Myunique Jackson’s alarm rings long before the sun comes up, and by 4 a.m., she is clocked into work with her toddler daughter in tow. From navigating daycare drop-offs to balancing externship hours and clocking back in for a second shift, Myunique’s days are stacked from start to finish. It’s not easy, but it’s hers. It’s proof that even the busiest life can be full of meaning, growth, and purpose.
Before enrolling in the Dental Assistant Program at UEI College in Gardena, Myunique wasn’t sure how she would juggle everything. “It was hard,” she admitted. “People didn’t believe I could do it. They’d ask me how I was going to work, go to school, take care of my daughter, and still sleep.” Once she got started and others saw how far she had come, their doubts faded and her determination only grew stronger.
Her journey was never about proving people wrong. It was about showing her daughter what strength looks like. “I kept thinking about the bigger picture,” Myunique said. “I wanted my daughter to see that her mom could work hard, stay committed, and still be present for her.” That vision fueled her through every late-night class and early-morning clock-in.
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As she moved from the classroom to her externship, something shifted. Skills that once felt abstract clicked into place. “One of my instructors taught us a way to reset a dental room quickly and efficiently. I used that same method in the office and got complimented on how fast I worked,” she said. “That was the moment I realized I could really do this.”
It wasn’t just the technical skills that changed her. It was the way she connected with children during appointments, calming their fears and creating moments of joy out of something often scary. Working with young patients reminded her to slow down, laugh more, and find beauty in small interactions.
Now, with her externship completed and diploma in hand, Myunique is preparing for the next chapter. She has her eyes set on a dental assistant position at a pediatric dental office opening in the area soon.
To other parents considering school, she offers this advice: “When it gets hard, look at your child’s face. Remember why you’re doing it. The hard days pass, and what’s waiting for you at the finish line is worth every sacrifice.”
Myunique’s days are full, but so is her heart. And with every step forward, she is building a future that reflects the strength it took to get here.
