[nabs-l] My article that is in the Sounding Board!

[Rania Ismail]

MY MASSAGE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
By Rania Ismail

Editor’s Note: Rania, a former LEAD student, learned her lessons well.
Her determination and hard work have given her the opportunity to
complete what she started. Rania is an active member of the At-Large
Chapter of the affiliate. Keep up the great work, Rania!

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 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
Institute for Therapeutic 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! 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!