Since the season of the annual salary survey is upon us (see RDH eVillage), we wanted to share this quote from this month’s cover model:
“I am proud to be a new hygienist, and I hope that the future — with or without economic hardships — will not discourage hygienists from finding jobs, and that they never give up. I know a lot of the women I graduated with are very frustrated and upset they can’t find jobs. This leads them to give up and not want to be hygienists anymore. I always tell them that the profession of dental hygiene is so rewarding, and you have the opportunity to help people. We all didn’t work so hard to just give up.”
Janine Schoenig credits an orthodontic office in Oakland, N.J., for the inspiration in her career choice.
“I loved going to the ortho office and really wanted to go to school for a career in the dental field,” she said. “I wanted a profession where I could help people. I would ask a ton of questions about their jobs, and I grew fond of the hygienist. I saw the accomplishments she made to the community, and how the patients reacted to her in so many positive ways.”
She said her first interactions with patients have also helped fulfill her expectations about dental hygiene.
“When I first started working at the beginning of this year, I didn’t think my patients were going to take me seriously and listen to what I had to say to help them. Just recently, I have seen those same patients again and their oral health has improved dramatically. The main reason was the information I shared with them. Knowing I had changed the health of their mouths was a great moment. I knew I was doing what I went to school to do.”
Dental hygiene school: Bergen Community College, graduated in 2010
Significant others: Parents, Marty and Dale; brother, Kenneth; and dog, Tiki
Spare time: Shop, read, and weekend trips to Jersey Shore
Past RDH Issues
