NHI San Jose Celebrates its 10th Anniversary!
Contributing Writer: Aurora Donnelly
Walking into the doors of the San Jose campus is like coming home to me. I remember coming in for my campus tour provided by the admissions team. As soon as Michelle began talking about the program I immediately felt that this place was where I belonged. I met many teachers who smiled as soon as I walked in the door and gave me an opportunity to watch them in action. The admissions representatives, teachers, and students all welcomed me with open arms as if I had been their friend for years. I knew that National Holistic Institute was where I wanted to begin my journey into the massage therapy profession.
My first day went much the same, getting to know the staff and my fellow students all of whom shared my enthusiasm for nurturing touch. My mentor Conrad, who has been here almost as long as the campus has been open told us that “NHI doesn’t just teach massage. While that remains the focus of many of our classes, one of the most important lessons you will learn here is how to communicate. Communication through your words, with your clients, with each other, with yourself, and most certainly you will learn how to communicate through your touch.” I have never forgotten that as I look back on the past 5 years of being involved with this incredible campus. It is in that which I truly find what makes our location so special.
The NHI San Jose Team Celebrating the campuses 10th Anniversary!
This month the San Jose campus celebrates a decade of service, the culmination of 10 years of graduations, tutoring, student potlucks, themed days, student orientations, sporting events, and so much more. Now being a teacher and mentor I get to see the students truly come alive at all of these events. I have seen them through Superhero Day, 80’s Day, National Pancake Day, National Oreo Day, Share the Love Day, Campus Barbeques, and beyond. Getting everyone together on campus or even at our local park really brings community to our groups and also each other as a staff. On September 2nd, we hosted a campus wide BBQ at our local park. This was our time to reflect on 10 years of people, stories, laughter, and community. Past BBQs included hula hooping, sack races, three-legged races, football, softball, and plenty of food and fun! This year we had plenty of new games and also Alumni from the past decade which now include our Massage Therapy Ambassadors and Employer partners across this phenomenal bay area!
This all could not be possible without Gena Garren. Our campus manager for the past 4 years has been the master planner, positive energy giver, and always full supporter of teachers and students alike. It’s her continuous “Let’s make it happen” attitude that I truly appreciate. Being a student and massage therapist herself then working her way up to Teaching Assistant, Instructor, Student Services and now Campus Manager she has a generous wealth of knowledge, experience, and teamwork skills which really brings this campus to life. Gena finds that incredible balance of being tough as nails as well as comforting and supportive and really allows all of us to keep the gears of the campus turning smoothly and we can’t thank her enough.
Simply put the National Holistic Institute College of Massage Therapy San Jose Campus has a lot to be thankful for and I could not be more proud to be a part of it. Happy 10th birthday San Jose Campus!