Personal Statement
So, I’ll just come right out and say it. I love food. In fact, I can’t think of anything about food that doesn’t interest me. I love eating it, cooking it, shopping for it, and learning about it. I am fascinated how food can affect so many aspects of people’s lives. I believe the food we choose reflects who we are or who we want to be.
I am building a new life for myselfI realized a few years ago I needed to make a change. I felt stuck in an industry that had changed dramatically through the years. The result left me feeling unfulfilled. I needed to find something that re-sparked my passion; something that made me excited to get out of bed each and every morning. So here I am, building a new life for myself in dietetics.
I’ll admit I didn’t always have a healthy relationship with food. I grew up in a family that embraced the convenience of processed foods, the novelty of fast food and the promise of fad diets. Food was the enemy. I thought being healthy meant depriving myself of the foods I enjoyed eating. I was caught up in this continuous circle and looking for a way to get out. I finally realized the answer was to embrace food, not run away from it.
Food is a part of all of our lives and we should enjoy it! I am passionate about teaching people how food is not the enemy. Healthy eating doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the things you love. I hope to educate people on how to have a positive, healthy relationship with food and how . Bbeing healthy means making informed lifelong decisions.
My journey to the field of dietetics was almost inevitable. Committed to helping others build a better relationship with food, I became a manager at a weight loss center. This valuable experience allowed me to teach people how to make changes with their diet choices. I was able to create personalized menus to help transform their eating habits and counsel them through their struggles. It was a rewarding experience that I wouldn’t change.
During my undergraduate studies, I assisted with healthy cooking classes at a local culinary center and a local grocery market. These experiences exposed me to diverse groups of individuals from people looking to lose weight to girl scoutGirl Scout troops to individuals with Down’s SyndromeDown ’s syndrome. I also became involved with various community projects that included farm-to-school observations, healthy lifestyle coaching instruction, analysis of food records, and leading focus groups. These experiences taught me that changes are needed regarding healthy food options in areas of food deserts
My strengths, which helped me through this journey, include exceptional time management and self-discipline skills. Along with determination and motivation, these skills have helped me excel in my studies while gaining rewarding personal experiences. As for my weaknesses, I need to accept that I cannot do everything myself and learn to delegate more to others.
As I look to the future, my short-term goals include graduating from Kansas State University’s Didactic Program in Dietetics and successfully completing a Dietetic Internship to obtain my RD. During my internship, I hope to expand my knowledge and experience with community projects. Most importantly, I hope to gain valuable clinical experience. This is a vital skill that I am looking forward to receiving and learning more about to round out my experiences in the dietetics field.
Overall, I would like to work as a Registered Dietitian helping individuals with eating disorders and weight issues. I envision including with this the area of sports nutrition. I also see myself working in sports nutrition. I believe these areas of dietetics are closely related and will allow me to share my passion of teaching others how food is not the enemy.
I also would like to continue my education of foods by traveling around the world and taking cooking classes. My ultimate dream job includes writing about food and nutrition. This is a way that I can express my creativity and share it with others who otherwise I may not be able to reach.
I am excited to continue on with my chosen career path of dietetics. I am a passionate, driven person who is certain that I can make a difference in creating healthier lives.