A Class That Changed Everything: From Oral Surgery to Sociology

Sabrina Lopez’s return to college began as a practical decision but quickly became a journey of self-discovery. After years working as a traveling oral surgery assistant across Southern California, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to reassess her life. Exhausted from long hours in a high-pressure environment, she decided to go back to school full-time while maintaining part-time work. Initially, nursing seemed like a logical path, but one class changed everything.

“Taking my first sociology class felt like a light switched on,” Lopez said. “I could relate to the material in a way that made me think, this is what I want to do.” Conversations with Professor Taylor Cannon helped her see a path she had not imagined. When she asked for course recommendations, Cannon told her she could pursue a PhD and "work with her mind instead of her hands." He closed the conversation by telling her, “Your ancestors would be proud.” The impact was immediate; by the next day, she had officially switched her major to Sociology.

Lopez’s academic journey included courses at both Moreno Valley College and Riverside City College. Intro to Sociology introduced her to key concepts like environmental racism, the sociological imagination, and social inequalities. These terms gave her the language to understand the world she had seen growing up in the Inland Empire. Criminology further captivated her interest, exploring mother deprivation theory and the societal factors that shape individual lives. Each course expanded her understanding of the world and confirmed her commitment to the field.

Balancing academics with raising three daughters and working in the dental field presented daily challenges. Returning to school in her late thirties meant competing with students freshly out of high school while adapting to a new digital learning environment. Lopez relied on traditional note-taking and proactive communication with professors. Her disciplined time management even extended to the sidelines, where she often studied in the stands during her daughters' softball or dance practices.

“What kept me going were my kids and the desire for financial security,” she said. “I didn’t want to constantly stress about bills or calculate every item at the grocery store. I wanted to change my family’s future, knowing my daughters are always watching me.” That focus helped her maintain a 3.82 GPA and make the Dean’s List every semester while completing two associate degrees, one in Sociology and another in Social and Behavioral Studies, both with great distinction.

Lopez also explored opportunities outside her major, including a year of astronomy at RCC that led to an internship with NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars program. “Being open to something new taught me that opportunities don’t always follow a straight line,” she said. Applying her sociological lens to the stars, she found a niche studying the human side of space exploration, such as how astronauts adapt to isolation.

Now a student at the University of California, Riverside, pursuing a bachelor’s in Sociology and a double major in Law and Society, Lopez is preparing for graduate school. She credits her time at MVC and RCC with giving her the academic foundation and confidence to aim higher. “Because of my experience at MVC, I realized I was capable of more than I ever imagined,” she said.

Lopez encourages anyone considering returning to school to take the leap. “My recommendation is do it! Your educational journey might change throughout the process, and that's okay," she said. "Follow your heart and passion, and you’ll end up right where you’re supposed to be.”