Years ago, Nando Estrada arrived from Guatemala seeking a better life for himself and his family. He gives much credit to the Cabrillo Dental Hygiene program for what he has achieved for his family. After graduating from the program, he attained financial stability – increasing his income from $16/hour to $55/hour – which has allowed him to help his mom and provided the opportunity for his wife to stop working and go back to school. But just as important, Nando “is doing something I love. My work increases patient’s self-esteem and social lives. People start smiling again.”

He decided upon the Cabrillo Dental Hygiene Program after meeting the staff at the student orientation. “It was the staff the made me choose the program since it was clear that they were there to help people and wanted people to succeed,” Nando says. Once in the program, he realized that he made the right decision.

“Going through the program was the hardest thing I’ve done academically,” Nando says. “But they helped all along the way. That help also included going out of their way to find needed financial resources.

Find out more about Cabrillo College’s Dental Hygiene program.