Student Testimonials
WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO THE HHE PROGRAM WAS...
TP: "For me it was about putting together a couple of things from my background in the combination--coming out with one focus. When I was searching for a program, the courses are what interested me the most. I liked how the courses are structured so that you start with learning about yourself and then move into learning about others."
KS: "The combination of Holism and Education. I wanted to be able to enrich my own life and then to take it out into the world, and HHE teaches both really well. Also, I wanted an environment to challenge, support, and stimulate me spiritually and academically. I needed a place to step out of society, to ask myself the really important life changing and life affirming questions. Plus, with a Master's in Holistic Health Education, I would be able to make a living by contributing and serving others in what I believe to be an important and positive way."
FR: "I wanted to attend John F. Kennedy to expand my knowledge of holistic information from simply a cause and effect orientation to one that involved depth of spirit and personal experience."
JY: Prior to starting the HHE Program, my life was a mess. It looked good on the outside. I owned a house, worked for an upscale design firm, had a nice car. But, I was lost and completely dying inside. I longed for a different life. I was miserable at work, miserable at home and longed to be back in school. I needed change! I found the HHE Program online and fell in love. Only thing was, I needed to take care of my health before I could dedicate myself to school again. Now that I'm in the program, I'm excited and fearful all at the same time, but I think I'll figure out my place in time.
CL: It wasn't until I went away to college that I started learning about environmental illness as well as toxic mold. The more I learned, the more sensitive I began to feel about what my body is exposed to as well as to what the Earth is exposed to.
I started eating organic and in the process of about four years my awareness shifted to what other toxins I am buying, to what I am putting down the drains, to what I am throwing away.
I see clearly how my personal story contributed to my obsession with the relationship between personal health and environmental health. As I develop, and with intention, I am shifting this obsession from myself to how I can help the planet and educate others. One of the main reasons I joined this program was to learn how to communicate my passionate feelings without eliciting others' defenses. I hope to learn many ways to facilitate a connection between a person's health and that of their environment.
LR: I have been attracted to the field every since my own struggles with health. I am now taking a new look at my own chronic illness. I have much to think about given what I am learning. I hope to be able to impact the illness with different perceptions and attitudes. It took me a while to realize that this information wasn't just for me to give to others, but was first and foremost for me to give myself. This program has been transformative for me personally. I hope to be able to share it with many others, infusing it with personal meaning for them.
WHAT I HOPE TO DO WITH THE DEGREE IS...
TA: "Cook for people with illnesses and be able to have a greater understanding of how they can heal through mind, body, spirit, & nutrition."
KT: "Teach at a college part-time and work for myself part-time. I'd like to teach others to live holistically and to directly work to heal those in need. I also hope to continue evolving personally and professionally with this field of study/approach to life."
TS: My passions run very deep for people: for wholeness, for peace, for hope. I want to "save the world," or so I've always said. I don't know what that looks like right now. I would love to write, also. I have always written and find such meaning in it, though I recognize the publishing world to be a little zany -- I believe there's hope. I want to work with people one-on-one because I crave that intimate environment where you can touch people's souls and evoke possibilities. I also want to reach as many people as possible and consider teaching doctors / nurses about holistic health because they can reach people who can reach people! I am also enflamed when it comes to the state of healthcare (or lack thereof) in this country and I wonder about instigating change in that arena. I think I would like to work for a hospital or HMO for a time and get my feet wet in different areas while exercising my new capabilities. I also dream of a center, multi-faceted and focused on healing. I think often about who would come and how they'd pay—I care so much about the needs of the under-privileged, and under-served... I'm working towards a bi-lingual ability in Spanish so I can work within that community as well. I'm specializing in Nutrition and am very passionate about sustainability...
The beautiful thing is we all want to make a difference. I don't hear that much outside of this program... most people want to just survive, make it, make money, earn success, etc. but how about us? We want to create change and truly help others. I am proud to be a part of this dynamic learning community.
PH: My affirmation right now is: "I am capable of being successful having my own business." I've spent my whole life working in corporations and believing it was the only way to be successful. My heart was never in it and I did because I believed what my father told me -- the only way to make money is in business. I know it's not true because I see a lot of people making money lots of other ways. I love this program because it is helping me reconnect with what is really important to me and I'm making progress on my dreams. It's very scary at times and I'm so thankful that I'm doing this with a lot of folks who are so open and supportive and going through similar things.
GC: I had so many plans and ideas before I started the program, and I still do. Yet, after starting the program I feel like I need to stay open to the possibilities and follow my curiosities even further. I have a feeling that I may end up doing something that I have not imagined yet, though I do feel guided by my goals of whole health coaching and starting a nonprofit. There is a part of me that would love to teach and write, and the idea of a wellness center is calling for my attention--.so many possibilities!!
