Huntington grad sinks teeth into career path

CHILLICOTHE – You never know until you try it.

Countless children across the years have heard those seven words from a parent. Huntington High School graduate Ashley Morris certainly did — or at least a version of it — when her mother, Amy, suggested to the then-high school sophomore that a future in dentistry might be worth considering.

"My mom had always been, 'I always wish I had gone to school to be a dentist' and she's like, 'I wish you would get the interest in dentistry,' and I was like, 'Ewww, no, there's no way I'm going to be a dentist,' " Ashley said with a laugh.

"Once the opportunity came along, I was like, 'Well, I'll give it a shot,' and I just went in and fell in love (with it), and I can't imagine doing anything else now."

The opportunity she referred to came near the end of her sophomore year as a result of her mother's work as an office manager at Slechter Dental Care in Waverly.

"(Dr. Alison Slechter) had just opened a dental practice and was looking to hire someone either right out of high school or just into college; that way, she could train somebody the way she wanted to," Ashley said. "At the time, I had gotten interested in dental hygiene, so I said, 'Well, I can give it a go and see if I like it or if I don't.'

"So she sent me to get my radiographer license in a seven-hour course I took at Ohio Business College, and that way, I was certified to take X-rays. After that, she was training me on site, and once I got in there, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I love everything. I can't just do hygiene; I have to do everything.' "

Amy had a motherly hunch that, once her daughter had been exposed to the dental field, it would be a good fit.

"I'm so in love with the field, and hers and my personality are so similar that I really thought she would fall in love (with it) and was so excited when the doctor that I work for said that she would be interested in hiring Ashley for the summer, because we definitely needed somebody," Amy said. "She was able to obtain her X-ray certificate at the age of 15, which has never happened. I actually called the dental board and she said, 'Amy, you know, we actually don't have an age restriction. It's kind of unheard of, but we don't.' "

In addition to helping her find a career fit, the opportunity has helped Ashley in other ways.

"I've always been kind of backward and not a huge people person," she said. "It kind of made me come out of my shell a little bit, getting involved with patients and everything."

Huntington Principal Nathan Caplinger, who nominated Ashley to The Gazette, called her a tremendous student and praised her work both in the school community and in using her high school years to set herself up on a career path she enjoys.

The National Honor Society member and senior class officer spent about 10 years with the Helping Hands 4-H club before turning her attention to work.

She also has voluntarily taken on another less desirable, but very necessary, role.

"A few months ago, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer," Amy said. "She loves her Pap, and she came to me and she said, 'I'm moving in (with her grandparents).' So she went to stay with my parents, and she has taken care of my dad and changes his colostomy bag, and she does everything and goes to school and goes to work. She's a trouper. I'm very proud."

Ashley said she is grateful to both her mother and to Slechter for their help in her development. Slechter, she said, helped her with ACT test preparation and with helping her explore colleges.

She will attend Capital University in the fall on her next step toward a dental career, and it was announced during commencement exercises Saturday evening at the Huntington High School gym that she will be doing it with almost $20,000 in scholarship money.

Before the 78 members of the class of 2015 received their diplomas, valedictorian Jessica Carroll thanked her family, friends, boyfriend and school staff and then challenged her classmates to not only set goals but also follow up by working hard to achieve them.

She also talked about the trials they will face and about where they can turn to help meet those challenges.

"God has a plan," she said. "Trust it, live it and enjoy it."

Salutatorian Jonah Snyder told graduates to "do what makes you great" and reminded them that part of the journey in getting there involves challenging yourself and not being afraid of failure.

The students also heard a performance of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" from the high school band; heard Superintendent Keith Stevenson offer advice about decision-making, professional growth and achieving success in their life's work; and received a final round of life advice from Caplinger before moving their tassels from right to left and turning their eyes to the future.

cbalusik@nncogannett.com

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Huntington High School Class of 2015

•Number of graduates: 78

•Valedictorian: Jessica Carroll

•Salutatorian: Jonah Snyder

•Class Flower: Bronze Chrysanthemum

•Class Color: Purple

•Class Motto: "Life brings us tears, smiles and memories — the tears dry, the smiles fade but the memories last forever."