My name is Alison and I was gratefully chosen to go on a mission trip to Jamaica Study Abroad along with the rest of my other classmates.

To begin to explain what this experience has done for me and still continue to do for me… well its simple. Life changing, rewarding, and pure. This trip has made me well aware that my dental hygiene passion can and WILL go beyond what I had initially thought my passion for it was before this mission trip. The best part? I have barely even started my adventure! I have already met so many new friends which whom I can see being a whole new dental family that meet up once a year, improved my clinical skills, and even got some time to learn the Jamaican culture! Did I mention, we have friends up there now? In other states and even in Jamaica in an entire other country!?

This trip has shown me natural, pure, love. My heart has grown so big when I realized that I have plenty more room to add to it I knew there was no point in return; and I mean in a good way! I know that this won’t just be a career for me, it serves a purpose clinically and physically, however I will never look at it that way from here on out. I’ll see it as I’m here for the community, the passion to keep giving, the way I know I can make this world a better place, and to always let love and kindness take over. I get it now, making your annual income is just the cherry on top; a bonus. But you won’t really fulfill your life and purpose if you don’t move with love and guidance as well.

For me, that is about educating others and raising awareness of preventing oral health diseases and what we can do to prevent the disease to progress. I thought to myself “Alison, do you realize how many lives you just changed on this trip and how many more you will continue to do so?” until your foundation has been built with passion just like I learned at the start of this trip, you won’t be able to move with life to the fullest like the way this has made me felt, it was magical.

Passion it makes this world a better place to be in, a better learner, a better mentor to be, and even a better you to live in. Jamaica, this was where I knew my dental hygiene passion was officially born. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank the people who has helped made this mission trip possible. Because of you, you have gained 9 new superheroes who will be part of changing so much in this world. We will only live on to continue this ripple affect, because love always takes over. One Love!
– Alison, SPC Jamaica Dental Study Abroad Program, October 2022