I must stop biting my fingernails in 2011. On the way to the hairdresser yesterday I caught myself biting my nails out of boredom. I must stop this. I had a case of MRSA in May 2009 and it was not fun having surgery on my finger and literally removing the flesh all the way to the bone in order to stop the infection from spreading further. I almost lost the top part of my index finger on my right hand.
I am considering becoming an avid runner in 2011, I miss aerobics so much so I am sure that running could become a new addiction.
I love newspapers and this morning my father brought back the local newspaper. When I was checking the Harvey's salespaper has red seedless grapes on sale this week! I love red grapes and they are better than green grapes for you!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Preparation
Preparing for what comes after graduation in May began the day that I chose my major in college but never has it felt so real as it does during my last Christmas break during my college career.
After taking the GRE I was so excited and I still am but stress is what I call trying to make the "right" decision.
I applied for a job with a health district and listed on my resume that my anticipated graduation date is May 2011. I also applied for a job with a school system in a town nearby with the same thing listed. High hopes is why I applied, how great would it be to know that I have a job right out of college.
Also, I am working on DICAS applications for two distance dietetic internships. I have been working on setting up rotations with potential preceptors and it is neat getting to interact with Registered Dietitians in all of the fields out there in my surrounding community. So the applications are due February 15th and I will find out if I was accepted the second week of April.
Also, I am still working on figuring out which Master's program I want to apply for.
Moreover, I am still planning my wedding. It is less than 160 days away now. I am registered for my casual china, small appliances, linens, and home decor. I am so excited that my first shower is in January! My bridesmaids are getting their dresses in, I have alterations scheduled for February, I have booked the florist, cake baker, photographer, and a lot more! The save the date's have been sent and now the tedious job of finding and booking a caterer!
My mama and I was talking today and she made the statement that my granny thinks that no one actually listens to nutritionists and dietitians in clinical settings. I hate that my granny feels this way, but to some extent it is true. Medical Nutrition Therapy is often practiced but changes are never made in any persons life until he or she is actually willing to change their ways or in this case eating patterns and diet. A diabetic could be a diabetic for years and the damage that occurs to his or her body over time may increase the persons willingness to change their ways and improve their lifestyle, but it may take years for the person to see it. Just like with heart patients, it may take someone having multiple heart attacks for him or her to realize that diet and exercise may really be beneficial. Sometimes a person giving one a diet "to try" is not enough. It takes a willing and motivated heart with a burning desire to change. The same goes with any profession, not just nutrition. Teachers in classrooms can teach a classroom until they are blue in the face but if a student is not willing to put effort into paying attention and studying and actually wanting to learn the material, then the lesson will not be remembered. I think that there are a lot of grateful people in the world that have benefited from a nutritionist or a dietitian out there.
I still get the question: What do you do with a degree in nutrition? There are endless opportunities. In my small town there are at least three registered dietitians that I can name. One is at the health department working with Women, Infants, and Children. One is the School Nutrition Director who is also over the Summer Feeding Program, and contracted out through the local hospital, and the other dietitian is a clinical dietitian at the Medical Center of Central Georgia working with both inpatient and outpatient settings. There is also a dietitian that is contracted through the local dialysis center and at the local long-term care facilities. That is not even near the only job options. Registered Dietitians are all over television now on talk shows, on the food network, and on other shows. Dietitians can work for corporations such as US Foods and Mars M&M. Some insurance agencies hire dietitians in order to reduce their costs. Dietitians can be employed with the military as a civilian on the bases or enlisted. Dietitians work selling products such as natural herbs and in organic stores as consultants. Some retailers hire dietitians to be "personal grocery shopping assistants," some dietitians are lactation consultants, some are private consultants or business owners, programs like weight watchers hires nutritionists and dietitians, some dietitians get paid to write for magazines such as Shape or Cosmopolitan, some dietitians get paid to blog, and there are endless opportunities in media and sales for dietitians. Dietitians also work with research since nutrition is a "new science" and products and supplements are constantly being developed research opportunities are endless. So is nutrition and dietetics a useless field? No! I think not!
After taking the GRE I was so excited and I still am but stress is what I call trying to make the "right" decision.
I applied for a job with a health district and listed on my resume that my anticipated graduation date is May 2011. I also applied for a job with a school system in a town nearby with the same thing listed. High hopes is why I applied, how great would it be to know that I have a job right out of college.
Also, I am working on DICAS applications for two distance dietetic internships. I have been working on setting up rotations with potential preceptors and it is neat getting to interact with Registered Dietitians in all of the fields out there in my surrounding community. So the applications are due February 15th and I will find out if I was accepted the second week of April.
Also, I am still working on figuring out which Master's program I want to apply for.
Moreover, I am still planning my wedding. It is less than 160 days away now. I am registered for my casual china, small appliances, linens, and home decor. I am so excited that my first shower is in January! My bridesmaids are getting their dresses in, I have alterations scheduled for February, I have booked the florist, cake baker, photographer, and a lot more! The save the date's have been sent and now the tedious job of finding and booking a caterer!
