The achievement of one’s career goal does not mean following a smoothly paved path. Dr. Chet Adams encountered twists, turns and bumps on his journey to dental school, but he refused to abandon his dream. Today he is serving the dental needs of people in the White Mountains and is active in serving the community. He was the spring 2018 winner of the NPC Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Adams excelled academically while attending NPC from 2003 to 2004 and used that solid educational foundation to transfer to Northern Arizona University (NAU). In 2007 he earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science with minors in Spanish and chemistry.
Looking back on his NPC education, Dr. Adams calls it “priceless.” “NPC was one of the places that taught me how to study and how to communicate with teachers who were willing to help me succeed. If I had it to do all over again, I’d start with NPC in a heartbeat.”
It took a few applications for Adams to get into dental school. Diverted temporarily to other fields of employment, he never lost sight of his ultimate career destination. In 2012, at the age of 30, Adams was accepted to the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. He gradu-ated in 2016 and received the Student Award of Merit for his work in esthetics from the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. In July 2016, Adams began working full-time with his father, Dr. Trent Adams, at Adams Family Dental in Show Low.
“I’m very happy with what I’m doing,” Adams says. “Having my dad as a mentor is great and I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of patients with language barriers since I also studied Spanish. I enjoy serving the underserved.” Dr. Adams has volunteered free dentistry services for hundreds of patients in Mexico.
The staff also includes his wife Shelly Adams, a dental hygienist and former NPC student as well. She
too praises NPC for keeping higher education affordable and for giving students the tools they need to succeed in their professional lives. “NPC was great for me. The instructors truly cared and prepared me with the skills I needed to move forward in my educational goals. My NPC biology class prepared me to go to NAU, and classes there were easier because of what I was taught here at NPC.”
Persist in the pursuit of your dreams, Dr. Adams says, adding, “If what you’re doing isn’t working, make changes. If you have a hard time succeeding, don’t be afraid to change strategies to achieve your goals. Be grateful for the support you get from friends, family and teachers.”