The West Coast College of Massage Therapy offers so much to its students. Our world-class facilities and faculty, partnered with the supportive network of alum, continued education opportunities and teaching assistants and tutors give our future RMTs all that they need to succeed. We sat down with Wilson Mah, a WCCMT New Westminster Grad and now tutor to learn all about his experiences, from his experiences at WCCMT, getting a job to tutoring and the lessons he has learned from the students he has worked with.
So Wilson, why did you come to WCCMT?
Firstly because it was close to home, but also because the college is the most renowned for Massage Therapy.
Where are you working now?
I work as a Registered Massage Therapy in Surrey and I also work in a clinic in Vancouver.
Awesome! How quickly did you get a job after graduation?
Immediately, actually. I started full-time work once I graduated and got my papers.
Can you tell us your favourite thing about college?
Aside from my peers and the fun atmosphere, I really enjoyed the free massages as a student. That’s really something you miss after you leave.
Why did you decide you wanted to tutor students at WCCMT?
I’ve always liked teaching and giving back. Getting to teach is the highest form of mastery of your skill. On top of that, I’ve always wanted to come back to the College and that is the first way of doing so. It’s also helped me keep on top of new techniques.
Can you tell us about your experience as a Tutor?
It’s been great. We don’t actually get to use a lot of this knowledge on a day to day basis; a lot of the skills you learn in school you don’t use until later on. Most of the students will tell you that they teach me more than I teach them. It’s a very humbling experience.
It’s also about getting to see what it’s like to be on the other side and validating that you do know more than you think. It’s satisfying to know that you did this education and you do have something to give back – it’s awesome. The students have been a blast. It’s been quite an experience.
Can you tell us more about your passion for education?
If I wasn’t in the healthcare industry, I would have gone into teaching. Over the years, I have developed a lot of the passion for giving back and for teaching.
Any advice for people who want to give back as a Tutor or teaching assistant?
Don’t be afraid to try it. It is way more laid back then you may think it is. It’s only a couple of hours a week and it’s a great way to keep you sharp on your skills. I know as a student you might get sick of seeing the same walls and classrooms, but when you go back on the other side of the table it’s pretty neat.
What’s the one thing students need to know about when they’re starting their time at WCCMT?
The importance of planning and organization. Proper time management and organizational skills make a huge difference. The college is so fast-paced that it can feel like you take a break for a second and fall behind, so you really learn to plan ahead to and organize your days. I built up resilience. When things got hard and you had finals coming up, some people chose to give up and some people couldn’t handle the pressure, but most of us just chose to tackle it head on.
Thanks to Wilson for sharing his go-getting attitude about giving back, facing obstacles with organization and his career successes! Want to share your story? Contact [email protected] to be featured in our blog. As always, WCCMT would love to see you on LinkedIn, our New Westminster Facebook Page or our WCCMT/CCMH Facebook Page so you can stay connected with our community.
