Success Spotlights

Meet Concorde DA Graduate Trenisha Jones

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated September 19, 2016. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
dental assistant

Little did she know it at the time, but a fear of going to the dentist as a child led to a fulfilling and rewarding career as a dental assistant for Trenisha Jones.

"I remember I would just cry and cry every time my mom would take me to the dentist when I was little," said Jones, now a wife and mother living in Arlington, Texas. "I just decided that I needed to learn more about it to take that fear away."

"As I got older and learned more about (dentistry), I got more and more interested in it and knew that was something I wanted to do."

Needing to provide for her family

After Jones gave birth to her daughter, she knew she wasn't going to be able to provide for her family the way she wanted working part-time at a call center. A happenstance drive in a car with her then fiance, now husband, changed everything.

"One day, we were just driving by the Concorde campus that was then in Arlington, and I said, 'I think they have a Dental Assistant program,'" Jones said. "I stopped by, the people inside were very nice and helpful. I got some information, got what I needed."

She enrolled in Concorde's Dental Assistant program in October 2013, and the experience that followed was a "life-changer for me," she said.

"The teachers and staff were wonderful; they were really there to help you," Jones said. "From day one, I learned a lot to help me in the dental field. The teachers explain things really well."

"I really liked the hands-on part of it. I remember things if it's hands-on. That's how I best learn."

In fact, Jones learned her material so well that when she went to pick up her cap and gown before graduation, she saw that it came with a gold medallion, signifying that she was valedictorian of her class, finishing her program with perfect attendance and a 4.0 grade-point average.

Enjoying the Lamplighter life

Jones said she went out of her way to become involved in everything she could while at Concorde, including becoming a student ambassador "Lamplighter."

"Being a Lamplighter was a lot of fun," she said. "We helped with orientation with new classes coming in, just helping other students around the school."

Her time as a Lamplighter was nearly short-lived, however, when she fell on some hard financial times during her program and got behind on her payments. Then, some more good fortune fell upon her while driving. A few days earlier, she had submitted her name to a contest at KKDA-FM radio (K104) in Dallas, a contest in which the winner would have her outstanding college bill paid by the station.

"I was driving my child to school and heard my name," she said. "It was a real blessing."

Life as a Dental Assistant

For the final portion of her program, Jones performed an externship at Dentures and Dental Services in Arlington. When it came time for her externship to end, her employer did not want to let her go. They hired her full-time and, today, she is a Patient Care Coordinator with the company.

Jones also is thinking of taking the next step in her career in dentistry.

"I've been in contact with Concorde about their Dental Hygiene program," she said. "I wouldn't go anywhere else but Concorde."

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.