Let's Meet Laura Wringe

What are three words to describe you?

Friendly, reliable and organized.

What are your hobbies and passions?

I enjoy spending time with friends and family, travelling, trying new foods, doing yoga and getting into nature.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, I've got an orange tabby cat named Gilbert, but he hit the lottery and now lives with my parents who cater to his every desire. 

What is your favourite song at the moment?

"It's Called: Freefall by Rainbow Kitten Surprise"

A genie grants you one wish; what do you wish for?

I'd love to get one day to meet family members who I never got the opportunity to meet. 

What is your favourite travel story?

In 2016, I returned to Hong Kong, which I where I was born and called home for 9 years. This trip was super special because I got to visit a few places I remembered as a kid, like my first home, a tree I used to climb, and my first school. I had no expectation that these places would even still be there, but I was glad to see that even though so much changes, some things stay the same. 

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. How did you end up at the School of Dentistry?

Before arriving at the School of Dentistry, I was a classroom teacher for 13 years, where I spent most of my time teaching junior high. About 10 years into my career, I pursued a Master's of Education degree in Curriculum and Instructional Design, which is when the seed was planted that perhaps moving into an Instructional Design role might be a really great fit for me. 

Career transition didn't come right away because I was still very much enjoying teaching, and to be completely honest, I had some fear about making a big change. It wasn't until last October that I really started to get clarity on the direction I wanted my career to go. Right around that time, I realized a shift within me - the courage to seek change became greater than the fear of change, and that's how I knew it was time to make a move. From that point forward, I started to put myself into position; I shared my plans with friends, family, colleagues, principals, and made a plan for my next steps. 

I finished up my teaching contract in December 2024, began working as a substitute teacher, updated my resume and started applying for instructional design positions. I didn't know how long the transition process would take, and was just enjoying the not knowing and fully leaning into the journey. Fast forward to February 2025, when a really interesting job posting with the School of Dentistry caught my eye and I decided to apply! The rest, as they say, is history. 

It's been almost two months now in my new role, I am really enjoying it! It's interesting to have new challenges and a lot to learn, but also a chance to apply the many relevant skills I learned from teaching to what I am doing now. I never would have thought I'd end up in a role connected to dentistry, but I am glad to be here and look forward to new topics of conversation at my next dental checkup!