Overcoming Depression Through a Dental Assistant Career – Shara’s Story

At Anderson College, we are constantly amazed by the courage of our students, faculty, and staff. In December 2021 we ran a “My Courageous Moment” story-gathering campaign to celebrate our students, their strength, the moments that have defined their lives and the people who have motivated them to overcome and succeed.

In sharing our stories, we realize we are not alone and are often inspired to recognize, or to find, our own extraordinary courage. We hope the following story moves you, as it has our Anderson family.

I believe that the pandemic presented all of us with challenges and obstacles that we had the option to overcome, and the opportunity to choose the path that would change the trajectory of our lives. For me, there isn’t one moment, in particular, that I can say defined me, but a collection of moments served as little nudges, encouraging me to take control of my happiness, my life, and my future.

How Did Shara Cope With Depression During the Pandemic?

I’ve always struggled a fair amount with depression and anxiety, however, the pandemic hit me really hard. I felt isolated, depressed, and completely out of control of my life. I made the conscious decision to continue doing my therapy, although it was online, which took me some time to get used to. It felt like I was just surviving, just existing. I felt as though I did not have any purpose. Being put in a position where you cannot work, you’re isolated from friends and family, everything is shut down and the news is terrifying across the world – makes for a very broken individual and that’s how I felt.

Why Did She Choose a Dental Assistant Career?

Things began to look up when I began to look into careers of interest to me with high job demand, and a healthy environment. That is when I found dental assisting; it was a career that had crossed my mind before and the more I looked into it, the more I wanted to become a dental assistant. The leap for me was taking the initiative to contact the school and get everything in order to apply. I really had to ask myself if I was willing to commit to a school and give it my all. This required me to be brave and courageous and use the tools that I’ve learned in therapy to combat these negative, intrusive thoughts. The end result was, I convinced myself that I can do this.

What Role Did Support Play in Her Journey?

I verbalized my desire to go back to school to my boyfriend and he was so incredibly supportive about it. It really helped me to talk to Ryan (my boyfriend) about going back to school because it helped me put those negative thoughts away and go for it. He always reminds me how well I am doing, now that I am about two months into the program. He tells me to make sure that I take time out of my day to remind myself that I am doing the right thing and that I can accomplish this. I’ve changed very much in the past two years, for the better, and one big reason for that is all the work I put into myself to get out from under that depression. Enrolling in Dental Assisting at Anderson College has and will change my life for the better.

I hope that others can read this and believe in themselves. You can make it through anything if you push yourself, have the desire to achieve your goals and reach out for help and support when you need it.

Shara B.

If you have a passion for people and want to make a difference, but are still exploring whether this career may be for you, take the“Dental Professional Career Discovery Quiz”.

To learn more about our Dental Assisting programs or our other 30+ leading-edge programs to help you take life to the next level of success, book a virtual appointment with our Admissions team today!

Frequently Asked Questions Page (FAQ)

Q1. Is dental assistant a good career in Canada?

Yes. Dental assisting is a stable and rewarding career in Canada with strong job demand, patient-focused responsibilities, and opportunities for advancement.

Q2. How long does it take to become a dental assistant?

Most dental care assistance programs take between 11–18 months. After completing the program, students can apply for certification to begin working.

Q3. How do I become a certified dental assistant?

To learn how to become a certified dental assistant, you must graduate from an accredited program and pass the NDAEB written and clinical exams. Anderson College prepares students for this process.

Q4. What qualities make a great dental assistant?

Compassion, teamwork, communication skills, and attention to detail all help students excel in their dental assistant career.

Q5. What support does Anderson College provide students?

Alongside expert instructors, students gain real-world practicum experience, career services, and guidance throughout their dental care assistance programs.