My mama and I was talking today and she made the statement that my granny thinks that no one actually listens to nutritionists and dietitians in clinical settings. I hate that my granny feels this way, but to some extent it is true. Medical Nutrition Therapy is often practiced but changes are never made in any persons life until he or she is actually willing to change their ways or in this case eating patterns and diet. A diabetic could be a diabetic for years and the damage that occurs to his or her body over time may increase the persons willingness to change their ways and improve their lifestyle, but it may take years for the person to see it. Just like with heart patients, it may take someone having multiple heart attacks for him or her to realize that diet and exercise may really be beneficial. Sometimes a person giving one a diet "to try" is not enough. It takes a willing and motivated heart with a burning desire to change. The same goes with any profession, not just nutrition. Teachers in classrooms can teach a classroom until they are blue in the face but if a student is not willing to put effort into paying attention and studying and actually wanting to learn the material, then the lesson will not be remembered. I think that there are a lot of grateful people in the world that have benefited from a nutritionist or a dietitian out there.
I still get the question: What do you do with a degree in nutrition? There are endless opportunities. In my small town there are at least three registered dietitians that I can name. One is at the health department working with Women, Infants, and Children. One is the School Nutrition Director who is also over the Summer Feeding Program, and contracted out through the local hospital, and the other dietitian is a clinical dietitian at the Medical Center of Central Georgia working with both inpatient and outpatient settings. There is also a dietitian that is contracted through the local dialysis center and at the local long-term care facilities. That is not even near the only job options. Registered Dietitians are all over television now on talk shows, on the food network, and on other shows. Dietitians can work for corporations such as US Foods and Mars M&M. Some insurance agencies hire dietitians in order to reduce their costs. Dietitians can be employed with the military as a civilian on the bases or enlisted. Dietitians work selling products such as natural herbs and in organic stores as consultants. Some retailers hire dietitians to be "personal grocery shopping assistants," some dietitians are lactation consultants, some are private consultants or business owners, programs like weight watchers hires nutritionists and dietitians, some dietitians get paid to write for magazines such as Shape or Cosmopolitan, some dietitians get paid to blog, and there are endless opportunities in media and sales for dietitians. Dietitians also work with research since nutrition is a "new science" and products and supplements are constantly being developed research opportunities are endless. So is nutrition and dietetics a useless field? No! I think not!
Christmas is Saturday! Where has this year gone? It seems like I was just at Benton's (my fiance') friends house for New Years Eve playing catch phrase with friends waiting on 2010. I am so grateful for this time of year though where my Savior's birthday is celebrated because God sent his only son to save sinners like me and you. I am so grateful that I know that my father was born to save! My sins are forgiven and my life is in his hands. All of the preparation in the world could never prepare me for things that he has planned. I constantly try my best to plan every detail of my life, but God is in control and will provide and has every plan already laid out for me and my future. And sometimes, it takes a while for me to step back and remember this.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Miss Nutrition
The future scares me - but when I sit down and think about what I love and what my dream jobs would be here is a list:
I would love to be a Martha Stewart - Have my own show/blog/network with home projects and recipes
I would love to be a Dietitian and work for a television station and do short segments on nutrition and food science and healthy living.
I would love to travel the world and have Samantha Brown's job.
I would love to plan weddings - oh how I love details in things!
A country singer ;) of course that requires talent!
Ah back to reality... I honestly have no idea what I am going to do with my life. I graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Food Science with an emphasis in Dietetics in May. I apply for graduate school and for dietetic internships in early spring. I find out if I have been selected for an internship the second week in April. Oh, and the other thing - I am marrying my best friend and prince charming at the end of May. So I have a lot of decisions to make! What do I want to pursue a Master's degree in? Journalism? Media? Community Health? Master's of Art in Teaching? Family and Consumer Sciences Education. So many options! I know that I want to work with people! I love children too! I love to travel also. So why is it that choosing places to apply for internships is so difficult? Well, first of all - Benton, my soon to be husband, has a great job but he is willing to move and he completely supports me in 100% of the things I choose to do. He constantly reminds me of what I am capable of and not to limit myself. I pray about this a lot and its still so hard to decide. Graduate school on the other hand, what do I want to do? Master's programs often have courses that are required before entrance into the program. I have researched and I just want to do something that I love. The question is where is that offered? Also, I kind of want to go ahead and begin work and pursue a master's degree online that way I can begin saving money and building up retirement. There are so many choices!
An option is school nutrition director. I can apply for jobs that may come open niear graduation and be under provisional status for 5 years that will require me to obtain a Master's degree and a certificate for a school nutrition director. I would love to do that, but I imagine it is stressful. That is why I have been researching, talking to current professionals in this field, and job shadowing.
Overall, I know that God has a plan for me and he will never leave me. He is in control and the more that I try to stress about it and take over and plan every detail, the more I am telling him that I am not trusting that he will provide. So I have prayed about it and decided that I am not going to settle, I am going to find what I love and go for it. I love my small town and family but if I never try new things, I will not allow a door to open in which God could be leading me towards. So here it goes - research into programs and internships and job opportunities has now begun. Will you see me on television one day as "Miss Nutritionista?" Maybe so! Will you see me in the hallway at your child's school teaching family and consumer sciences or planning meals for their lunchroom? Maybe so! Will I be in a clinical setting as a Registered Dietitian? Possibly! But my journey has begun and in these next six months, we will definitely have some fun and stress. Wedding planning - here I come!
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