New student confused

[Piggy]

I just started school a couple of months ago. I am confused. I really wanted to do massage. Now that I am enrolled I am overwelmed with all the work. Is it normal for students to want to give up or am I just not not meant for this...Please let me know how you made it through the ups and down of school...Thank you

 

[Motherhood is cool!]

Hello, kell2mob, and welcome to the forum!

I am sure that most therapists here remember feeling slightly (and sometimes MAJORLY) overwhelmed with all there was to learn in school. It's a lot more information than many of us had expected -- but it all pays off once you graduate and start your practice.

Hopefully you have the support of family and friends -- and your classmates can be a wonderful source of encouragement when things get tough. Everyone at times goes through stressful personal situations as well as the demands of school and you can lean on one another. We shared tears as well as laughter -- and everyone managed to graduate! Even those who had considered dropping out at some point due to other stressful situations in their lives.

This forum can also provide you with plenty of resources and encouraging words! Take advaneforum.xxxe of it . . . we have all been where you are now!

If you heart is truly dedicated to becoming a massage therapist, you will survive all the ups and downs and they will all be worth it!

Remember, you have lots of people cheering you on -- :dancingparty:

Sherry

 

[Nat2036]

honey, if you only knew how many times i threw that anatomy book across the room.. i even broke the glass to my china cabinet once!

it's normal in any situation - i promise. the struggles, the challenges make you stronger and more clear in your dreams and your abilities. some people get cold feet when they get married and stay happily married forever - this is the same way. i can tell you hands down that i was absolutely meant to do this work. and eight years ago, when i was in school, i thought i was going to be the biggest loser.

doubt is ok - it's what you do with it. don't let it overrun you, instead knock it back down and push forward! you're doing a great job!

amanda

 

[Gorgious]

New student confused

I just started school a couple of months ago. I am confused. I really wanted to do massage. Now that I am enrolled I am overwelmed with all the work. Is it normal for students to want to give up or am I just not not meant for this...Please let me know how you made it through the ups and down of school...Thank you

LOL - I almost quit twice. The first time I went into the office to tell them I quit and my kinesiology instructor came in and talked me out of it. He said I was way too smart to drop out and he convinced me that staying was right. This was the day before my final for his class in first quarter. The second time was right around the midpoint of second quarter and again he heard through the grapevine that I was coming into school and telling them I was walking away and when he saw me walk past (this man always kept his doors closed, but that day it was open) and he followed me into the office and again told me to NOT drop out. I stuck it out even though I felt so overwhelmed and graduated and just took my national exam yesterday. Only one more open book test and I will have my license!!!!

You can do it - just try to stick it out and do the best you can.

 

[Bossoli is back?]

Hang in there....things will improve!!!

I too, shed many tears of frustrastion and stress while in school, but I could always count on my friends, family and classmates to cheer me up in my darkest moments. I pressed on, graduated and zoomed thru the NCE with no problems. Believe me sweetie, you can and WILL succeed in school, just step back, breathe and relax....No one gets this "rub and run" stuff overnight, and you will hit your stride in just the right time!!!! As Jim Valvano always said, "Don't give up, don't ever give up!!!" I have no doubt you will do wonderfully well and become a helluva massage therapist--- I am rooting for you and am here if you should need anything or just need to vent. Keep your head up and smile even in the darkest times, and a bright warm sun shall come up and light up the sky.

Love and Light-
Johnny

 

[GingerSpice]

I hear what you are saying and it all is normal.

I thought I was going to go insane several times and drop out of school. I had a wonderful group of friends at school that found each other and used each other for support.

Things will get easier but don't fret when they get difficult once again...you will be constantly SHIFTING in many aspects. Try to step back and learn from each time you struggle, you will appreciate the growth within yourself in the end.

By the way...after two long years, I graduate next month! (If I can get this dang business plan done t013 )

Hang in there!

 

[Stone 8]

Yep I hear ya. I never really thought of quitting but at certain times I sure did get resentful of all the time it took out of my "regular" life. Its worth it though and you'll be so proud when you are done. Hang in there, it does seem to go in waves. The thing is, it'll be over before you know it. Stick around here for support too.

 

[cowboydoc]

The overwhelming feeling - it's normal...The last two quarters of school was extremely overwhelming and life didn't stop just because I was in school - it seemed like family issues exploded and intensity of classes increased and of course working a full-time job on top of it all - there just didn't seem like there was enough of me to go around.

I just graduated - and I take the state boards in December - and there are times where I have felt like I just want to get back to my life. But, the sacrifices and the hard work is worth it - and once you get that certificate from your school - that sense of accomplishment really makes it feel like it was all worth it. Fortunately, I've had a really close class - we still meet each week to study for boards - well most of us anyway. I can say some of my best friendships have come out of this course - I can't wait to hear that we've all passed state boards - that will be the icing on the cake!

Hang in there! Believe in yourself - you can do this - and if you ever need any tips or help, post on here - someone is bound to have an answer or point you in the right direction. Find the way you learn best - focus on that style but also develop your other skills. In our class, we have picture-related learners, chart learners, word learners - hands-on learners - find out what works for you. It takes a little bit of time to work it out but once you do - it clicks!

Good luck - can't wait to hear you post that you've graduated! You can do this!

Take care,
Cindy

 

[Pompal 09.]

Not a day goes by that I don't have a fleeting thought of freedom. Trust me, the good outweighs the pain by a ratio of a million to one (most days) Once you start hands on work, the first time somebody gets off the table and says "that was amazing!" or "I totally fell asleep" and even "that was the best massage I've ever had", you'll know it was all worth it! Everytime you get an exam back with a mark higher than you expected, everytime you see progress with a repeat client, everytime you learn something new that is really really cool, you'll know its worth it.

I think about dropping out everday, even though I only have 7 months of a 30 month program left. Its normal, it probably won't stop, but when you graduate, and you have a certificate in your hand...you'll look back and wonder why you even considered dropping out in the first place.

Good luck

 

[LillianaKay]

I had a friend in massage school who was plagued by depression. She found it very difficult to get through and had an episode of sever depression about three months after graduating.

But, she was so happy she stuck it out and still practices today.

It's hard, it's a mind-bender, but you can do it! *rah rah* Keep on truckin'!