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What graduates & students say about Massage Therapy at Elmcrest College “A Day in the life of a Graduate” “I searched for the best school in Toronto – one that would fit with what I really wanted to do for a career and could provide a way to help people. Then I found Elmcrest College. I liked the school environment and met wonderful classmates as well as helpful and understanding staff. My class was very diverse, many internationally trained and rich in experiences. The staff provided individual attention and helped with both my strengths and weaknesses. In short, they were there when I needed them. We gathered wonderful experiences through exposure in student clinics and outreaches, under the supervision of our teachers who provided helpful feedback. In a nutshell, I am really happy that I had such a wonderful and enriching experience at Elmcrest College.” Geeta Anauth, RMT, Massage Therapy Graduate, Class of 2005
The small class size is also an appealing feature. All in all – “Elmcrest was the first school I contacted when I was searching to enroll in a Massage Therapy Program. The Admissions Officer returned my voice message within five minutes and we set up a campus tour. Having already practiced massage therapy in another country, I needed to re-qualify for the Canadian workplace and after a thorough assessment of the school, and their assessment of me, I was offered a place in the program The interview process was very professional and I felt valued and honoured for who I am, the complete person, not just another student at the school. I did not feel the need to contact any other school after this experience. I loved the time I spent at Elmcrest College. I am in awe of the wealth of knowledge and dynamism of the faculty as well as the administration. All Elmcrest instructors and staff lead by example and I feel privileged with my association with one and all. My time spent at Elmcrest has been very unique and rewarding. The individual attention I received saw me through a very challenging course and is a wonderful memory. I am currently working in my field of study – as a massage therapist for a spa and I am extremely grateful for the support I received to be where I am today. I recommend this institution to anyone who is interested in receiving quality education and be a proud member of a very qualified yet small group of professionals who know where they are going and know how to take others there.” Shaona Chatterjee Guha, Graduating Class of 2004,
Cheryl Tripp, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Kristie Harris, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Anita Preisz – Graduating Class of 2003
Katherine Yan, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Gang (Grant) Tong, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Dmytro Bryushkov, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Alex Tokarev, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Jenny Santos, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Anna-Marie Awai, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Daisy Paule, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Dana Coutts, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Laura Pickard, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Kathleen Rigney, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003
Teresa Pelegrin, RMT – Graduating Class of 2003 “I feel lucky that I chose Elmcrest College. The family atmosphere, the small classes, the interaction between the instructors and students, the feedback from the instructors. they gave us a lot of confidence. It’s not like in a large school where there are so many students and instructors that no one knows each other. We were like a family. Even the administrative staff were extremely supportive and helpful wherever they could be.” “I was happy enrolled in the Massage Therapy program at this college. I acquired so much in knowledge and skills in my two years here. Our teachers were very helpful and inspiring; hard work and study paid off. If you are serious about this profession then this is the school for you.” “I am happy that I chose this school. I think that Elmcrest College, Faculty of Massage Therapy, is the best Massage school in Toronto and I highly recommend this school to everyone.” “The Instructors went all out for our (the students’) success. It has been an honour to graduate from Elmcrest College, Faculty of Massage Therapy.” “Even when I didn’t believe in myself, the academic staff, the administrative staff and my classmates stuck with me and persevered for my success. I recommend this school to everyone, especially because of the small classes and family atmosphere. The quality of teaching is excellent and I felt as though I was getting private tutoring. The intensity and quality of teaching is also why I highly recommend this school to all who are serious about a Massage Therapy career. “I found the school and staff to be very compassionate to our (the students’) needs, whether personal or academic. Elmcrest College Faculty of Massage Therapy worked very hard to find the top instructors who would give us the best education possible. I found that the instructors were down to earth, creative and always willing to give us extra help. I feel that we were more than prepared for our OSCE Examinations and I would recommend this school to any serious student who wanted to pursue a career in Massage Therapy.” “The teachers have been extremely helpful and knowledgeable. It was a school experience I’ll never forget.” “Choosing Elmcrest College for Massage Therapy was an easy choice that I won’t regret. I gained not only knowledge and skills but also professional confidence.” “What I enjoyed the most about the school was the small class size. It provided a family atmosphere and a lot of personal attention from the instructors.” “A Day in the life of a Graduate”Jody Paterson graduated from Elmcrest College’s Massage Therapy Diploma Program and became a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) in 2001. She immediately began work as a Massage Therapist at The Elmwood Spa, Toronto’s