Which TCM college are you currently enrolled in?
POCA TECH
Do you hold any other licenses, certifications, degrees, or qualifications related to health and wellness (indicate none if applicable)?
I hold a 600 hour certificate in Yoga Therapy, and a 220 hour certificate as a yoga teacher, I hold a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI, 2010).
Are you part of any school, local, state, or national organizations related to TCM (indicate none if applicable)?
Yes, I am the head of the student body at my institution
What inspired you to attend a TCM college?
I was inspired to attend acupuncture school because being on the receiving end Chinese Medicine therapies transformed my relationship to pain management and mysterious illness. I saw how well TCM and acupuncture can work… I was able to experience a lot of relief: chronic pain quieted down, and much more. I was working as an artist in NYC at the time and saw the potential for TCM to be shared more widely – many people need this kind of care but are not always able to get it regardless of how they prioritize their health in relationship to their finances (ie, someone can care a lot about their health like myself but not necessarily have the ability to pay for high cost alternative health treatments such as TCM/acupuncture). POCA TECH provides us with a solid education in business management for creating a sustainable and affordable service alongside learning Chinese Medicine. I am certain that starting a clinic that is accessible to common people will be an asset to the industry of TCM providers- more people will become familiar with what TCM can consist of in practice and experience, rather than in concept. In order to spread the gospel of acupuncture and start a business, I needed to attend school! So that is why I am attending college.
Why would you like to be considered for this scholarship?
It would help me immensely- If I win this scholarship, it represents 2 months that I am able to work less hours at my low-paid restaurant job and focus on studying. Even as a successful and talented person, when I moved to Portland Oregon it was very difficult to find a job that pays a living wage, so I am in the service industry now. It is very hard and exhausting work both emotionally and physically. I am working to pay my tuition out of pocket. My job pays about $1850 a month. My rent is $850, my bills are $260, and I do not have much left over after paying for my tuition. This money would improve my quality of life as we head into the summer months and allow me a much needed reprieve, and to prepare for my 3rd and final year of school.
What has your experience been with acupuncture and Chinese medicine so far?
I started receiving acupuncture in 2015 because I have a very painful and chronic bursitis in my back. A friend was at school at Pacific College (NYC) at the time and offered a treatment at her student clinic. She used moxa, needles, gua sha, and cupping on me. It was a strange and new experience for me, but after the treatment I felt better than I had in years! It was amazing. Therafter I was excited to get treated again, but her facility was far from my house and I did not have a lot of time to commute there, nor could I afford the treatments that were from practitioners who offer private room attention. Then, a different friend in my community started a Kickstarter to open a new clinic that offered “sliding scale” payment prices in the neighborhood of BedStuy. I bought a discounted promotional package of treatments and attended once a month until they ran out. That was in around 2017. Starting 2018, I was regularly visiting Asheville, NC and was introduced to People’s Acupuncture which is a community clinic. I was able to go so often that I saw great results. Thereafter, returning to NYC I wanted to continue treatments and there were no community clinics, I was very surprised. But anywhere I traveled, I always looked to see if there was a community acupuncture clinic and got treated. I loved being in a room of gently snoring people and the ease and affordability of receiving acupuncture in that way. It was amazing! This inspired me to pursue research into becoming an acupuncture provider.
What are your plans after graduation? What will practicing Chinese medicine look like for you?
I will be opening a clinic in Brooklyn, NY. I will be practicing community-style treatments in order to allow as many people as possible to experience the healing powers of acupuncture. This consists of setting up chairs in a circle, patients stay clothes, and the practitioner mostly uses distal points/scalp/face/chest/ears. I will also have a private room for cupping, moxa, and gua sha treatments. I will not be practicing herbs.
