How I Became a Massage Therapist and a Mom At The Same Time
Caitlin’s life is about priorities. Family comes first, and close to the top are an education and a career. With her Massage Therapy Certificate from U.S. Career Institute, she has all three. She chose an education and a career that fits her life and keeps her priorities in order.
Caitlin thought a Bachelor’s degree would ensure her a career. But with a degree in English, she still struggled to find work. “I was working part-time, doing something…anything for work.” With a baby on the way, her options were limited. She couldn’t commit another four years to a degree that may not even get her a job.
That’s when Caitlin visited U.S. Career Institute for a good deal on a student massage. “While I was there, I thought that this was something I could do. I have always been interested in massage so I asked the student how she liked it, and she told me all about it.”
As always, Caitlin considered her family in her decision. “After talking with my husband, we decided it would be a very affordable investment. It was something I could do inside my home so I could stay home with the kids. It wasn’t full-time and I could set my own schedule.”
It wouldn’t be easy to go to school while she was pregnant, but Caitlin faced the challenge. The format of the course helped because she could adjust her study time when she needed to. “I could study at home and go at my own pace.” Caitlin’s excitement grew as she learned more. She couldn’t wait to be helping people with her massage skills.
The biggest obstacle was still to come: Caitlin had the baby in the middle of her course, but she stuck with it. After the baby was born, she could only study a few hours a week. She progressed slowly but steadily to finish every lesson and then attend the month of hands-on-training included in the course. “It was an intense four weeks, but it was great. I learned so much from the instructors. It was surprising how fast you can put your knowledge into practice.”
Caitlin is now expecting her second child and looking forward to doing massage to help support her family. She plans to practice massage part-time out of her home so she can be successful as a wife, a mom, and a Massage Therapist.
