30/07/2026
I was 22 years old pregnant with my first-born and so uncertain about my career trajectory. I drove over an hour to speak to a university course adviser about studying dentistry.
At the time, pathways into dentistry weren't easy to find. There wasn't social media full of people sharing their experiences. After hours of searching online, I stumbled across a tiny thread buried in a forum that mentioned an alternative pathway.
It almost seemed too good to be true.
I walked into the Future Students office full of hope, thinking, Maybe this is finally my chance.
Instead, I was told: "Dentistry is extremely competitive. Only a select few get in. You should consider another course."
I walked back to my car completely deflated.
Those words stayed with me for months.
I questioned whether I was capable enough, smart enough, or simply dreaming too big. I had gone there looking for encouragement, but instead I left carrying doubt.
It took me months to find the courage to enrol in the pathway course, not because I didn't want it badly enough, but because I had started believing they might be right.
If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs this reminder, and follow along for more honest stories about dentistry, motherhood, resilience, and chasing ambitious dreams.🤍
Sincerely,
Fatemah
