She Came from San Diego to LI to Give Patients a Smile
September 8, 2020
Madeleine Smith
As a middle school student, Madeleine Smith ’21 had more on her mind than school, sports, and friends. She pictured herself as a dental hygienist someday, and would play-act with her grandparents, as if she were really working on their teeth and gums. They didn’t mind, and she loved it.
“Some kids play doctor or house, but I distinctly remember playing dental hygienist at my grandparent’s house,” Smith says. “They had these recliner chairs, which were perfect. My grandparents were generous enough to let me floss and brush their teeth. I would pretend to take x-rays by placing a heavy blanket on them, and then press a pretend button. Something about the profession sparked an interest in me at a very young age.
“I looked forward to my dentist appointments, which is saying something, since most people cannot stand the dentist. My hygienists are always so kind and truly care about my oral health, which is why I want to make a difference in the health-care field. I want to be the person to make patients smile each time they arrive and leave the dental office.”
Farmingdale State College has many times been cited for its outstanding dental hygiene program, which is what attracted Smith to FSC – all the way from San Diego. She enrolled in her sophomore year, after the first college she attended – Mount Ida College, just outside Boston – unexpectedly closed its doors. Smith, from all the research she had done while still in high school, knew the best dental hygiene programs were on the east coast, so FSC became her next college of choice. A successful women’s softball program was an added incentive.
“I figured I may as well apply and see if I’d get accepted, and I did. I knew I would get a fantastic education with top-of-the-line professors and clinic coordinators.”
Smith’s first year at FSC was a success, with two appearances on the Dean’s List. She also played all-star-caliber softball, being named Pitcher of the Year and Most Outstanding Player in the Skyline Conference tournament. But sports, being 3,000 miles from home, and at her second school in two years, didn’t distract Smith a bit. Does she have a secret of success?
“No secret. I commit to my studies. My parents have always said school comes first and I have continued to live by that, which also means school over softball. My degree is incredibly important to me, and I want to put all the effort I can into obtaining my Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene. My friends say I live at my desk, because whenever they walk in, I can almost guarantee you I am sitting there studying or working on homework.
“Time management is key to balancing school and softball. It is doable, but by no means is it easy. I am either at my desk studying, in class, or at softball practice. While dental hygiene is a very demanding program, softball has been a great outlet for me. It allows me to escape from reality and the stress that comes along with my studies.”
Smith engages in other activities too, related to her degree. She is a member of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association, and plans the annual Give a Veteran a Smile event. There is a spiritual side to her life too, which, she says, led her to the east coast to begin with.
“Without God’s guidance and love, I would not be able to survive four years of living over 3,000 miles away from my family. I have learned so much, and God is continuing to teach me. I believe he has a perfect plan, fit just for me.”
