Healthy Fun: My Work As A Recreational Therapist

By Author: Chona Flores
Total Articles: 4717
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When I was a young adult I dreamed of a life where I was able to help my parents, so they didn't need to work at all. I wanted them to be able to just relax in the comfort of their home. In my mind they had earned it by taking care of me for so long. At that time, I was working as a government employee in my native country, and the salary I earned monthly was not enough to support myself and my parents.

It was only us three in the family, and after my graduation from college I took over their responsibilities. In short, I became the bread winner of my family. This didn't bother me at all, and it still doesn't bother me, because I believed they deserve to be pampered, and I wanted to return the love they showed me by providing me with care and education. But at times when they couldn't see me I felt like the responsibility was holding me down. I had times when there were problems with my finances and I wanted to just breakdown.

One day I confided in a friend and she told me about an alternative choice. She suggested I leave the country and pursue another career. I took her suggestion seriously and started to ...
... prepare by taking a short crash course on care giving. I figured it would be a field that would have some vacant positions abroad. Upon finishing the course, I immediately applied for several jobs where I could use what I had learned in the class. Most of them turned down my application, but I just kept applying to other openings.

My persistence paid off, and one of the employers interviewed and hired me. I was sad to leave my parents behind, but I knew it was for the better. At my job I gained valuable experience that would help me in the future. I worked hard, but I felt like something was missing. As I took care of people, I realized they needed a recreational therapist more than a general caregiver. I had heard of this type of therapy in passing and it seemed like it could really help these people enjoy their lives, regardless of the disabilities they had.

Once my decision to become a recreational therapist cemented in my mind, I returned to school. This meant that not only was I supporting my family back home, I had to manage to pay for school. It was a stressful time because I had to worry about my family, studying, attending class, and working. It was hard because I had to multi-task a lot and I would get tired at times, but I just had to focus on what really mattered. I knew that obtaining my degree would be the biggest thing that I had achieved so far, and I knew my education would benefit my parents. Happily, I never failed any of my classes and graduated on time.

Now I have a couple of regular patients that I attend to every day. So far they are happy with me, which makes me happy. I really like my job because I get to help people with disabilities enjoy life to a fuller extent. I feel blessed to see my patients smiling when I visit them. I'm also grateful that I've found a profession I like that allows me to support my family.
About Author:
MedicalJobs.ORG (http://www.medicaljobs.org) explores many different medical jobs and careers. Recreational Therapists are covered on the site. Learn more about Recreational Therapist careers at http://www.medicaljobs.org/careers/Recreational-Therapists.php