Twice Nickole Molina tried to finish massage therapy school before she found the encouragement and structure she needed to go the distance at Carrington鈥檚 Massage Therapy (MT) program on the Spokane, Washington campus. Ashley Burt, her Carrington MT instructor, made the difference with a very disciplined but caring mentorship. Nickole credits Professor Burt for supporting her as she found her own path.听 For Nickole, that path was to find strength in herself. Her life鈥檚 challenges were getting the better of her and she struggled with an alcohol problem. Now she enjoys being a single mom to her two-year-old daughter, Phoenix (who was in the background of this interview, humming along the entire time in the car as her Mom drove her to nursery school). This was Nickole鈥檚 second day at her job as a massage therapist. 鈥淪he sings and hums all the time,鈥� Nickole said about Phoenix, virtually smiling over the phone. Nickole has found the kind of work that gives meaning and purpose to her life. This is her story. 听 听
Tell me about yourself.听
My parents were born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York.听 They moved to the US in 1996. They had a rough upbringing in Puerto Rico which was hard to get out of. They didn鈥檛 want their future family to grow up around gang violence and drugs. They wanted better for us. I鈥檓 the oldest of four siblings. I鈥檓 25 years old.听听 I was born in 1997 and raised in Spokane Valley. When I was 19, my family moved to Florida. I went to my first Massage Therapy program there, but I was struggling and couldn鈥檛 finish it.听 I had medical issues and was drinking too much. Then I got pregnant. When I found out I was pregnant, I got sober. And in 2020, six months pregnant, I went to school again. In 2021 I decided to move back to Spokane on my own to start my life over and to maintain my sobriety. At that point I was two years sober.听听 听
How did you decide to become a Massage Therapist?听
A friend who was very holistic suggested MT to me; she thought I had the right instinct for it. I was tired of working unsatisfying jobs; I wanted to do something with more meaning. But it was a difficult time; I continued to struggle with maintaining my own sobriety, I was caring for my daughter, my father had cancer, and I was dealing with the emotions of my grandfather who was sick with cancer. Also the father of my child almost died from an overdose. I left a relationship of domestic violence for a better future for the both of us. 听 听
How did you decide on Carrington?听
I just googled for schools in the area and applied. I had failed to finish two other schools before. But I was going to keep trying; I finally found what I needed. 听 听
What was it like at Carrington?听
It was not a large class and we became very close; there was a lot of one-on-one time. At first I thought Professor Burt was mean; she wouldn鈥檛 let anyone get away with anything and wouldn鈥檛 put up with any excuses. We had to get the work done. But then I realized it was tough love she was practicing and that she was very caring. She was helping me not to fail. 听 听
What was your favorite part of your studies?听
I enjoyed learning about the body; the different systems and how it works together. I mean, we鈥檙e made of these perfectly amazing bodies that are so beautiful. It鈥檚 a blessing we鈥檙e given these beautiful bodies. I learned to love life more; I developed a greater love for humanity.听 听
How did you find your job?听
I went for an interview at Elements Massage while I was at school, but they needed a full-time not part-time employee. They told me to come back when I had graduated and had my license.听听 听 听
What鈥檚 best about your job?听
I have more autonomy with my work; I can do what I want. I love to help solve whatever problem my clients are having with their bodies. 听
Do you have any words of advice for anyone thinking about enrolling in school?听
Okay鈥� well first, just follow your heart and do what you want because at the end of the day if you don鈥檛, the only one that misses out on life is you. You鈥檝e got to make it happen yourself. 听 Second, I want to say something to those challenged by generations of family: complacency about your situation is not enough.听 You can make the change in yourself. We can do better; we can be the change for the next direction. 听 听
Inspiring words鈥�听
One more thing: a lot of people feel very differently about what to believe in, if there is a God – or however you think about it 鈥� the universe at work, or whatever it is people want to think. It鈥檚 important to have a relationship to that, whatever it is to you, whatever鈥檚 out there because it鈥檚 your higher self too 鈥� it helps you become capable of seeing yourself. 听 I did this for my father and mother. Puerto Ricans are very prideful people; we hold our flags high, sing, dance, feed everyone and take care of the ones we love. We are family driven. My father would tell me 鈥淢ake me proud,鈥� and听 鈥淒on鈥檛 waste time! Before you know it you鈥檒l be 25, and you鈥檝e done nothing with your life.鈥� I hope he is proud of me for fighting against all odds to get here! After I graduated he said, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 next? You can鈥檛 stop now!鈥� I know great things are to come! I also want to thank my mom for telling me the truth, no matter how much it hurt, and always ensuring I don鈥檛 settle for less.听 听
I can hear Phoenix humming away in the back seat of your car鈥�.听
Yeah, it feels so surreal, now that I have this job, driving to work on my second day鈥�听 I鈥檓 doing this for her.
