By Kristen Lutz
Communications Program Chair
I had the pleasure of sitting down with our 2017 Dianne Polseno Scholarship 1st Place Winner, Kristen Flynn, to get to know a little more about how this award will affect her and her future practice. Kristen was the recipient of $1,000 and a free year of AMTA-MA membership. Did you know we have $1,000 and $500 (PLUS A YEAR OF FREE AMTA MEMBERSHIP!) just waiting for some brilliant and talented souls to take home each year? Here's what Kristen had to say about how the scholarship will make an impact on her career.
After gaining some experience working for and with some seasoned professional therapists she hopes to begin her own practice in Great Barrington, MA - in the Berkshires. At this time, she can be reached via email at kflynn104@gmail.com.
Q. How did you hear about the Dianne Polseno Scholarship?
A. I read about the Dianne Polseno Scholarship in an email blast with updates about the latest information from the AMTA-MA chapter. (Thank you Kristen Lutz!)
Q. Where are you attending school and do you have a favorite class/area of study?
A. I have just recently completed my program at The Massage School in Easthampton, MA. I had lots of favorite areas of study. The two areas that intrigued me the most were myofascial work and shiatsu but I really enjoyed the entire program.
Q. What will be the first thing you do with your Scholarship Award? If you're not sure, you can talk about some ways the money will help you prepare for the start of your practice.
A. I am super excited to purchase my first (quality) table with accessories. I will use any extra money left after that purchase to put towards the first of the professional development classes that I would like to take this year.
Q. How will the Award make an impact on your massage therapy practice?
A. The award has already made a significant impact on me. First, by having to think about the question posed by the committee to apply for the scholarship it provided me with a moment to really reflect on the direction that I would like to take my own personal practice. I am grateful that I had the reminder to really think through my plan for this first year of practice. Secondly, I am grateful for having been inserted immediately upon graduation into the AMTA world by attending the AMTA-MA conference luncheon. I learned so much about all the work that the AMTA does and how the AMTA can really impact me as a massage therapist professional. And finally, being able to start gathering quality tools of this profession in making my massage table purchase was such a gift and a genuine lift to my spirit to begin my journey in massage therapy with a level of quality and excellence that I would like to represent in my work. I am so thankful for this award.
Q. What would you like to say to next year's applicants?
A. Although I did not know Dianne, I learned a little bit about the qualities that she stood for; excellence being one of them. I would say to next year's applicants to be grateful for the reminder to take time to reflect on the question the committee poses and to shape your response with excellence in mind. I would also encourage all students to apply!
Q. Why is it important for people to contribute to the Dianne Polseno Scholarship Fund?
A. I think that contributing to a fund that reflects, what I have come to learn as, the strong and passionate love of the massage therapy profession that Dianne stood for feeds an energy that keeps her spirit alive and helps to inspire quality and passion in new therapists which can only benefit the profession as a whole. I would like to thank all of those people who contributed to this fund that I have benefited from - I will work hard to represent Dianne's legacy well.