LD: Before I started the program, I envisioned starting, or working for, a wellness center of some kind. Now that I have been here for a while and have taken some different classes, I envision different things. I am definitely interested in the nutritional aspect of health, and can imagine myself as a nutritional consultant or a coach. I also have a dream of starting a restaurant that will be educational, sustainable, and holistic in as many aspects as possible. I have already started my business plan, but I still have a ways to go. I can see myself working as an educator for an organization such as Kaiser (since I currently work there) to gain experience, but not for the long haul. I am keeping my options open, but will likely focus on becoming as educated as possible in the nutrition realm. I will follow the path that I intuitively know is right for me. For now I am taking things as they come, one day at a time. LH: One thing that I would really like to do is take holistic health concepts to places that haven't seen the light yet. One way I would like to do this is to teach in a university setting for a nursing program. I would also love to teach at JFK. I am already doing some coaching. I have my first clients since finishing my first round of coaching training. I can see myself being a coach. I would love to publish some articles in professional journals and in nonprofessional journals as well. I would also like to do research.
THE BIGGEST REASON I WOULD RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM IS...
TR: "The diversity of the program and being able to form it into what I want it to be through the many elective options."
KS: "It will change your life. If you let it and work with the program, JFK can open you up to strengths that you never knew existed. It can awaken your natural abilities to grow, evolve, heal ourselves and others. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in getting to the heart of life. It is more than academic; it is a beautiful creative process that draws out your natural talents. It challenges and ignites your innate powers, allowing you to truly sense what life is all about. JFK is a gift, and I say take it and run with it."
WC: We have more freedom in our program to look at health education in different ways. We are not boxed in or restricted to just one view, which is how health education is taught in the more traditional programs. I love that we consider many approaches and how they might work together or separately, depending on the situation and people involved. The focus is on meeting people where they are.
SA: Many cultures define a shaman as someone who has "overcome." I see the program as a place to find meaning in our own healing and figure out how to universalize our personal struggles. Our own suffering will make us more empathetic to our clients. Our studies will help us place that suffering within a conceptual and practical framework.
LD: I believe that medical schools etc. will eventually be forced to adapt to the new paradigm of health and start including holistic principles, if not making them core elements in their programs. For now though, I am interested in learning ways to "increase the volume" of our voices, so that they are heard and really listened to. I am interested in finding ways to integrate within the current system and educate practitioners. I just think that if we can help to speed up the process of shifting, we should. We should be pioneers, opening minds and building a bridge for people to cross over to a new, more holistic paradigm. The program seeks to foster communication and bridge-building, and I appreciate it.
TP: "For me it was about putting together a couple of things from my background in the combination--coming out with one focus. When I was searching for a program, the courses are what interested me the most. I liked how the courses are structured so that you start with learning about yourself and then move into learning about others."
KS: "The combination of Holism and Education. I wanted to be able to enrich my own life and then to take it out into the world, and HHE teaches both really well. Also, I wanted an environment to challenge, support, and stimulate me spiritually and academically. I needed a place to step out of society, to ask myself the really important life changing and life affirming questions. Plus, with a Master's in Holistic Health Education, I would be able to make a living by contributing and serving others in what I believe to be an important and positive way."
FR: "I wanted to attend John F. Kennedy to expand my knowledge of holistic information from simply a cause and effect orientation to one that involved depth of spirit and personal experience."
JY: Prior to starting the HHE Program, my life was a mess. It looked good on the outside. I owned a house, worked for an upscale design firm, had a nice car. But, I was lost and completely dying inside. I longed for a different life. I was miserable at work, miserable at home and longed to be back in school. I needed change! I found the HHE Program online and fell in love. Only thing was, I needed to take care of my health before I could dedicate myself to school again. Now that I'm in the program, I'm excited and fearful all at the same time, but I think I'll figure out my place in time.
CL: It wasn't until I went away to college that I started learning about environmental illness as well as toxic mold. The more I learned, the more sensitive I began to feel about what my body is exposed to as well as to what the Earth is exposed to.
I started eating organic and in the process of about four years my awareness shifted to what other toxins I am buying, to what I am putting down the drains, to what I am throwing away.
I see clearly how my personal story contributed to my obsession with the relationship between personal health and environmental health. As I develop, and with intention, I am shifting this obsession from myself to how I can help the planet and educate others. One of the main reasons I joined this program was to learn how to communicate my passionate feelings without eliciting others' defenses. I hope to learn many ways to facilitate a connection between a person's health and that of their environment.
LR: I have been attracted to the field every since my own struggles with health. I am now taking a new look at my own chronic illness. I have much to think about given what I am learning. I hope to be able to impact the illness with different perceptions and attitudes. It took me a while to realize that this information wasn't just for me to give to others, but was first and foremost for me to give myself. This program has been transformative for me personally. I hope to be able to share it with many others, infusing it with personal meaning for them.
WHAT I HOPE TO DO WITH THE DEGREE IS...
