Time with the internship is winding down quicker than we realize. This month will mark the shift in focus from job-searches, to seriously considering job-applications. It’s time to have a perfected resume, multiple cover letters, and compiling thoughts for interview preparations!

In the midst of these things, I’ve been working in the middle of D.C. And loving it. It’s a first for me; walking out the door and having the White House half a mile in one direction, with a plethora of shops, cafes, bars, hotels, apartment buildings, and parks all around. I’ve come to really appreciate that one-hour we have allotted for lunch, using it to stroll around and learn these city streets.

Over the weekend, we had our first real taste of spring. I took full advantage and hopped on the Metro to do some real exploring. For hours and hours I walked the streets, took pictures, stopped to read my book, and joined the masses sitting happily around the parks. Now, I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

One thing that draws me to the city is opportunity. There is such a wide range of jobs available, which is overwhelming and exciting. Clearly, D.C. sits in its own category, with that little subset of “government” jobs it has to choose from. That’s not exactly what I’m drawn to, but hey, it’s there. I love the variety and the options. I love that there are tons of alumni from my university that are always up for some networking. I love that there are events and conferences and history to soak up and be a part of left and right.

I also love getting off at different Metro stops to see a whole new array of places to eat and stop by for a Happy Hour on Friday, or a new bench to sit while you relax and soak it in.

It was just another weekend that made me appreciate where I am, where I can go, and what I’m doing. A rejuvenating outlook on new possibilities, that put a little dent in the stress of how I’ll get to the next step in my life.

I woke up to a perfect blue sky and gorgeous spring temperatures. Taking what I learned from the year before, I dressed appropriately (so I wouldn’t freeze), slept more, and didn’t show up too early. I also trained harder and smarter, really dedicating myself to the work it takes to be successful in running. My goal was to beat my time from last year; to prove to myself that I had learned and progressed.

A year ago, I ran through the course and really enjoyed (almost) every second of it. The only thing that bothered me? The mile markers. They sat at every mile, telling my over-analytical mind how far I had to go. My training had focused more on time, not distance. So this completely threw me off. Never did I consider thinking of it the other way around; how far I had already come.

On Saturday, as I passed each mile marker, it only meant one thing: progress. I was pushing through one mile at a time. I started off easy; I was absolutely loving the weather. My training, the runners around me, and music beats keeping me on pace. I knew the course ahead, I knew I would get tired, and I knew the end would be hard.

As I head into April, I can only think how fast my internship is all going, and all the mile markers I’ve already passed. I know what lies ahead: resume edits, cover letter writing, and nit-picking, job and apartment searching, and hopefully interviewing. I know I’ll get burned out, tired, and frustrated. However, I also know that I’m well-prepared, and I’ve worked hard to get here.

When I reached the half-marathon’s home stretch, the last mile, I felt completely drained and completely elated. The clock displayed a time two minutes faster than last year’s time, meaning I successfully reached my goal! I may have barely been able to walk after the finish line, but I was proud of myself.

With looming deadlines and end points filling the next three months, anxiety and stress are no strangers. But the finish line is slowly coming into sight, and it’s a comforting view!

Since then I haven’t looked at it more than twice. It’s in PDF form, up on my web site, and just hanging out in “My Documents” until I need it (soon!). I had just assumed it was okay, since it’s the same one I’ve been using for the last two years, with a few added updates. What I did not think about was the fact that my goals/focus/life have changed just a little bit in the last year. The last time I needed a final draft of this document I was applying for Internships, aka “Continued Education.” Now? I’m finishing up said Continued Education and looking for a job. Today I learned that my resume needs a complete makeover!

During class today, we revisited the applications steps; interview attire/etiquette, resumes, cover letters, networking, and job offers. Yup. That’s what consumed my entire afternoon. To be honest, it invoked quite a bit of anxiety. All coming from knowing that all of these steps lay ahead, the economy isn’t a graduate’s best friend right now, and I’m still not 100 percent sure where I want to live.

Anyway. It’s time to revamp the resume! I may not be ready to send in applications, and the job market may not be ideal for entering, but I can make sure everything part of my application packet is looking good and ready to market ME.

We walked away from today’s lecture with handouts, tips, and examples of application-ready resumes. Here are a few tips I picked up for changing my education-resume to my JOB-Resume:

• Put “Education” at the bottom. In our director’s words, “They know you went to college. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be applying! If they’re interested, they’ll keep reading to find out where you went to school.”

• Only include relevant “Work Experience.” Sure, after 23 years, I’ve had some odd jobs and some great jobs. The fact is, not all of them matter. When you’re aiming for a one-page limit (which I am!), you realize that summer job between freshman/sophomore year where you got certified to use a chainsaw really isn’t so important. (Yes. True story.)

• Fold your resume in half (width-wise). By looking at the top-half, does it speak highly of you and what you’ve accomplished? If not, revamp it.

• Use action verbs and focus on accomplishments vs. responsibilities. What does this mean? Well, if you worked in a hospital and saw patients every day….that’s not much to brag about. That was probably part of the job (i.e. a responsibility). However, if while you were working at the hospital you also happened to help rewrite the nutrition-assessment form , that is something worth mentioning.

• Change your resume depending on the job you want. This one seems obvious to some, but can also be quite the project to take on. Different positions/careers/employers are usually looking for different skills/accomplishments/experience. Make sure you reflect yourself truly, and market yourself for the both the job you Want and the job you’re applying for!

Anything you’d like to add??? There are tons of tips out there, and there are also plenty of ways to do this right. The beauty of it is, your resume reflects you, so ultimately make sure it’s done in a way that you’re proud of.

(Editors note: Use JobWeb’s cover letter, resume, and interview rubrics to evaluate your job-search preparation.)

