For Dental Hygiene Grad Mina Toyi, The Journey to a Career She Loves Has Had Its Share of Twists and Turns

To say that the past 15 years have been eventful for Mina Toyi would be a huge understatement.

Back in 2009, she was single, living in Iraq, and had just completed dental school at Baghdad University.

Today, Mina is married and the mother of two daughters, living in Southern California, and working as a registered dental hygienist at a Glendora dental practice.

“If someone had told me back then what my future held, I wouldn’t have believed it,” says Mina, 39. “But life can be very unpredictable, and that’s not always a bad thing.”

We talked with Mina, who graduated from SJVC’s Dental Hygiene program in 2023, about moving to the United States, returning to school, what she loves most about her career as a dental hygienist, and the best advice she’d give anyone who might be thinking about enrolling in the program.

What first attracted you to the field of dentistry and dental hygiene?

It wasn’t really a choice. Back in Iraq, where I grew up, your academic placement is a big factor in determining your career path. Because I had a high GPA, it was just expected and understood that I would pursue a career in the medical profession. My plan was to become a dentist. I earned my B.A. from the School of Dentistry at Baghdad University and had been volunteering at a prosthodontics clinic. But the war changed so many lives and so many plans, including mine.

You and your husband moved from Iraq to Dubai, and then to the United States in 2012. What was that like for you? The culture shock must have been intense.

For the first two years I lived in Southern California, I felt like was like learning life all over again from scratch. The culture was different, the people were different, the language was different, the food was different. Policies and systems and procedures were also very different. There was so much to learn. It was often overwhelming, but it was also energizing and exciting.

How did you learn about the SJVC Dental Hygiene program—and what inspired you to apply?

I knew I wanted to return to work and was pretty sure I wanted to return to the dental field. I had worked for a few months at a retail store over the holidays, and I knew that was something I didn’t wanted to do again. I started searching online for dental hygiene programs and SJVC popped up. I did my application interview in June and started my program less than two months later.

Was it tough returning to school? What was the program like for you?

It was demanding and sometimes intense, but I found it manageable. The program was 16 months, four days a week, from 8:00am to 5:00pm. I live in Laverne and the SJVC campus is about 30 minutes away in Ontario. For me, the first term was the toughest. I remember I had five exams in one day. I wondered whether I could do—but I did.

I developed a schedule where I would go to school, come home and spend some time with my husband and kids, have dinner, and then go to bed early. I’d wake up between 2:00-3:00am to study, prepare a meal for that night, and then head off to school.

In our class, we had 30 students—all women—between the ages of 20 and 45. We all came from different backgrounds and we each had our own stories. What I found wonderful was the sense of support and encouragement we all offered each other. What we all had in common was a desire to see everyone make it.

You’ve been in your new career for less than a year now. What do you like most about it? What has surprised you most?

I’m a real detail person, so my job is perfect for me. When I’m removing plaque or tartar from a patient’s teeth, for example, I really get into the zone. I love the immediate gratification of seeing the results of my work. And when you hold the mirror up so a patient can see their mouth after you’re done, it feels really good when they smile and thank you for doing such a great job. The other day, a 14-year-old patient told me the cleaning I did for him was so much more comfortable than other cleanings he’s had done. That really made my day!

Do you ever think of returning to school and becoming a dentist?

I have thought about it, but I feel like I’m in a very good place right now. I work three or four days a week, which gives me time to be there for my daughters and to keep our lives on track. I like that I’m able to do work I enjoy, but without the pressure and responsibility of owning and operating my own business. This isn’t where I thought I would be when I first enrolled in university 15 years ago, but it’s working quite well for me.

What has changed most in your life since you completed your Dental Hygiene program at SJVC?

My self-confidence is much higher. It feels so good to set a goal, work toward it, and achieve it. In Iraq, very few women worked when I was growing up. I always knew I wanted to be out in the world, contributing in my own way. I also wanted to be a role model for my daughters, who are 11 and 8, and to show them it’s never too late to achieve your goals. I love knowing that the girls are proud of me.

What would you tell someone who might be considering enrolling in SJVC’s Dental Hygiene program? Any tips or words of advice?

I would tell them to go into the experience with confidence, to take it one day at a time, and to plan to work hard. The program wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely worth it for me.

I also think it’s important to be open to meeting new people and making friends along the way. I developed friendships that made the experience so much richer and more enjoyable than I ever expected. We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries. Next week, seven of us are attending one of our classmate’s weddings. That’s not something I thought would happen when I began the program, but that sense of connection and community has been a great gift.