If life hadn鈥檛 thrown 64-year-old Lamar Potter a curveball earlier this year, he鈥檇 still be working as a foreman for Union Pacific Railroad.听 Instead, he鈥檚 well on his way to completing Carrington鈥檚 Massage Therapy program鈥攁nd to becoming a massage therapist.听 鈥淚 worked for the railroad for 25 years and I always thought I鈥檇 retire from there,鈥� says Lamar. 鈥淓ven when I had open heart surgery 11 years ago, I was back at work, swinging a sledgehammer, three months later. Before that, I worked as a logger, hooking logs onto a helicopter lift. I鈥檝e always done hard physical work. The idea of doing anything else never really crossed my mind.鈥�听 But earlier this year, Lamar was diagnosed with drop foot, a medical condition that made him prone to tripping. He was granted a medical disability retirement and suddenly faced with a big question: What now? 听 鈥淚 knew I wasn鈥檛 ready to retire, so I started thinking about my options,鈥� Lamar recalls. 鈥淎s you get older, you become more aware of time. I鈥檓 the youngest of seven kids, and only two of my siblings are still alive. I want to make the most out of whatever time I have left and give back something positive to the world, and I think becoming a massage therapist will make it possible for me to do that. I鈥檝e always been interested in massage and how it can improve a person鈥檚 health, mobility, and life. I researched the field, learned more about Carrington鈥檚 Massage Therapy program, and decided it was something I wanted to pursue.鈥�听 He enrolled in April, 2022 and is on track to complete the program in as few as nine months! 听 We talked with Lamar, who attends classes at Carrington鈥檚 Boise, Idaho campus, about his sudden career change, what it鈥檚 like to return to school after more than 45 years, and the best advice he鈥檇 give anyone who might consider following in his footsteps.听 听
You鈥檙e in a very different place than you were less than a year ago. What is it like returning to school at 64鈥攁nd how does it compare to what you expected?听
At first, the thought of returning to school made me nervous. To be totally honest, I didn鈥檛 know if I could keep up or how I would fit in. I wasn鈥檛 sure I鈥檇 be good enough. Most of the students in my class are 30 to 40 years younger than me. But it鈥檚 been really great. Everyone at Carrington, from my instructors to the staff to my fellow students, has been nothing but kind and good to me. I feel accepted in class, which makes the experience a lot easier. Some of the kids have even told me that I鈥檓 an inspiration to them, which makes me feel pretty good.听 听
Has that surprised you?听听
It has. People tell me I鈥檓 too tough on myself and that I don鈥檛 give myself enough credit. That might be true, but I鈥檓 also realistic. I know I鈥檓 not the best student in my class. I also know I don鈥檛 learn as quickly or retain information as easily as I did back in high school. But one of the great advantages you gain from growing older is a sense of perspective. When I think back on all the things I鈥檝e experienced in my life, I realize I鈥檝e overcome a lot of challenges鈥攁nd I鈥檒l do fine at this, too. I鈥檓 ready and willing to invest whatever effort and energy it takes to successfully complete my program. There are dozens of different kinds of massage therapy, so I still have a lot to learn, but I鈥檒l do it.听 听
How did you first learn about Carrington and how did you end up becoming a student?听
I was aware of Carrington for some time, but I never thought I鈥檇 be a student there. When my medical situation forced me to retire from the railroad, I had to think about what I wanted my future to look like. I had planned to work for a few more years. I knew I wanted to supplement my retirement income and do something I enjoyed. I like people and wanted to pursue a career where I could provide some kind of health service that would help others.听 When I first contacted Carrington, I was nervous because I whether I could even be a successful student at my age. They were very encouraging from the beginning. The people at Carrington care, and they鈥檙e really committed to helping people like me achieve their goals. I鈥檓 grateful I鈥檓 a student there. I have sense of direction and a goal, and I feel like I鈥檓 in a very good place in my life.听听 听
What is it about the Massage Therapy program that interested you?听听
I know from personal experience what it鈥檚 like to have physical limitations and to have to adapt. I think a lot of people used to think of massage as a luxury or something that just felt good, but it offers so many benefits. After dealing with some of my own health challenges, the idea of providing a service that helped other people really appealed to me. It鈥檚 very different than the work I鈥檝e done most of my life.听 听
What do you like most about being a student at Carrington?听
I really like learning something new and different. Massage therapy is so different from the work I鈥檝e done all my life, and I like learning in an environment that is so friendly and supportive. I also enjoy being surrounded by a lot of intelligent, motivated people. There are 13 other students in my class, and I like them all.听听听 听
What would you tell someone who might be thinking about enrolling in the Massage Therapy program?听
I would tell them to believe in yourself and never count yourself out. If I can make the kind of life change I have and succeed, you can, too! I would also tell them that at Carrington, I experienced a level of care, support and encouragement that I never expected, so be open to receiving it. It made such a difference because I have never felt alone.听 When I first started my program, I felt discouraged a few times and wondered whether I鈥檇 made the right decision. I talked with my instructor, and she told me I was doing better than I realized and to not let fear or anxiety about the unknown slow me down. That one conversation gave me the courage to stick with it and keep moving forward. That鈥檚 what I鈥檝e been doing, and I鈥檓 really glad I have.听
