Everyday people: Siemers commutes to two part-time jobs

GOODHUE — It takes Theresa Siemers about 45 minutes to get to work each day, but the commute doesn’t bother her in the slightest.

“I love it — as long as the roads aren’t bad,” she said. “It actually is reflection time.”

Siemers holds down two part-time jobs as a dental hygienist, but neither one is located anywhere near her home. She resides with her family in Faribault, Minn., and can frequently be found heading northeast to Goodhue County because she works part time for Goodhue Family Dental. Her other job, however, brings her southwest to a dentist’s office in Madison Lake, Minn.

“So it’s 45 minutes the other way,” she said.

Still, an hour’s drive is nothing compared to the traveling Siemers has done in the past.

She was formerly a member of the United States Navy, which added several states to her list of past residences, including California, Washington, Connecticut and North Carolina. A Pennsylvania native, Siemers has seen basically every corner of the country, whether making a home there or simply passing through.

For the past couple of years, Siemers, her husband, John, and their daughter, Ashley, have settled down in Minnesota where he is originally from.

After getting out of the military, Siemers said she originally wanted to go into occupational therapy. But when someone was needed to cover maternity leave at a nearby dental office, she offered her assistance.

“I got the opportunity to go into hygiene and took it. And I’m so glad I did. I love it,” she said, adding that her favorite part is getting to interact with so many different personality types and hear stories about patients’ lives.

Siemers’ job at Goodhue Family Dental has her doing everything from oral cancer screenings, teeth cleanings and X-rays to sealants and whitening procedures. Yet despite all of the hands-on activity, Siemers said there’s a different aspect of what she does that’s even more important.

“The biggest job of a hygienist — if you ask me — is teaching,” she explained.

Since some patients, especially kids, are visual learners, Siemers tries to show rather than tell people why proper oral health care is vital. And the office isn’t the only place she encourages good dental health. In fact, Siemers’ 16-year-old daughter understands the importance of it as well.

“She is a daily flosser,” Siemers said. “She even got whitening as a gift for her 16th birthday.”

Oral health isn’t the only thing Siemers encourages. She stays in good physical shape by running, and recently signed up for her second half-marathon. Aside from exercise, Siemers said she enjoys simply spending time with her family, relaxing and watching movies.

But you won’t see her sitting still for too long. Among free time with John and Ashley, juggling two jobs and making the occasional trip back home to visit family in Pennsylvania, Siemers stays very busy. And that’s exactly how she likes it.

“I’m just one of those people. I’m always ready for the next adventure,” she said.

Tags: progress