Her Story
About Melanie
Melanie Zeanah is a recreation therapy professional with 10 years of experience in behavioral health. Her career path began in college when she switched from criminal justice to recreation therapy after learning about the field through a sorority sister's class experience simulating physical disability. She graduated with a degree in leisure studies with a concentration in therapeutic recreation and credits her professor and internship supervisors for shaping her path. She is currently working on her master's degree in the field. Previously, she held a role at the Orleans Justice Center where she worked with individuals facing behavioral health and other challenges, demonstrating how recreation can support positive coping through activities like card games and team-building exercises. She is most proud of presenting two talks at local recreation therapy conferences on interventions used within a correctional facility. Melanie is a member of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association and serves on a volunteer committee for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melanie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to my own self-determination. I am a relatively competitive person, and every challenge that I have faced thus far, I look at it as a competition. I tried to make it seem like I can't let that challenge be the best of me. I can't let it win. I need to be able to come out ahead. I'm always adapting to every situation, every challenge that I've faced. I've always tried to adapt what I know, and for the challenges that I lose, it's just lessons that I've learned. I never try to put myself down because of something I haven't been able to achieve. I always try to look at whatever lesson it was trying to teach me, and then take that and move on to the next challenge.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell her that it's okay if you're not who you are when you imagine you will be that person. Things are gonna happen in life and come up all the time in life that we don't expect. If we put ourselves in that box of okay, I'm gonna get this done by this age, without allowing other things that come up to change that path a little bit, you're gonna have a miserable life. It's really important to see the challenges that come up and understand I didn't make it in this time frame, but maybe I can make it in this time frame. And it's okay to also be patient with yourself and give yourself some grace, because life happens, it's hard, it's messy.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life it's fun and adventure as well as authenticity and integrity. In my work it's still fun, creativity, compassion, kindness, and inspiring.
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