Q&A: Massage Therapy Graduate - Haiyan

Listen to the inspiring story of our graduate, Haiyan!

As an adult, pursuing full-time studies while balancing family, work, and academics is truly admirable. However, the thought of graduation—where becoming a licensed professional means not just supporting a family, but launching a rewarding lifelong career—keeps our students motivated 💪

• Q: Are you confident about the upcoming RMT certification exam? Are you ready?

• A: My theoretical knowledge is actually very solid. As far as the MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) part is concerned, I feel very well-prepared. However, I still need a little more time to gain more practical experience. The school's internship clinic has provided me with many valuable, real patient cases. Since I am someone who likes to be fully prepared for everything, I plan to gain more hands-on experience with patients after graduation before taking the exam. I want to strive to pass it in one go.

• Q: What are your future plans? Do you plan to open your own shop, or work at a massage center?

• A: I don't have plans to open my own shop for the time being. I will likely work at a massage therapy center or a community health center. Running a shop requires not only solid technical skills but also strong business management abilities. Unfortunately, I feel I am a bit lacking in that area... However, I am very confident in my skills and believe I will excel in this brand-new career path in the future!

• Q: How do you feel the RMT profession compares to your previous work? What are the pros and cons? Do you consider doing this long-term?

• A: I am considering doing this long-term. Actually, before studying the massage therapy course, I already held an acupuncturist license and was very familiar with the human body's acupoints and meridians. However, the massage therapy course has supplemented me with a lot of content I didn't know before, such as anatomy, human muscular structure, and skeletal tissue... These have allowed me to re-examine how our bodies are composed from a different dimension. Additionally, I think the income of an RMT is very respectable; it is a highly respected profession with professional associations for unified management. I feel deeply honored to become a Registered Massage Therapist in the future.

• Q: As a senior about to graduate, what would you like to say to the new students entering this year?

• A: The first step is always the hardest. Some of you may feel a lot of pressure when you first step onto campus, and this course is indeed not easy. But as long as you persevere, attend classes seriously, and complete the teacher's assignments and required internship components after class, all problems will be solved. I wish you all smooth sailing in your future studies!

• Q: What have you learned in the OCOT Massage Therapy course? What have been your gains over this past year?

• A: First of all, I must say that my English skills have improved a lot. When I first started classes, my English was average, and many professional terms were obscure and difficult to understand; I felt that learning was challenging. But with the help of the teachers, I gradually overcame these difficulties. Now I feel my English, especially my speaking, has improved significantly. Additionally, I am not young anymore, and having been away from school for so long, my learning ability was not what it used to be. But after studying the massage therapy course at OCOT for a year, I found that my learning ability and mental agility have returned. These are unexpected gains that OCOT brought me, in addition to the massage therapy itself.