From Pre-Vet to Baby Dietitian

Growing up, I was always one who had a plan. Go to college. Become a vet. For most of my life, that was my goal. I was very one track minded, for better or worse. I shadowed vets in college, determined to make my goal a reality. But for me, vet school and veterinary work was like a beautiful shoe that was not my size. As awesome as that profession is, it was not the best fit for me. The more I tried to fit into the veterinary mold, the more I realized it was not home for me professionally. I still love animals, and think vets are awesome people. It just was not my path, though I walked the pre-vet path for many years.

During my senior year at Franciscan, I took a nutrition class. It was my favorite class at university. Learning about different aspects of food and nutrition was so interesting to me, and the professor was very knowledgeable. I wanted to learn and grow more. I wanted to become a nutritionist, and learned that the professional term was "dietitian". I realized that I wanted to directly work with people, to help their lives improve. Every profession benefits humanity in one way or another, and I thought of other paths. However, few professions are specifically on the preventative side of healthcare. Prevention interests me, as many people suffer from diseases that can be lessened or avoided due to nutrition and lifestyle behaviors.

I realized I wanted to help people prevent diseases before they even occurred. I wanted to help people live more fully. Dietetics fit the path I desired to be on.

After graduation, I began taking dietetics classes through the University of Alabama. It was a new beginning to a fresh adventure. The more courses I have taken, the more I have grown in my knowledge of nutrition and self-knowledge. Each time I speak to a dietitian, it confirms my confidence in this path; I want to become one of them. It's been a beautiful journey, and I thirst for more.

I've begun the graduate program through University of Alabama, and am very happy with the variety of classes at my fingertips. The more I learn, the more I am humbled and realize there is so much more depth to nutrition and dietetics than I realized during that first nutrition class I took years ago.

Looking forward, I still have goals. Some of them are broad, and some more specific. I dream of and am working towards becoming a dietetic intern, then a full-fledged RDN. I hope to use principles of intuitive eating in my practice.

And I plan to always remember that life is greater than the work we do. It is greater than our professions, our careers. I intend to focus and have a lovely career as an RDN, but also to realize that life is time for prayer, days spent with family, laughter with friends. I hope to find balance in my career and life. As I search for this, hopefully I will bring friends, family, and patients with me on this journey. I would love to assist people in living life more fully, a balanced life, with exercise and balance in dietary habits.

This is a glimpse to my story of how I focused my own goals into a career path. It's a little tale of changing my perspective from pre-veterinary, and only veterinary medicine, to exploration and finding joy as a baby dietitian.