Ashley Smith

Dental Hygiene

Ashley Smith wants to lead by example for her daughter, which led her to enroll at Delaware Tech. "I want to teach my daughter not to give up on her dreams and that with hard work and determination, she can achieve anything."

For as long as she can remember, Ashley has wanted to be a dental hygienist. "I attended Del Tech for the first time right out of high school (2007), and shortly thereafter became pregnant with my daughter. Unfortunately, my grades at the time were far from great, and now having this tiny human dependent on me, I knew I had to change my plans. I attended a dental assisting training program, and in nine months became a dental assistant. As a dental assistant, I have worked in private practice for 10 years and volunteered for 'Give Kids a Smile' multiple times. Throughout the years, my love for dentistry has grown, and I eventually decided to return to Del Tech to pursue my dream of becoming a dental hygienist. I enjoy taking care of my patients and interacting with them. My goal as a hygienist is to provide the best care to my patients and build positive relationships with them."

Ashley named being a student in the dental hygiene program as "one of the most challenging commitments" of her life, but added, "there is nothing better than seeing your hard work pay off. Without the constant support from family, and friends to lean on when times get tough, it would not be possible.” She advises students to, "set goals, use your resources, stay strong, and be committed."

After earning her associate degree from Delaware Tech, Ashley plans to pursue a bachelor's degree and work as a dental hygienist.