Stepping into a rigorous, hands-on healthcare program can feel overwhelming, especially when you are juggling work, family, and your own healing journey. In this episode, David Sol and Timur Lokshin sit down with Dr. Ashley Kowal, Vice President of Student Services at Pacific College of Health Science, to reveal how student services, tutoring, and WellConnect can transform that stress into sustainable success.

Dr. Kowal shares what the student service department is all about, how accommodations work under the Americans with Disabilities Act (including for neurodivergent students, chronic illness, pregnancy, and temporary injuries), and why there is no shame in asking for support. You will hear concrete examples of exam and classroom accommodations, how confidentiality is protected, and when faculty can (and cannot) challenge an accommodation request.

We also dive into the real-life challenges non-traditional students face—time management, burnout, and returning to school after years away—and walk through practical strategies for studying smarter, not harder. You will learn how to build a realistic weekly schedule, use tutoring for both content and study skills, and turn everyday life into a classroom using posture analysis, SOAP notes, and client communication practice.

Whether you are just starting at Pacific College of Health and Science or are halfway through your program, this episode will help you reconnect with your “why,” communicate earlier when life gets messy, and use every tool available—student advisors, WellConnect, tutors, and simple planning systems—to stay on track without sacrificing your health. Listen in if you are ready to stop white-knuckling your way through school and start treating it like the professional training and personal transformation it truly is.

Starting massage school can feel exciting, overwhelming, and a little terrifying—so in this episode, David Sol and Timur Lokshin share what they wish they had known in their first term. They talk about the shock of the science load, why “more pressure” isn’t better, the power of slowing down and building rapport, and how struggling students can still become thriving, successful therapists if they remember their why and lean on their community.

In this inaugural episode of The Student to Therapist Massage Therapy Podcast, hosts David Sol and Timur Lokshin introduce themselves, share their paths into massage therapy and bodywork, and talk openly about how they found their way into this profession as students and lifelong learners. They reflect on early doubts, influential mentors, and the pivotal experiences that shaped their careers in massage, acupuncture, and education.

You’ll also hear why they care so deeply about supporting massage therapy students, what they wish they had known when they were starting out, and how this podcast will serve as a companion for you on your journey to becoming a licensed massage therapist. This episode is perfect for prospective, new, and returning students who want to get to know their educators, feel more connected to the program, and gain early insight into what a real career in massage therapy can look like.