential to someday working at a real practice," says Petersheim, who had her first real experience working on a patient at the end of her first semester. "It's a rigorous program, but it can also be really fun. The instructors are great."

The native of Morgantown, Pa. admits to enjoying going to the dentist and orthodontist when she was growing up, which already separates her from those who feel a sense of apprehension at spending time in a dentist's chair. The dental hygiene program, she says, was also recommended to her by the dentist offices she visits and by a friend's mother who is now an NCC alum.

"They told me that it was a really good program at a really good school, and that this is one of the few community colleges that even offers this program," Petersheim explains. "I came in here knowing how to study well because my teachers in high school were great at teaching that, but I also have the drive not to fail. It's hard to get into the program, so you have to work hard once you're in."

Dental hygiene, like any Allied Health & Sciences field, has a focus on the patient first. Working with people requires precision and attention to detail, but it also requires a certain type of personality. Some students need to try it first, Petersheim advises, before determining if it's the right field for them.

"Dental hygiene is definitely changing right now, and [hygienists are] moving toward being healthcare providers with less of a focus just on hygiene," says Petersheim, who may go into the sales and corporate end of the field one day. "Hygienists learn a lot about systems in the body and how to deal with medical emergencies, so the field has changed in that way. Students need to be aware of that. They need to give the program a try first to figure out what they want."