From as early as she can remember, Armani Johnson has wanted to be a dentist. When asked what she would be if she couldn’t be a dentist she says, “I guess I could be a dental hygienist?” Totally driven, this junior at Raytown High School hopes to find the right school to make that dream a reality.

What is your dream career?

It may sound weird, but I’ve been dreaming of being a dentist ever since I was six.

What inspired you to follow this dream?

I don’t know what attracted me to the profession but there’s just always been something about it that made me think, “I want to do this! This is what I want to do with life.” A lot of people are like, “Will you work on my teeth?” or they say, “If I were you, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be in someone else’s mouth.” But I don’t mind.

What are some of the challenges you have faced while reaching for your dreams?

A big challenge I’ve faced is that I’m a very emotional person, so I get really stressed out sometimes. That probably won’t make medical school easy! But I’ll do whatever it takes.

Why is college important to you?

You can’t be a dentist if you don’t have a degree. So, I’m ready for eight years of college and grad school. Whatever I have to do, I’ll do it!

How will funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?

College is so expensive and I have to work after school. It’s not like a scholarship is just going to pop up. So this money would be really helpful.

What schools will you use the funding to visit?

My dream school is the University of Kansas, but I’m also interested in a few schools in Atlanta and William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. I want to go to the University of Kansas because they have a really good dentistry department. Also, my mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters attended KU.

Interview conducted by Sabrina Stone, 1,000 Dreams Fund contributor