The Ripple Effect of One Yes!

This past weekend, I had the joy of reconnecting with some old friends—people I hadn’t seen in years. Among them was Karen Adams, one of my dearest high school friends, my maid of honour, and now a fellow dental hygienist. Karen and I go back a long way, and sitting together brought back so many memories. She even reminded me that I set her up with her husband, Mark, and that it was me who nudged her toward dental hygiene when she was going to University. She pivoted and joined me in the States while I was in my second year!

The truth is, I was almost on a very different path myself. I was headed toward music, even switching schools in grade 13 to pursue a stronger program. But something inside me knew it wasn’t quite right. During March Break in grade 13, I visited my Auntie Breda, trying to figure out what I was going to do. She came home from a dental appointment, and I remember sitting at her kitchen table with a cup of tea. She looked at me and said: “Kath, I know what you should do... you should be a dental hygienist.” In that moment, it clicked. I said out loud: “Yes, I’m going to be a dental hygienist.” I just knew it was exactly what I wanted to do at that very moment. I loved going to the dentist and I loved my dental hygienist and all things teeth! That decision changed everything.

Karen reminded me that back in high school, I was quite shy in large groups. I didn’t have confidence speaking in front of a crowd. She actually helped me write my Student Council speech because I was so nervous to go onto the stage in front of all the grades. Yet here I am today, speaking on stages, teaching, and connecting with thousands of dental hygienists. Who would have known? Proof that the past does not define the future, and that we often grow into who we were meant to be all along. I just had to get out of my head!

“The path of one can inspire many.”

What struck me most this weekend was the ripple effect of those pivotal moments. My aunt inspired me. I inspired Karen. And now my cousin, Ann Guiden, my aunt’s daughter—is also a dental hygienist.

So today, I share this as a reminder:

- Sometimes the right words at the right time can change the course of a life.

- The past does not limit your future.

- And when we find the path we’re meant to be on, it not only transforms our own journey—it creates ripples that touch many others.

Thank you, Karen, for reminding me how far we’ve come—and for sharing this incredible profession with me.

- May you be reminded this week that one small nudge, one conversation, or one “yes” can change everything.

Warmly,

Kathleen

Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc ~ Founder | President