With a bachelor’s degree freshly in her pocket, Elaine Thompson ‘16 wasn't sure of her next step. One of her friends spoke about their journey and it piqued Elaine’s interest.

“I was talking with a hockey teammate about the program she was taking at Mohawk. As she explained, I grew increasingly interested and thought this could be for me,” Elaine says.

Elaine’s teammate told her about the Recreation Therapy program at Mohawk College. Her fond memories spending time with seniors in childhood and the idea of turning this into a career made Elaine excited to enroll in the same program.

“I grew up with my grandparents and always spent time with them and their friends, which I loved,” she says. “After hearing about the program, I researched it then enrolled to further my education.”

Mohawk’s Recreation Therapy program utilizes leisure as a tool to improve quality of life for people of all abilities on every level. Students learn person-centered, evidence-based knowledge and how to apply these skills in order to continue breaking barriers so that everyone can live their best life.

During her studies, Elaine completed a few co-op placements at different hospitals and long-term care centers. Also working as a volunteer outside of school in these environments, Elaine figured out where her career was meant to go.

Elaine says, “When I was a Mohawk student, I had a goal to work with seniors in a hospital setting. Once I did some volunteering and my placement at Schlegel Villages Wentworth Heights, I knew long-term care was the path I wanted to go in.”

Today, Elaine works as a recreation supervisor with Schlegel Villages. To do what she once loved as a child in her day-to-day life makes her feel like work is anything but a job.

“Spending time with the residents and being the reason that they smile is such a gift,” she says. “Schlegel Villages really encourages team members to foster authentic relationships and that has been so meaningful to me.”

As one of Mohawk College’s Future Ready Premium Employers, Schlegel Villages reflects community values in its care and commitment to training future ready graduates. In partnership with Mohawk, Schlegel has created unique living classrooms at two of its locations. These campus sites include various amenities that replicate those at long-term care facilities in order to properly train future PSWs for the future of geriatric care.

Planning recreation programming for Schlegel’s residents is a fun aspect of Elaine’s role. After working with the same residents for nearly a decade, they feel like family to her.

“Some of the residents have been a part of my life for the past eight years,” she says. “Those folks have shared in some of my biggest life milestones like getting engaged, buying my first house and getting married. It’s a beautiful thing.”

To those wanting to forge a path like Elaine has, she has some key advice.

“Utilize all of the placement opportunities to explore the different fields and populations you could work with. Don’t complete all of your placements with the same population. This is your time to give each job a ‘test run’ for the future.”