For 14 years, Celeste Mackenzie believed she would never amount to anything. The emotional—and at times physical—abuse she endured in her relationship consumed her life.
“This person very methodically and systematically made sure I was left with nothing of myself,” she said. “I didn’t have confidence in anything anymore. Everything was, ‘You’re stupid. You’re dumb. You don’t know what you’re doing. You can’t do it.’ It was every day, and it was awful. I got to the point where I didn’t think I was worth anything or capable of doing anything.”
Although Celeste was conditioned to doubt herself, she never stopped believing in her daughters. When she noticed them being subjected to the same abuse, she made the decision to leave. For the first time, the voices telling her she couldn’t do anything were silenced. She had taken a bold step, and she knew the next challenge was getting her life on track with a new career. That’s when she discovered UEI College in Phoenix.
“I wanted to be able to do something, to provide for my children and myself, and to show them that even if people treat you terribly, you have the power to rise above it,” she said. “The experience at UEI was amazing. I went in for a tour and ended up registering that same day.”
Initially uncertain about her career path, Celeste found her calling with the Dental Assistant (DA) program.
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“For years, I lost my smile—physically and emotionally,” she shared. “I was devastated emotionally, but I also lost a tooth during that relationship. My front tooth was knocked out. Fixing it was a year-and-a-half-long process. Every time I visited the dentist or periodontist, they were so kind and gave me my smile back. Now, no one can tell I have a dental implant. When I saw the DA program, I knew that’s what I wanted to do—to help someone else regain their smile, no matter how small or big the impact.”
As Celeste immersed herself in her studies, it wasn’t just the technical skills she learned that left an impression—it was the encouragement and support she received from her classmates and instructors.
“School was extremely daunting at first,” she admitted. “But it didn’t take long for my classmates and teacher to change that. Every morning, I’d walk in and get a fist bump from someone. Being allowed to ask questions—and answer them—was empowering. Being in an environment where I could learn and thrive helped rebuild my confidence. What amazed me the most was that people started coming to me for help. That motivated me even more to want to support others.”
At the end of her program, Celeste was honored to be chosen as Valedictorian for her campus’s graduation. In her speech, she encouraged her classmates to persevere.
“Confidence doesn’t come overnight, but it’s something you can build,” she said. “Start with one small thing at a time. Once you accomplish those things, no one can take them away from you. Each small victory adds up to a mountain that no one can tear down. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned: those small steps create a mountain of your own making.”
Celeste also expressed her gratitude to UEI.
“Thank you to everyone at UEI. It was such an incredible investment in my life—emotionally, mentally, and professionally. It was a transformative experience, and I’ll never forget the people who supported me along the way.”
