Student Testimonial - Patrick

 

Why did you choose Humber?

I chose Humber College not only because it had a great reputation but it offered a Massage Therapy program run by a highly educated faculty providing an excellent learning experience. I also noticed that it was a three-year program, instead of two, which meant that learning the material wouldn’t be rushed. I knew that Humber was very reputable for teaching their students beyond the classroom, and that they’re very hands on and this really helped apply the knowledge taught in my classes. My brother went to Humber for Graphic Design a couple of years before I did, and I watched him grow to become successful in his career. I saw that Humber really cared and focused on their students so choosing this school was not difficult for me.

What are your career aspirations?

As a fresh graduate, I am looking into working at a multidisciplinary clinic where I can learn to work alongside other professions and improve my skills prior to starting my own business. However, rock climbing has always been of great interest to me and seeing how important it is to understand the body and how we function is what really sparked my interest for Massage Therapy. Now that I have completed the program, I am one step closer to opening up my own rock climbing gym where I can incorporate my Massage Therapy Practice into this. Following the completion of this program, I have come to realize that there are so many different areas that one can specialize in. For instance, I was really interested in treatments of the TMJ, also commonly known as the ‘jaw’. As of right now, I am open to any specializations, and I will plan my specialties based on what I would commonly see in my future clients or what the profession demands.

How have the faculty helped you on your road to reaching your goals?

The faculty at Humber College is amazing. They truly aim to make their students successful by providing all the support and guidance I need from the very beginning. Different members of the faculty specialized in different aspects of massage so I knew which instructor to turn to whenever I needed help understanding or learning new concepts. Most of the instructors have a lot of knowledge and experience that they can give an honest answer each time. Once, I jokingly asked an instructor about massaging animals and instead of laughing it off I was informed that there are actual courses for canine and equestrian massages which I found really surprising.

The main goal of this program is to provide their students with all the necessary knowledge in order for every individual to pass the licensing exams to become a Registered Massage Therapy. Humber does their best to simulate exactly how the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) and MCQs (multiple choice questions) are going to be. This way, the students know what to expect during their exams. They prepare the students beyond what the exams require to ensure an exceptional passing rate.

What would you say has been the single best learning experience in the program you are in?

There were a lot of moments throughout my years in Humber where I had great learning experiences. I would definitely say the single best learning experience I had happened in my final semester during on-campus internship. By this point, I was pretty confident with what I was doing. I had my own rhythm, and I was always able to come up with a client’s clinic impression or, at least, something close to it. One day, I had a client that came in with a lot of shoulder pain. I performed the appropriate tests, and every single test provided a positive result. I started to internally freak out and felt confused as I was not only running over the time I had to do assessment but none of my testing was conclusive. At this point, it could be anything. I discussed all my findings to my instructor, and told him that I was so lost. I was so worried and focused about the clinical impression that I refused to move forward until I figured it out. He assured me that everything I did was right, and that I performed all the appropriate tests. He then told me to step back, and think of a simpler solution. He taught me that a clinical impression doesn’t always have to be established on the first visit. The client simply needed a wellness treatment for that session in hopes that proper results may be established in the later visits.This is definitely a lesson that will never be forgotten. It is better to have no clinical impression rather than spending a lot of time coming up with an inaccurate one.

What elements of the program are best preparing you for your career?

What really helped is that the program was hands-on right from the beginning, which is something I was not used to, therefore making it a beneficial learning experience for me personally. Prior to Humber I had attended schools where most of my testing was written which I was comfortable with. The internships included both on-campus and off-campus locations such as community centres and hospitals which provided exceptional learning experiences. I had the opportunity to work with the general public, as well as special populations which included young athletes, mental health patients, infants, and pregnant women. These experiences provided me the opportunity to feel what it is like working as a Massage Therapist. Learning about these populations in class is something you can never truly understand until you work within that population in a practical setting. The instructors were very well educated and knowledgeable, and provided proper feedback that made me think more critically. Although I was praised for what I did well in, they like to throw challenges and difficult scenarios that I may encounter as a Massage Therapist to make sure I am prepared for when it arises.

Would you recommend this program to others, and why?

I would definitely recommend Humber College for those wanting to get into Massage Therapy because the program is structured in a way that provides a strong foundation. Humber equips every student to have an exceptional base to allow for even more growth in your future. I’ve attended multiple post-secondary schools in which I’ve never fully completed due to the lack of support or inspiration. Since my first week at Humber, I already felt like the teachers truly cared for my success and would always be there when I needed them. Three years later, I graduated with an Advanced Diploma and gained a support group that I can trust throughout my career as a Registered Massage Therapist.