Dental Student Doctor Heather Sams has taken her own history of overcoming struggles and created a future full of possibility
When people hear “first-generation student,” they often think of someone who’s the first in their family to complete college. Student Doctor Heather Sams’ story, however, redefines what it means to be first-gen: she’s the first in her family to graduate from high school.
For Sams, a diploma wasn’t just a piece of paper. It was a ticket to a new life, a way out of poverty and the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead her to dental school at KCU.
Sams grew up in Pittsburg, Kansas, shaped by adversity that most children never experience. Her family endured significant financial struggles, and her mother was unable to provide stable support for her or her siblings. At 11, Sams went to live with her 19-year-old sister, who took on the role of caregiver while also raising her own young children. “Looking back, I realize how young 19 is. I was just mean to her,” she recalls with a laugh. “Now, I’m so thankful for everything she did.”
Through these early years, Sams leaned into her faith, often walking herself to church to stay grounded and build a sense of purpose that would carry her through the challenges ahead. That sense of purpose manifested in her unwavering resolve to graduate high school — a decision she made early and held onto firmly, despite the turbulent path she walked. Her family’s financial instability and her mother’s absence created barriers she was determined to overcome. “My sister wanted to protect me from the challenges she and my mother endured as young moms. And I knew deep down I wanted a different life too,” she said.
But staying on track proved arduous and, at times, seemed impossible. At one point, Heather returned to live with her mother in conditions that made life and schooling difficult. Yet even then, her resolve didn’t falter. “I just kept telling myself, ‘I have to get back to school. I have to graduate,’” she said. Soon after, a supportive friend and her own faith helped her find stability and stay focused on her education.
Sams not only graduated but did so while navigating adult responsibilities that few high school students face. With help from a transitional housing program, she secured her first apartment at 17. “It was my own space, but I had a case manager who helped me set goals,” she recalls. She opened her first bank account, managed her finances and worked multiple jobs to finish high school.
After graduation, Sams enrolled in the dental hygiene program at Missouri Southern State University. College presented its own hurdles. Frequent car trouble meant she sometimes relied on a friend’s moped or taxi rides to get to work or class. “There were days when I didn’t know how I’d get there,” she remembers, “but I just kept pushing forward.” Eventually, she saved up enough money to buy a reliable car.
As Sams continued her education, her ambitions grew. Her dream shifted from dental hygiene to becoming a dentist. When she learned that KCU planned to expand its Joplin campus and open a dental school, she began to realize she could achieve that dream. “I didn’t know when my opportunity would come, but I knew this was where I was meant to be.” Drawing on her trademark tenacity, she began reaching out to Erinne Kennedy, DMD, who served as director of preclinical education for the College of Dental Medicine at the time, seeking guidance on what she needed for a strong application.
Sams’ interest in KCU was rooted not only in her career goals but also in her deep ties to the Joplin community. By this time, she was married and raising two young children, and the support of her family network was essential to balancing her growing ambitions with her role as a mother. “I needed the support of my sister and my husband’s mom to make it through dental school with my kids,” she explains. Her persistence paid off when she was accepted into the Class of 2028.
Today, the soon-to-be Dr. Sams envisions a future where she can serve as both a caregiver and a role model, using her own experience to connect with patients who may feel unseen by the traditional health care system. “I am proud of where I’ve come from, but I also feel privileged,” she reflects. “Not everyone gets the chance to break through the barriers that I did.”
For Sams, being the first in her family to graduate high school was only the beginning. As she stands on the threshold of becoming a dentist, her story serves as a reminder that, with determination and support, it’s possible to redefine what’s possible.
(0) Comments