My Massage School Experience, By Rania Ismail – Taken From The National Federation of the Blind’s Newsletter – ‘The Sounding Board’
‘Since I was 14 years old, I wanted to become a massage therapist. I had sustained a neck injury that had left me in chronic pain, and at the time, massage therapy was the only thing that gave me any relief. It was from then on that I knew I wanted to become a massage therapist. I could give others who lived with chronic pain the same kind of relief I was receiving myself.
After attending an 8-month program at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, I did some research on massage therapy schools. I found out that my local community college offered a massage therapy program. I decided to try it.
While I was researching whether the Commission for the Blind would assist me with funds, I faced a lot of discouragement. Some people didn’t believe that I could become a massage therapist, either due to my blindness or my learning disability. Some of them even tried to convince me to change my career choice, but I wouldn’t budge. I knew that becoming a massage therapist was something that I truly wanted.
Although the massage therapy program at the community college didn’t work out the way I hoped, I still learned a lot, and my journey didn’t stop. Some people continued trying to convince me not to go back to school and work toward my goal. Some people wanted me to gain work experience, instead of encouraging me to go back to school to finish what I had worked so hard to achieve. I pushed on despite the negativity, and didn’t let what they thought hinder my success.
I continued looking for massage schools and at last found the ITM – Institute for Therapeutic Massage in New Jersey, with hospital based programs, and an emphasis on medical massage. I called the school and spoke to an admissions counselor. I explained my experience at the community college, and I told the counselor that I wanted to achieve my goal of becoming a massage therapist. When I toured the campus, I could tell that everyone at the school – from the counselors in admissions, to the teachers I met – really wanted to help me complete this program! I could tell that everyone believed that I could make it and achieve my goal.
The people who believed in me and encouraged me to keep going are my mother, Terri Lucas, a longtime friend, Nicki Newton, my aide from middle school until I graduated from high school, Joe Ruffalo, who was one of my mentors in both the blindness field and one of my mentors in the field of massage therapy, Mary Ellen Ricks, who is a massage therapist, Jane Marron, another massage therapist, Jason Rivera, also a massage therapist, Alan Reynolds , a yoga instructor, and many more.
I started at ITM in September 2009 and graduated in July 2010 with my certificate in therapeutic massage and bodywork! It took me three years to achieve my goal. I will admit that it was a lot of hard work but it was worth it! After graduating, I applied for my New Jersey state certification, and I am now a New Jersey state certified massage therapist!
Yes the journey was long with many road blocks, but I did it! I made it because of my willingness and my determination to learn. My instructors were also willing to work with me until the very end of the program. Now I am on call at a local salon.
Joe taught me that when things don’t go the way you want them to but you have something that you really want, “it doesn’t matter how long you take to win the race, what matters is that you finish the race.” After thinking about that for a while, I came to realize that it was going to take me a little longer to achieve my goal but it was possible! That quote showed me that the only thing that matters in the end is that you finish what you started. Another quote that helped me keep going is this one from Christopher Reeve: ‘For everyone who thought I couldn’t do it.. For everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it.. For everyone who said, “It’s impossible”.. See you at the finish line!
