For most of his childhood, Ben Quansah was a regular in the dentist’s chair — extractions, orthodontics, appointment after appointment. It wasn’t something he dreaded. If anything, it stuck with him. By the time the Spotsylvania, Virginia, native reached high school, he knew one thing for certain: whatever came next, it would be in the dental field.
What he didn’t know yet was how to get there.
That clarity came in the middle of a summer most high school students wouldn’t have given up. An email about a new program at Old Dominion University — the Delta Dental Summer Institute — landed in his inbox. He wasn’t completely sure what it was. He just knew it might answer a question he’d been circling for years.
With encouragement from his family, he applied. Then, he dedicated part of his summer to the opportunity.
The program was completely virtual that year, but it didn’t feel distant. Boxes of tools and materials arrived at his home. Lessons broke down anatomy in ways that made sense, with a focus on the head and neck that pulled his attention in. What had once been a general interest sharpened into something specific.
Dental hygiene.
“I knew I wanted some aspect of the dental field,” Ben said. “I just didn’t have a solidified plan.”
By the end of the institute, he did.
Looking back, he’s certain of what that moment changed. Without it, Ben believes his path might have taken longer to come into focus. Instead, he moved forward with intention by finishing high school, enrolling in college and working toward one of the most competitive undergraduate programs at Old Dominion University.
Getting there took more than interest. It took discipline.
He completed his prerequisites at community college, earning a 3.9 GPA. He spent time in dental offices, shadowing professionals and asking questions. He built relationships with professors who would later advocate for him. And, when it came time to apply to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (B.S.D.H.) program — part of Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University — he put everything he had into it.
Even then, he wasn’t sure it would be enough.
His family was confident.
That steady belief has been a constant in Ben’s life. In a family shaped by his parents’ roots in Ghana, education was always part of the conversation, even when the path wasn’t fully clear. They encouraged him to apply and supported him as he figured out what came next.
Their influence shows up in quieter ways, too — in how he talks about his future and in how he measures success. As the middle child between two sisters, Ben jokes that he was already well prepared for a field where most of his classmates are women.
He jokes that he’s a “mama’s boy,” but the pride in his voice is unmistakable. His mother has been his biggest supporter, offering guidance without pressure — laying out options, helping him think through decisions and trusting him to choose his direction. Now, as graduation approaches, she’s sharing the moment with everyone she can, from friends nearby to family back home.
That sense of support carried Ben through the most demanding parts of the program.
Dental hygiene at Old Dominion University is hands-on, technical and exacting. Students move between classroom learning, clinical training and patient care, building the precision and confidence the profession demands. It’s an environment that challenges students to meet a high standard — and prepares them to step directly into the field.
Ben met that challenge.
Now, he’s preparing to graduate — not just from a competitive program, but from a path he began shaping years ago. The uncertainty he once felt has been replaced with direction, backed by the experience and training to support it.
After graduation, Ben plans to return to Spotsylvania to begin work in clinical practice, staying close to the family who supported him along the way. From there, he’s already looking ahead.
“I want to continue my education to the maximum I can,” he said.
It's a goal that reflects a grounded approach to the future, one that leaves room to grow, explore and see what comes next.
A few years ago, he was a high school student searching for a way into a profession he already cared about. Now, he leaves Old Dominion University ready to contribute to that profession — and to keep moving forward.
