Yasmeen
Community College of Philadelphia gave me more than financial relief. They gave me the ability to focus, persevere, and succeed. I am a testimony that it is never too late to return and pursue your dreams.
YASMEEN K.
Yasmeen is in the final year of the Dental Hygienists program.
I am a Dental Hygiene student at the Community College of Philadelphia, returning to school in my 40s to pursue a long-held dream after life’s challenges delayed my path. After being accepted into the Dental Hygiene program, I learned that my access to traditional financial aid was limited, making it more difficult to balance full-time coursework while caring for my family.
Support from amazing CCP offices such as Single Stop and Student Tuition Services—especially with the guidance of Single Stop Director Belinda Pierce and Scholarship Coordinator Michael Rice—provided essential emergency funds, scholarships, and resources that allowed me to remain focused on my education. That stability made it possible for me to stay fully engaged in coursework and clinical requirements, leading to important academic milestones, including receiving the Hayward Bell Scholarship and being inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Beyond the classroom, I am actively involved in my neighborhood as a Block Captain, with a strong focus on community wellness, education, and collective care. It has been especially meaningful to experience that same sense of support and community within CCP. From my guidance counselor to my Dental Hygiene professors and instructors, I have been supported by educators who consistently modeled compassion, resilience, and perseverance. Their guidance has shaped both my professional growth and my confidence as a future dental hygienist.
Alongside my academic journey, I am always looking for ways to progress while giving back. I am proud to have launched Burning for Boards, one of the fundraising efforts supporting the graduating Class of 2026 Dental Hygiene students, created to help ease the financial burden of licensure and board examinations for hard-working dental hygiene students while encouraging self-care and wellness during the final stretch of their academic journey.
As I move forward, I plan to complete my Dental Hygiene degree, serve communities through education and prevention, and continue promoting self-care and mental wellness as essential components of overall health.
Community College of Philadelphia gave me more than financial relief. They gave me the ability to focus, persevere, and succeed. I am a testimony that it is never too late to return and pursue your dreams.