Redirection, reflection and recreation
Through persistence and constantly seeking opportunities, Kelly Ramnarais transformed a challenging co‑op search into a clear passion for therapeutic recreation.
Kelly Ramnarais, a fourth‑year Therapeutic Recreation student, has built a fulfilling co‑op experience shaped by resilience, growth and a deepened passion for supporting individuals of all abilities.
Kelly’s co-op journey
Patient support and customer service associate, m-Health Solutions, Hamilton, ON
She got her start in patient care working remotely for a cardiac clinic where she connected with patients to help them set up their Holter monitors, wearable devices that continuously record a person’s heart's electrical activity. Kelly assisted physicians in accurately diagnosing and treating patients.
Assistant technician, G Seif Medicine Professional Corporation, Burlington, ON
Working alongside an ophthalmologist, Kelly was responsible for conducting initial visual tests while helping with procedures and patients’ needs, such as keeping their medical files up to date. Beyond this, she assisted with surgical procedures, making sure everyone involved was in a good headspace and feeling their best.
Day program assistant, Full Circle Adult Day Program, Hamilton, ON
Kelly worked with adults with developmental disabilities supporting their group programs and therapeutic recreation activities. She also led individual care and daily living tasks like administering medication, preparing healthy nutritious meal portions and completing personal care.
Day program assistant, L'Arche Hamilton, Hamilton, ON
She facilitated compassionate care and therapeutic recreation to promote independent skill development and meaningful social engagement while building trusting relationships. Kelly also collaborated with care teams to create supportive, engaging and empowering environments where each resident could thrive.
Q&A with Kelly
What were some challenges you faced during your co-op terms?
“I struggled a lot with the job search process during my third co-op term. I hadn’t heard back from any company. It makes you look back at yourself and question your résumé, cover letter and interviewing tactics. I used this setback to focus on finding areas in which I wanted to improve so I could stand out as a candidate. I decided to do more volunteer work and additional courses to have more certifications and knowledge under my belt.”
“My first day program experience presented itself in a time of need, opening a door, allowing me to discover that my passion for therapeutic recreation lies within working with those of all abilities including developmental and intellectual disabilities.”
“This taught me to keep my head up and not get discouraged; sometimes you just need to take that extra step and give yourself some grace. It's not entirely a reflection of yourself, it could have something to do with the job market or people not being able to afford hiring a co-op student. Stay strong through it.”
How did you deal with the stress and pressure of finding a co-op position?
“Being okay with taking time off. It’s stressful but everyone needs to be more aware that it's just part of the co-op experience and not to take it personally.”
Instead of seeing a lack of interviews as a rejection, use it as a redirection to see what other pathways you can explore.
“Doing so allowed me to better myself so I could become a greater candidate and indulge in work I am now truly passionate about.”
Why did you choose to study therapeutic recreation?
“My therapeutic recreation journey began with the simple enjoyment of improving quality of life for all. This transformed into being able to use recreational activities and programming to restore confidence, enhance life quality, promote rehabilitation, self-fulfillment and develop meaningful relationships. I chose therapeutic recreation as I genuinely want to make a positive impact by simply having fun and sharing joy.”
“What really spoke to me was breaking down those barriers that segregated people with and without disabilities to create a middle ground. We have a range of people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities working together with the same hope of improving quality of life through recreation. Moving away and preventing harmful tactics like institutionalization and division is important to me, as I see the lifelong effects. I want to protect those who have negative histories to restore their trust in care teams and health professionals. When I found out about therapeutic recreation, it checked all my boxes.”
What’s one piece of advice you would give to other co-op students?
“Co-op is a very character-building experience because even if you're not doing a job that's exactly what you want long-term, every opportunity comes with takeaways that help guide your path. I would advise others to be selfish with their experiences. If it's going to teach you how to interact with people, take it. If it's going to teach you how to be empathetic, take it. Take anything that provides an outlet to skills that will be beneficial in the future.”
What did you learn about the recreation therapy field?
“Even if it's just outings to greenhouses, aquariums, little cafes, museums or art galleries, every day is like a field trip. However, the goal is not to make individuals with disabilities feel like they’re getting to access the community. It's as much theirs as it is anyone's. Our goal is to normalize and bridge the gap between institutionalization and seclusion, making it feel less like an outing and more like a typical life experience. We aim to normalize and enhance the experiences of disabled individuals by fostering recognition and support across all communities.”
How did your classroom learning prepare you for your work terms?
“The classroom learning became a toolbox for me. Everything you could think of falls into the content modules seen in class. There are so many different structures of facilitation that the therapeutic recreation courses will teach you. But, because it’s a very hands-on field, learning goes beyond literature and real-life experiences will be essential for success.”
“I advocate for the co-op stream because using that work experience and your academics together will provide the best results. The classroom assignments prepared me, but getting to see the practice in action is a completely different experience.”
What's next for you?
“I like leading the day programs and have a huge place in my heart for therapeutic recreation. I hope it becomes a more recognized profession. Physical, occupational or even physiotherapy hold big names in the health-care industry. I wish recreational therapy could get to that point where it’s seen as essential and not just a luxury or extracurricular health-care service.”
“When I enter the job force, even though I think I've found my place, I’m still open to anything life will throw at me. My main passion will be therapeutic recreation and advocating for it to be a big part of our health-care system. I'm excited to see what's next for therapeutic recreation as there's years ahead of it. I hope it continues to bloom.”
