UEI Huntington Park Student Reclaims Stability Through Dental Assistant Program

Not long ago, Stephanie Snowden found herself trying to rebuild a life that had been shaken by loss, uncertainty, and circumstances she never expected to face.

After her mother passed away in 2022, the support system Stephanie had relied on for much of her life suddenly disappeared. Her sense of stability began to unravel in the months that followed, and by early 2023, she and her daughter were experiencing homelessness.

“It was one of the hardest times in my life,” Stephanie said. “I tried to keep a smile on my face, but inside I was completely broken.”

Yet, in the midst of her struggles, Stephanie refused to give up on the idea that her life could move in a better direction. That determination eventually led her to UEI College’s Huntington Park campus, where she enrolled in the Dental Assistant program. Today, she has finished her coursework, started her externship, and is working toward a career that she hopes will help her regain the stability and sense of purpose she once lost.

A Life Turned Upside Down

Before enrolling at UEI, Stephanie already had years of work experience. She began working at UPS in 2019 and served as an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. The job offered stability, strong benefits, and union protection, making it a vital part of her life during a difficult time.

However, Stephanie could feel the ground shifting. Changes within the company and increasing automation created uncertainty about the future of her position, causing her to worry that the financial security she relied on might not last. “I just felt like the rug was being pulled out from under me again,” she said.

The passing of her mother only increased this sense of doubt. Then, one day while waiting on hold during a phone call, Stephanie was scrolling online and came across information about UEI. She submitted a request for more information, and a call from a UEI admissions representative a short time later changed the course of her future. Within days, Stephanie scheduled a campus tour.

“I just felt like I belonged there,” she said.

The Dental Assistant program stood out to her because her mother had worked in the field as an orthodontist. As a child, Stephanie recalled spending hours in the clinic. “I basically grew up there,” she said. “My mom taught me how to sterilize instruments, organize files, and call patients to remind them about appointments.”

Support Through a Difficult Time

Stephanie began classes and quickly found structure, encouragement, and a sense of belonging—things she felt she had been missing for a long time. Despite many of her classmates being younger, she never felt out of place. “Everyone was just so willing to help each other,” she said. “It really felt like we were all in it together.”

While her life outside the classroom remained challenging due to housing instability, she remained determined to show up every day. Her instructors took notice of her resilience.

“They told me that if someone didn’t know what I was going through, they would never guess it,” Stephanie said. “They said I always came in smiling and helping others.”

When staff members on campus learned about her situation, they rallied around her. During the Thanksgiving season, the campus made sure she had a turkey. When her belongings were lost during a housing change, they helped ensure she had the proper shoes to stay in uniform and continue her lab sessions.

“It really meant a lot to me because it’s a family atmosphere,” she said. “I felt like people really cared.”

Stephanie also credits instructors Kayla Carter, Miriam Middleton, and Dominikie Watley for keeping her motivated. Their positivity helped her push forward academically, completing the program with a strong GPA and making the honor roll during her final four modules.

Working Toward a Better Quality of Life

Stephanie still works early morning shifts at UPS, beginning her day at 4 a.m. When her shift ends, she heads straight to her externship at Western Dental to gain clinical experience. The schedule is demanding, but she believes the effort is worth it.

Her long-term goal is to transition fully into a dental practice and reclaim the quality of life she’s been working toward since her first day of class.

“My personal goal for myself is that I want the quality of my life back,” she said. “I feel like this was my best opportunity to do that. No matter what’s going on outside the classroom, when you walk through those doors, just focus on learning. This opportunity can really change your life.”