When I was seventeen, I was hired as an assistant teacher at a preschool.

I loved this job and never really felt like I was working—caring for children and
receiving their unconditional love was enough to brighten any stressed high school
senior’s day. At this point in my life, I could not fathom selecting one major that would
determine which academic and career path I would pursue. As I mediated fights between
three-year-olds who refused to share a toy and comforted one-year-olds who were in
hysterics because they woke up from naptime early, I realized I enjoyed escaping my
own realities through my interactions with children. I watched children cry, be mad, and
then return to content states in just a matter of minutes—I yearned for their simple lives.
Unbeknownst to me, working as an assistant teacher molded me into the individual I am
today: hardworking while observant, charismatic but assertive, personable yet
independent. As I became more comfortable with the daily routines of my job, I began to
notice the nuances of children’s behaviors based upon their meals each day. I observed
the children during breakfast, lunch, and snack meals throughout the day and paid
particular attention to their actions and demeanors. As a 17-year-old whose health
background did not extend further than recognizing the need to eat fruits and vegetables,
I was astonished by the results of my secret experiment. The children given sugary meals
and drinks by their parents were much more likely to be restless during naptime, cranky
when nap ended, and negligent and disruptive during lessons throughout the day. I
noticed how eating habits could be established early in life — children who had less
nutritious meals also complained when the teachers selected nutritious snacks instead of
cookies. This experience ultimately sparked my interest in nutrition. Although I
unknowingly performed longitudinal observational studies of children’s behavior for
years, I did not know the explanation for these occurrences, only that there was an
existing connection. These experiences impacted me in ways that I could not have
imagined, and I am so thankful that it paved the way for me to discover my future career
endeavors.
Because I witnessed the impact poor diet had on children, I became determined to
pursue the most wholesome nutrition education experience possible. Although my
practical short-term goal was (and still is) to become a Registered Dietitian, I also wanted
to learn the mechanisms of how food impacts the body and eventually teach them to
eager-to-learn college students. Therefore, I selected Nutritional Sciences as my primary
major and Dietetics as my secondary major. I was so intrigued by human anatomy and
physiological processes that I added a Biology minor. To my surprise, one of my favorite
undergraduate courses was microbiology. The processes of detecting and distinguishing
bacteria and viruses from each other fascinated me.
Given that I was so interested in microbiology and love working with children, I
was ecstatic to accept a nutrition education internship position with University of
Delaware Cooperative Extension last summer. This was the perfect internship for me
since I aspire to become a professor one day; I taught microbiology, food safety, and
nutrition lessons to children aged 8-12 years. I was able to create my own lesson plans,
which are now being used by all 4H Healthy Living Ambassadors employed through
University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. Teaching young children about food
safety and nutrition was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had—by the time I
was finished, all of the children knew MyPlate, the temperature danger zone, proper hand
washing techniques, and the difference between shelf-stable food items and perishable
food items. Through the employment of pre-surveys and post-surveys, I was able to
conduct research of my own and share my findings with the USDA and with attendees of
the University of Delaware summer symposium. I was amazed to see that this program
had such an effect on the youth. The Undergraduate Research committee was so
impressed by these findings that I was invited to present my research at the Strengthening
Partnerships in Health and Education: Delaware and the Nation conference, with
attendees including Vice President Joe Biden along with other government officials.
These experiences have shaped me into the student and individual I am today—
eager to learn, motivated, hardworking, intelligent, and personable. In truth, sometimes
these qualities lead me to take on more responsibilities than I should and be consumed by
little details I should let pass. However, I believe that overall my perception of ‘the big
picture’ comes back into focus and I can usually balance my life reasonably well.
While I have earned a high GPA, I am also proud of the academic success I have
earned while taking a rigorous course load; I am a Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics
double major and Biology minor. As such my GPA may not be as high as other
applicants, but I am richer for the knowledge I learned in the additional courses required
for my majors and minor. I hope that the reviewers of my application will acknowledge
not only my GPA but my drive and determination to succeed—which can be supported in
my coursework, experiences, and extracurricular activities. I am confident the
combination of these characteristics will lead to my success as a proficient intern and
Registered Dietitian.