Personal Statement
I always knew a career in the health field was my calling because of my deep compassion for others. Growing up I was not certain what career I wanted to pursue, I just knew I needed to help people and positively impact their lives. My interest in nutrition derived from my background in athletics. My household consisted of my dad, a college basketball player; my mom, a gymnast; one brother, a Division I baseball player; another brother, an NFL football player; and myself, a soon to be Division I softball player. As you can imagine, since I was born my life has revolved around athletics. This is the reason why physical activity has always been important to me. It wasn’t until I began working out at an athlete performance gym, that I was introduced to nutrition education. That first experience with nutrition education changed my life. I found myself researching anything and everything about nutrition to gain more knowledge. This is when I began making changes in my diet in order to be healthier. When the University of Northern Colorado was recruiting me to play softball, I learned more about their Dietetics program and I knew it was the perfect place for me. I continued through college completing the dietetics courses and my interest for health and nutrition grew more and more. I then joined the Student Dietetic Association. This was a great club to become apart of because it opened up many volunteer experiences and professional meetings where I continued to learn about the dietetics field. The more I learned, the more I envisioned myself being a registered dietitian in a variety of fields. I then began volunteering at North Colorado Medical Center in the Bariatric Clinic along side a registered dietitian. I learned how to counsel patients before and after their weight management surgeries. I also had the opportunity to alter recipes and help with the clinic’s nutrition newsletter. I loved every bit of the experience I was getting. Educating people about nutrition and the science behind the foods they are eating is one of my favorite parts of the dietetic field. I have implemented my knowledge into my family and have led them to make changes in the way they eat. I want to continue to impact people’s lives, change their opinions about nutrition into positive ones, and help make a difference in our country’s obesity epidemic.
My work ethic and organizational skills are my two best characteristics. While I may not have had the paid work experience that other college students have had, Division I softball has been just as beneficial for me, if not more. College athletics have taught me many life lessons that I truly believe I would have not learned otherwise. Commitment to my professors and to my coaches helps me be able to stay on task throughout the school year. A Division I Softball team will train throughout the entire school year with a minimum of 2 hours of training per day. During the season, which softball has a fall and spring season, the amount of time each day will double at a minimum. With a schedule like that, it is imperative that I communicate with my professors and my coaches to make sure I stay on top of all my priorities. Time management is the utmost important skill I have mastered, as it is vital that I be fully prepared for class each day and have the energy to give one hundred percent at practice and games. During the season we travel from Thursday to Sunday afternoons; this requires that I adapt to awkward studying situations such as on the team bus, airplane, or hotel room.
Despite my demanding softball schedule, I have been able to succeed in the classroom as I have kept up my 3.72 GPA. My hard work and dedication to my schoolwork as led me to be named to the Dean’s List, earn The Big Sky Conference All-Academic Softball Team Award, and earn The University of Northern Colorado Academic Honor. Knowing my career goals and keeping my priorities straight in order to reach those goals have been the factors that have kept me so dedicated to my schoolwork.
Being a NCAA Division I student athlete is something I take great pride in. I love the NCAA television commercial that shows college athletes participating in their specific sport and then they state that they are going “Pro” in something other than sports. This commercial is a great depiction of myself. Being a student athlete has been my passion for over 13 years, but I have bigger dreams and goals for myself as I continue to grow older. I know the skills and characteristics I have developed through all my years of competitive softball will help me fulfill my ultimate career goal of becoming a registered dietitian.
