Overcoming obstacles

First, a little background about me: my name is Phoebe. I am a dental hygienist based in Essex, and have worked in dentistry for almost 10 years. Having followed a career path I did not entirely expect, I have been a registered dental hygienist for two and a half years, and I would love to share with readers how my journey began.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 14 years old, and I have always found learning to be challenging. When I first left school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. My school guidance counsellors, knowing I had dyslexia, suggested I avoid anything too ‘intellectual’ or ‘serious’ and recommended a ‘simple job’. Despite what my teachers thought I could achieve, I proudly left school with 12 GCSEs and three A-Levels, including science and maths! I knew that if I worked hard enough, I could overcome the obstacles and achieve my goals.