What high school did you attend? Chestnut Ridge High School
Why did you choose your major? I was inspired by working in a spa
What made you choose Allegany College of Maryland? Affordability and Quality of Education
How was your experience at ACM? Excellent! The education I received was the solid foundation I needed for a successful career.
Why would you recommend Allegany College of Maryland to future students? I feel the smaller class sizes at ACM allow you a more in-depth education. The instructors
know you by name, which makes them more approachable to ask questions and thus better
understand the material.
What motivates you? Why? Having a career where people are excited to see you. It makes me feel like I have
more of a purpose.
What advice would you give future college students? Keep your end goal in sight and be familiar with the career field you want to pursue.
Go to College when you are ready for a career you feel passionate about. I was going
to go to school for teaching until I took time off and worked in a Spa and changed
to Massage Therapy. Luckily, I was able to switch early and avoid wasting a lot of
time and money. 10 years later and I am still enjoying what I do.
What advice would you give to students interested in your career path? It is an amazing career path. People are excited to see you, and you make people
feel better every day while getting paid to do it.
Who was your favorite ACM faculty/staff member? Why? It's hard to choose, but I feel like it's Kirsten Hansen. She cares about her students
and the program. You can really tell that she's passionate about what she does.
What is your greatest achievement in your career? Having the opportunity to be the Lead Therapist at a top-rated spa with an amazing
team of massage therapists and staff.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: College is an investment in your future. Don’t be distracted by the glitz and glamor
of colleges that over-charge for their campus and not on your education. Take some
time and explore firsthand what career path you love doing, and then match your college
accordingly to what you want to do. So often people will explore for a college and
then pick a major on its list and sometimes waste a lot of time, money, and struggle
with their studies because their passion isn't in what they are studying.