TA: "Cook for people with illnesses and be able to have a greater understanding of how they can heal through mind, body, spirit, & nutrition."
KT: "Teach at a college part-time and work for myself part-time. I'd like to teach others to live holistically and to directly work to heal those in need. I also hope to continue evolving personally and professionally with this field of study/approach to life."
TS: My passions run very deep for people: for wholeness, for peace, for hope. I want to "save the world," or so I've always said. I don't know what that looks like right now. I would love to write, also. I have always written and find such meaning in it, though I recognize the publishing world to be a little zany -- I believe there's hope. I want to work with people one-on-one because I crave that intimate environment where you can touch people's souls and evoke possibilities. I also want to reach as many people as possible and consider teaching doctors / nurses about holistic health because they can reach people who can reach people! I am also enflamed when it comes to the state of healthcare (or lack thereof) in this country and I wonder about instigating change in that arena. I think I would like to work for a hospital or HMO for a time and get my feet wet in different areas while exercising my new capabilities. I also dream of a center, multi-faceted and focused on healing. I think often about who would come and how they'd pay—I care so much about the needs of the under-privileged, and under-served... I'm working towards a bi-lingual ability in Spanish so I can work within that community as well. I'm specializing in Nutrition and am very passionate about sustainability...
The beautiful thing is we all want to make a difference. I don't hear that much outside of this program... most people want to just survive, make it, make money, earn success, etc. but how about us? We want to create change and truly help others. I am proud to be a part of this dynamic learning community.
PH: My affirmation right now is: "I am capable of being successful having my own business." I've spent my whole life working in corporations and believing it was the only way to be successful. My heart was never in it and I did because I believed what my father told me -- the only way to make money is in business. I know it's not true because I see a lot of people making money lots of other ways. I love this program because it is helping me reconnect with what is really important to me and I'm making progress on my dreams. It's very scary at times and I'm so thankful that I'm doing this with a lot of folks who are so open and supportive and going through similar things.
GC: I had so many plans and ideas before I started the program, and I still do. Yet, after starting the program I feel like I need to stay open to the possibilities and follow my curiosities even further. I have a feeling that I may end up doing something that I have not imagined yet, though I do feel guided by my goals of whole health coaching and starting a nonprofit. There is a part of me that would love to teach and write, and the idea of a wellness center is calling for my attention--.so many possibilities!!
LD: Before I started the program, I envisioned starting, or working for, a wellness center of some kind. Now that I have been here for a while and have taken some different classes, I envision different things. I am definitely interested in the nutritional aspect of health, and can imagine myself as a nutritional consultant or a coach. I also have a dream of starting a restaurant that will be educational, sustainable, and holistic in as many aspects as possible. I have already started my business plan, but I still have a ways to go. I can see myself working as an educator for an organization such as Kaiser (since I currently work there) to gain experience, but not for the long haul. I am keeping my options open, but will likely focus on becoming as educated as possible in the nutrition realm. I will follow the path that I intuitively know is right for me. For now I am taking things as they come, one day at a time. LH: One thing that I would really like to do is take holistic health concepts to places that haven't seen the light yet. One way I would like to do this is to teach in a university setting for a nursing program. I would also love to teach at JFK. I am already doing some coaching. I have my first clients since finishing my first round of coaching training. I can see myself being a coach. I would love to publish some articles in professional journals and in nonprofessional journals as well. I would also like to do research.
THE BIGGEST REASON I WOULD RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM IS...
TR: "The diversity of the program and being able to form it into what I want it to be through the many elective options."
KS: "It will change your life. If you let it and work with the program, JFK can open you up to strengths that you never knew existed. It can awaken your natural abilities to grow, evolve, heal ourselves and others. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in getting to the heart of life. It is more than academic; it is a beautiful creative process that draws out your natural talents. It challenges and ignites your innate powers, allowing you to truly sense what life is all about. JFK is a gift, and I say take it and run with it."
WC: We have more freedom in our program to look at health education in different ways. We are not boxed in or restricted to just one view, which is how health education is taught in the more traditional programs. I love that we consider many approaches and how they might work together or separately, depending on the situation and people involved. The focus is on meeting people where they are.
SA: Many cultures define a shaman as someone who has "overcome." I see the program as a place to find meaning in our own healing and figure out how to universalize our personal struggles. Our own suffering will make us more empathetic to our clients. Our studies will help us place that suffering within a conceptual and practical framework.
LD: I believe that medical schools etc. will eventually be forced to adapt to the new paradigm of health and start including holistic principles, if not making them core elements in their programs. For now though, I am interested in learning ways to "increase the volume" of our voices, so that they are heard and really listened to. I am interested in finding ways to integrate within the current system and educate practitioners. I just think that if we can help to speed up the process of shifting, we should. We should be pioneers, opening minds and building a bridge for people to cross over to a new, more holistic paradigm. The program seeks to foster communication and bridge-building, and I appreciate it.