Personal Statement

My path was not the most direct, but I would not trade the journey I
have taken for anything. I remember looking into the eyes of one of my
clients during personal training consultation. These consultations were fairly
routine, but this time it was different. I could see and feel the pure frustration
my client was enduring from not being able to meet her goals. As a fitness
professional, I was able to help her meet her physical activity and exercise
needs, but I knew she needed more. I knew there and then that in order to
help people in the most comprehensive way possible, I needed to pursue a
profession in dietetics. This client was the first of many to affirm my need
and desire to develop and expand my professional capabilities.
I decided to pursue my education while maintaining my job as a
personal trainer in Portland, OR. I began by finishing up pre-requisite classes
at Portland State for Oregon State Universitys (OSUs) Didactic Program in
Dietetics (DPD). Along this journey, I connected with a professor at Oregon
Health & Science University (OHSU), who invited me to their dietetic
programs book reading group. This experience opened my eyes to the multidimensional and dynamic aspects of the nutrition field. I was familiar with
sport nutrition from my experience of working with a sports dietitian as an
athlete at the University of Oregon (U of O) and at the professional level
playing with the Portland Thorns. Here, I was able to witness, and experience
first hand the marked impact nutrition can make on performance. However,
through the book club I was exposed to the depth and breadth of the issues
that Registered Dietitians (RDs) can address: from medical nutrition therapy
and aiding the malnourished, to community nutrition and helping women
through pregnancy, especially those who are of low socioeconomic status.
The multiple avenues of services I would be able to provide by becoming an
RD further inspired me and ignited my passion for the profession.
After investigating multiple work settings and job opportunities and
responsibilities of an RD through job shadows and informational interviews, I
knew what my next step needed to be. I began the DPD program at OSU.
Beyond the DPD courses, there are three major experiences I pursued at OSU
that have further prepared me for my dietetic career. The first opportunity
was a Private Practice Business Development noncredit, pilot seminar that
was selected for. Having run my own personal training business, I already
had a firm grasp of the organization, promotion, and skill set it takes to start
up, grow, and maintain a professional business. However, this seminar
allowed me to hone my skills in developing a dietetic focused business. Our
intimate group of five collaborated to establish our own private dietetics
practice. Through this experience I became proficient in: (1) researching
other practices in the same field to determine reasonable services and
prices, (2) generating guidelines and financial processes needed to

effectively run a business, and (3) formulating a sound business model and
determining the resources/materials needed for a start-up business.
Another extracurricular experience that broadened my perspective of
the field was my sports nutrition volunteer position at OSU. Through this
endeavor I was able to work side by side with OSUs Sport Dietitian, Stasi
Kasianchuk, in order to see the daily practices of this specialized area of the
profession. My actual experience in this position exceeded my expectations. I
was not only able to observe and participate in consultations, presentations,
and meetings; I was given the opportunity to practice and develop my
professional skills. I authored nutrition articles for professional publications,
initiated and ran the OSU sports nutrition Instagram account @FuelingBeavs,
developed situation specific handouts for athletes, and aided in the
development of individualized meal cards for the athletes, designed to
optimize their performance. Further, I had the opportunity to develop
working relationships, not only with the Stasi, but also with the chef and his
food service team, along with other supporting staff.
The third experience that has truly added dimension and uniqueness to
my professional skill-set, is my pursuit of a masters degree in Public Health.
Within the Public Health field, I chose the Health Promotion and Health
Behavior track as my area of emphasis. Based on my career as a fitness
professional and academic career at OSU, I know that behavior change is the
key to foster lasting health-promoting habits and lifestyles. This coursework
has developed my arsenal in a variety of ways. A few examples of these
abilities include: program development to foster awareness and encourage
health promoting behaviors, while minimizing health risk behaviors and
barriers; conducting research and grant writing to translate ideas into action;
theory implementation to support behavior change; and program evaluation
to determine efficacy. The background I will obtain in health promotion and
behavior will create a solid public health basis that will mobilize various
avenues and broaden available resources to help improve nutritional state
and overall wellness of people at the individual, family/group, and
community level.
Upon the pursuit of my masters degree, I was chosen to serve as a
graduate research assistant (GRA) on the WAVE: Ripples for Change, obesity
prevention research project. This experience has helped establish my skills in
curriculum development, classroom-based teaching, and community
outreach. Being a part of this five-year, federally funded research project has
also developed my understanding of the complexity of research projects.
More so, I have been able to conceptualize how to best organize all of the
working parts involved in order to facilitate a successfully run project.
Personal attributes that have contributed most to my successes are my
strong work ethic and unwavering dedication. Playing soccer at the

professional level, while managing school and job commitments, refined my

skill of effective manage time. My organization skills are also advanced by
managing ongoing and overlapping commitments. Additionally, my ability to
collaborate, clearly communicate, and lead have always been beneficial
attributes. My role as team captain, working with diverse personalities as
fitness professional, and obtaining a role as supervisor, are all examples and
reflections of my ability to lead and communicate successfully. Other salient
strengths include my ability to: empathize, listen receptively, make people
feel comfortable sharing sensitive information, devise an individually tailored
plan, and motivate individuals in ways to benefit them most. My tendency to
be a perfectionist can be beneficial, yet also serves as an area of
improvement. I strive to do everything to the best of my ability regardless of
the level of importance, which sometimes distracts from the whole scheme
of things. I am working on discerning when to overlook less important details
in order to be more efficient and focus on the bigger picture. Another area I
am working on is refraining from spreading myself too thin. I tend to commit
to people, activities, and jobs where I can see potential to make a difference;
yet this list tends to grow beyond my capacity. I aim to develop my ability to
better prioritize my time and energy in order to fully invest myself in areas
where I can make the most substantial impact.
Regardless of the task or job at hand, I will relentlessly do everything in
my power to create a positive and successful experience and/or product.
Along my journey, I have learned to listen first, never be afraid to ask
questions, utilize all of my resources then dig to find more, be kind and
respectful, appreciate everyone for their specialized skills, never stop
learning, and finally, to be grateful for where I am, but to keep in mind that
there is always room for improvement. I am on the path to becoming the
professional I strive to be. Although it was not the most direct path, I would
not be here without everything I have learned along the way. For that I am
grateful.