You can trace my interest in dietetics back to my atypical childhood. I was born in Colombia but moved to the United States when I was two years old so my father could pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. Our family did not have much money, and I remember tagging along with my mother as she cleaned homes to support our family. At an early age, I learned what it is like to be an outsider, and discovered that hard work and passion are the tools necessary to make dreams come true. 

     Nearly two decades later, I obtained my bachelors in History from Spring Hill College and returned to Colombia to do mission work. I worked with a local physician in a clinical setting, educating women on the importance of folic acid consumption during pregnancy. That same summer I traveled to a poor village in Nicaragua, where I worked directly with women and children suffering from rotting teeth, malnourishment, and anemia. Helping the women and children was life changing, and I realized what a significant impact nutritional care and awareness can have on a community. I discovered my calling in dietetics.  

Although I finally realized that I wanted a career in dietetics, I had no idea how I would obtain it. I started doing research and figuring out what the best route would be for a student with a Bachelors in History. I reached out to a local hospital in my area and requested to spend a day shadowing dietitians. The dietitian I shadowed was named Jamie and she explained what I needed to do in order to become a registered dietitian. I enjoyed working with her for the day and felt more eager to become a dietitian. After doing a lot of research, I found that getting a Master’s in Nutrition would not only be beneficial for my future career, but ideal for someone in my situation. I applied to several programs and got accepted to two of them. I chose to attend Georgia State University because of its prestigious reputation and highly ranked program.

            My desire to become a registered dietitian only continued to grow upon my acceptance into Georgia State University's Nutrition graduate program in 2013. Since the commencement of the program, my previous knowledge of food, nutrition awareness, and metabolism has multiplied. I have learned how even the smallest nutrient can have an overall large effect on the human body.  In addition to excelling in my education, throughout the course of the program I sought out several avenues for utilizing and sharing my newfound knowledge. I worked with a nonprofit called After School All Stars, where I educated homeless women and children about the importance of nutrition. I also worked with the Children Development Association, which gave me the opportunity to lead various physical education activities and to teach children about healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

     Last October, I further expanded upon my passion for nutrition education by starting a blog. Through blogging I have learned how to effectively use social media as an avenue to educate women about nutrition. My blog also led me to a volunteer position at a local women's gym as a nutrition educator and a member of a team to develop a nutrition challenge for clients based on the Mediterranean diet.

     My short-term goals include becoming an outstanding entry-level dietitian in a hospital or a community outreach setting. Given my own experience as a Spanish-speaking American, I would like to work with Hispanic families who cannot speak English. Long term, my goal is to develop and strengthen a niche working in pediatrics. My dream job would involve educating children and their families about proper nutrition and empowering them to help shape healthier generations.

       Throughout my life I have become aware of my strengths and weaknesses. One of my greatest strengths is that I am an effective leader. During my undergrad years, this strength was best illustrated while I was Panhellenic president and working as a resident assistant. While working as a resident assistant, I was responsible for enhancing experiences for each resident student by providing information, direction, guidance, friendship, and support.  As Panhellenic president, not only did I represent all sororities on my college campus, but I also lead weekly meetings and recruitment. I excelled in both positions and received the prestigious Resident Assistant of the Year award. One of my weaknesses, however, is that I do not work well with people who are not team players. Acknowledging this, I have learned to be more patient with others.

     The combined experiences of college, volunteer work, and travel have led me to my nutrition philosophy: It is our responsibility as dietitians not only to teach that proper dietary intake and lifestyle habits can improve health now and in the future, but also to be knowledgeable, compassionate advocates of nutrition. Nutritional education is crucial for the future health of our nation. As a future dietitian, I will dedicate my career to fulfilling this responsibility. I plan on doing this by getting deeply involved in the Hispanic community. Since I am fluent in Spanish, I feel a sense of obligation to help fellow Hispanics learn about nutrition. As a future dietitian, I am determined to stay educated on the most current research in nutrition in order to provide the best advice I can to clients, patients, and peers.  Through my life experiences, I have become personally aware of how lifestyle and nutrition are interrelated, and I feel driven to guide others into understanding this balance as well. I hope I can utilize this knowledge and someday make in impact in my community.