top Day Spa, owned by the same company as Elmcrest College. Many Massage Therapy students work or attaned other post-secondary education for a year or two prior to realizing that Massage Therapy is the career for them. So certain was Jody that Massage Therapy was her destiny that Jody entered Elmcrest directly after high school graduation, without hesitation. When asked if she had any qualms about her decision, Jody said: “I wasn’t worried. This is something I had always wanted to do. I was excited, not worried.” Jody chose Elmcrest because of the small class sizes. She felt that she would receive the necessary individual attention to excel in any subject, no matter how challenging. She was happy to discover that this is indeed how Elmcrest works, and the reason for its 100% pass rate in recent years at the CMTO registration exams. She says she also chose Elmcrest because “my intuition told me that this was a good school and I always trust my instincts.” What Jody finds fulfilling about the career is the satisfaction the client expresses at the end of the treatment. “To see the client looking so relaxed, and their smiles when they thank me, makes me feel good about a job well done.” Jody recognizes the contribution made by holistic health care treatments like massage to overall health and well being, and enjoys the role she plays in maintaining her clients’ wellness. “A Day in the life of a Junior Student”Angie Pucci – Junior Massage Therapy Student, 2003 Angie’s Search for Meaning!“I have never been congratulated as much in my life as when I quit my job last June. People admired my courage and this helped me to realize that I had made the right decision. It seemed to me that everyone I spoke to wished they were quitting their jobs and starting something new. Although I was successful at what I was doing, had numerous perks and lots of autonomy working in a very glamorous business, it lacked meaning. And when the work became monotonous and unfulfilling, the stress began. I knew it was time for a change, but didn’t know what to move onto. I needed a career change that would give me a sense of purpose and enable me to work with and help people. Since becoming a Massage Therapy student at Elmcrest College, I have had an amazing shift in how I see things around me. I am constantly stimulated and learn new things every day. I am more fulfilled and feel privileged to be a student. I am able to utilize work habits, time management skills and discipline, gained from my work experiences and have applied them to being a student. I look forward to what the future holds and to many new beginnings after I graduate from Elmcrest College. The rewards of learning something new everyday far exceed the quarterly bonus I received!” states Angie. “A Day in the life of a Senior Student”Shawn Matyczuk – Senior Massage Therapy Student, 2003 Prior to his enrolment at Elmcrest, Shawn Matyczuk had been a community college student studying business. When his part-time job in food service presented a full-time opportunity, he decided that following a career path as a Chef de Partier suited him better than a business career. He didn’t leave his business aspirations behind him, though – he enjoyed the hospitality industry so much that he returned to community college, where he earned a diploma in Hotel and Culinary Management. Upon graduation, he took an extended tour through Western Europe, exploring the countries and the foods that had captured his interest. When he returned to Canada, it was to settle in Banff, Alberta for a time, where he was first introduced to the relaxation and wellness benefits of Spa services. In particular, he noticed the care and concern that massage therapists showed to their clients, and how they provided them with physical as well as psychological support. He noted that this component of the client/therapist relationship wasn’t a feature in most other professions, and that Massage Therapy seemed to focus on healing in a different dimension than other healing professions. Massage Therapy appealed to him because it dealt one-on-one with people in a nurturing environment, one in which they need not feel rushed. It was obvious to him that this was a specialized medical field through which he would enjoy helping people, and decided that his true calling was that of Massage Therapy. While visiting friends in Toronto not long after, he made the decision to apply to Elmcrest College of Applied Health Sciences Massage Therapy Diploma Program. He was delighted to be accepted and felt the time was right for him to stay in the city and take the opportunity to pursue his new-found passion. When he started the Prep Course, he was nervous. Anatomy felt like a foreign language to him, with all its different muscles, tendons and ligaments. It scared him but at the same time he was excited about the chance to learn so much about the miracle of the human body and how it works, and put this knowledge to work to improve someone’s quality of life. Now that it has been over a year, Shawn says it seems weird to look back, and exciting to look forward. He hasn’t yet decided the particular path he’ll follow in Massage Therapy, but he’s leaning toward geriatrics. Living with his grandmother when he was younger was enjoyable for him, and he feels that learning from our elders about their experiences and life philosophies is a positive, enriching experience. About the profession and his role in it, Shawn believes that having good communication skills will play a big part in his success. He enjoys meeting people and strives to give them a comfort level with him right from the initial interaction. He is pleased he can take some time with each client to learn about his or her individual needs, and not have to rush him or her out the door. Shawn feels that Elmcrest employs some of the best teachers he has ever encountered in his academic pursuits, ones that made learning exciting and rewarding. Says Shawn, “The learning was challenging, but they succeeded in developing our expertise; they gave us the tools to excel and advised us that the rest is up to us!” |
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