Marrissa Merill is attending West Virginia Junior College Bridgeport where she will soon obtain her associate degree in Dental Assisting. In December, Marrissa will be sitting for the National Registered Dental Assisting certification exam. She is anxiously awaiting her test date. However, she feels confident that her education has prepared her for success. Marrissa began her career at WVJC shortly after graduating from Lincoln High School. She spent several years being a waitress and realized she wanted a career instead.
Marrissa has always had a passion for the dental field but wasn’t sold on the idea “completely”, until entering the Dental Terminology course at WVJC. At this point, she realized how passionate she was about teeth and the importance of oral hygiene. The Dental Terminology class was her favorite for many reasons. It helped her realize she was in the right field and she enjoyed learning all the proper terms and the order of teeth.
During her time at WVJC, Marrissa has had many great instructors, but two in particular have inspired her the most, Mr. Cutright and Mrs. Holyfield. “These two instructors are passionate about teaching and making sure their students succeed. They inspired me to strive for greatness.” During her education, Marrissa is required to complete 160 hours of externship. She has already completed 60 hours at Mountaineer Orthodontics. During this time she has gained the hands-on experience that is needed to further her education and career. “I have learned so much and love being a part of their team.” Marrissa is looking forward to completing the remaining 100 hours in General Dentistry.
Marrissa has already been offered a full-time Dental Assisting position upon graduation in December. She is excited to graduate and begin her career in a reputable dental facility. We enjoyed having Marrissa at our Bridgeport campus and are confident she will achieve greatness in her career. She offers a quote to anyone that is undecided about their future, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” (Walt Disney).