For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Meagan Young. I have been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) since 2012, and I am certain that I have found a career that I am authentically passionate about.
Heck, I even started a blog to share my love for recreation therapy in my free time. Since a lot of us are new friends here, I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you all why I decided to enter the field of therapeutic recreation.
We all have different reasons for becoming recreation therapists. Maybe it was a childhood friend with an exceptionality that provided inspiration, or perhaps it happened while visiting grandma at the nursing home.
Whatever your reason is, it’s important for you to own it. If we can remember our “why” when we feel burnt out, run down and disengaged, we can go back to how to all started. Re-igniting that drive we all have inside of us to help others the best way we know how.
So without further ado here is Why I Became a Recreation Therapist.
Childhood Gifts and Struggles
I was your classic ‘parks and rec’ kid. On any given day you could find me at the lake swimming, on the soccer field or just hanging out in my backyard with my friends.
My physical literacy game was strong. It showed when it came time for gym class or during the many sports I was involved in. Physical activity was my bread and butter.
What wasn’t strong you ask? My actual literacy skills. I wasn’t a great speller, I had a speech impediment, and I struggled to get through reading material for my age group.
Luckily, I had very supportive parents and a ton of help from the learning department at school. Truth be told, if it wasn’t for Harry Potter I don’t know if I ever would have been motivated to read (thanks J.K Rowling.)
What I learned: With the help of caring, supportive individuals, anyone can improve their current situation.
My University Gap Year
In my first two years of school, I switched my major 5 times. Needless to say, I felt a little lost.
Feeling the pressure of choosing a life plan, I did what any truly confused 20 year old would do. I took a year off to be a snowboard bum in Banff, AB. My goal for my gap year was to “figure it out”.
I even made a powerpoint for my parents to prove that moving to Banff was the best option for me at the time. To this day I still can’t believe they bought it.
While I was living my best Banff life I had a chance encounter with a recreation therapist who was facilitating an assisted skiing program. I was so inspired by our meeting, that I spent that night working on and submitting my application to a therapeutic recreation program.
To my parent’s great relief, I am happy to report that I returned to university the following fall.
The Journey Continues
After university, I immediately found myself in a well-paying, awesome-benefits, type of job. It was a great starting place for my career. At about the 3 years mark, I could tell my soul was restless. I gave my official notice, packed all my bags, and started my grand adventure.
From Newfoundland to Nova Scotia to Kentucky to British Columbia to Tennessee and now finally to Florida, my life over the past four years has been a whirlwind. An amazing whirlwind, but with some very real challenges.
From heartbreaking goodbyes to epic failures, from losing a best friend from an overdose to learning how to deal with my own anxiety and depression, it was tough.
But as tough as it’s been, I know it has all been meant for a higher purpose.I have taken every ounce of empathy, love, and support I received and channeled it into how I serve others.
What I learned: Learning to see a challenge as fuel for growth and change is the best lesson I have ever learned as a recreation therapist.
When Passions Collide
My greatest accomplishments start and end with helping others live a more fulfilling, healthy life. My heart lights up when I know that I did something, said something, or motivated someone to make a positive change in their life.
When my passion for play, recreation, and leisure collided with my passion for helping others, the field of therapeutic recreation was a no brainer to me. It’s easy for me to talk about my work and why I do it because it is a part of who I am.
Do I have other passions? Of course I do.
Will my career path shift and grow and I do? Of course it will.
Am I always going to be proud to be a recreation therapist? You know I will.
Friends, I would LOVE to hear your Recreation Therapy Story.
Please comment below, or use the #myRTstory on social media.