This time last year I spent some time every single day thinking about where I would be living for this year. I wouldn’t find out until the end of April, and that was driving me crazy. I’m a planner. I need to know these things!

I had applied to five internship programs, with each one in a very different location/part of the country! When I had narrowed it down to those final five, I knew the possibilities. I knew I could end up staying relatively close to my university, or I could be all the way over in Colorado, or Arizona, or in Chicago. Yah. That’s why I was going crazy!

As it got closer to “match day” (finding out where I would be going), it was interesting to think about how much my preferences had changed. Going into the whole process I thought I’d want to be much closer to home and much further away from this cold Northeastern weather. Going into the end of my senior spring semester, all I could think was how much I had grown to love this area and the people in it. I started to think about planning reunions with my roommates and best friends, and taking road trips to New York City (haven’t had enough of those, I forget that it’s so close!), and seeing things in DC and heading back for a football game and some classic tailgating! Even thinking ahead to the fall, October would bring the first wedding that I was going to be in as a bridesmaid, for somebody I met during my very first month in college. I wanted (and needed!) to be close for the wedding!

There were a lot of places and people that I still wanted within reach. I was ready for a new city and the next step in my education, but I wasn’t ready to leave everything behind.  Luckily for me, I didn’t have to! I’ve spent the last seven months living in a new city, exploring the area, making new friends and a new life, continuing my education, and continuing my career/job search.  I’ve also spent the last seven months visiting old friends, visiting my favorite campus, and meeting fellow alumni in the area who understand why I get so crazy during football season and know how to respond when I yell “We are….!”. And I love all of those things.

Over the weekend my very best friend from college, who has literally been in my life since move-in day (ugh, yes that day), got engaged! It’s still a little surreal, and SO exciting. In the last 48 hours she’s already set a tentative date, in December. I will be there! I may not be as close as I want to be (i.e. uh, down the street?), but I know I want to be around. It’s just one more thing to consider in this on-going decision; career, location, Life.

Whew.

Most, if not all, dietetic internships include this in the agenda. It helps us see/experience every step of the food service career: from planning a menu to ordering the food, to cooking and serving food. Every step is important and it all takes a lot of work. I remember looking at pictures on the internship web site of what the interns in the past have done. They look so proud and happy that “the day” is there and will pass, and they survived!

Neither my partner nor I have a lot of experience in food service (besides class-work, not the same!), so this has definitely been a learning process. I have to admit, I’m nervous about the whole thing, knowing that we’re solely responsible for pulling it off! But, it’s one of those things you know about since day one of the internship, and you just have to do it.

Last week I completed my major case study by finally giving my oral presentation. After this week I’ll be done with the majority of food service. I’m starting to feel the progress! Having these two huge things out of the way means that it’s generally “downhill” from here.

We only have about three and half months left, and the majority of that time will be further technology training. There have been many days where this time doesn’t seem to pass quick enough, but most of the time I stop and can’t believe how fast it’s going!

It’s about that time to start looking for job openings and thinking seriously about where I want to be and what I want to be doing in July! And that is the next big project!

My answer is usually something along the lines of….”Wherever I get a job!”

Right now, I don’t have my sights set on any one city or state. Between college, a Spring semester internship, home, and this internship, I’ve lived four different states in the past five years. Yes, that sounds a little crazy to me too. But it’s opened my eyes and made me realize that I’m a lot more flexible than I once thought. The city life is exciting, the East coast is now familiar, and the West will always be comfortable (and warmer).  If I stay here I’ll be happy, but if I don’t then the next move will just be my next adventure.

We attended a lecture today focused on professional skills (networking, marketing yourself, being competitive, etc.), and the presenter opened with this statement:

“Do you take any job? Or just take a job that you love?”

It got me to think twice about that answer above. I know, very specifically, which job I would love and what area of dietetics I want to get into. What I don’t know is whether I would settle for less if necessary.  And, really, what would constitute this necessity– money, lack of opportunities, lack of experience, living arrangements, or all of the above?

I’m fully aware that I won’t love every part of my job, whatever it may be.  That’s just a reality. With the current state of things, there’s a very good chance I won’t get the job I’d “love” right away. And that’s okay, as long as I keep trying. But I’m also aware that I’m about to start my career, and I want to start it my way. This next phase shouldn’t be any different than those that have preceded it.  Maybe it will involve a new city or even a new state, or maybe I’ll stay put. But either way, I’ll certainly seek out what I love and what’s best for me.

Everyone who takes us on as interns has been in our shoes.  They know what we’re doing now and what lies ahead.  Some have been great teachers and mentors, while others have just been there.  Some have been very inspiring, while others have been a great example of how to “settle.”  Whether they’ve been at the job for one year, or for 30, they have something to offer me. I just have to be willing to see it, hear it, or accept it.

So far I haven’t really met a dietitian that I didn’t like. However, I’ve definitely met a few that I don’t agree with, and a few that I wish that I could give advice to.

In any job, I’m quickly learning there are many “types” of workers. You’ll have people who love their job, people who settled for their job, people who want to learn from their job, people who are content staying in one place forever and people who are constantly moving up and up.  Yes, I’ve definitely witnessed each end of the spectrum. I’m picking up on characteristics that I want to portray as a future employee, and how to portray them.

Someone I used to work with in college, at a library, told me this: No matter what your job is, make yourself invaluable.

In other words, never let your employer (or fellow employees, for that matter) question why you are there. Do your job, do it well, and do it in a way that nobody else can/will.

I think that in this market today, those words themselves are invaluable.

I’m very lucky to be part of an internship that is focusing on this for us. We are learning html-coding and web design, we’re creating a personal web site, we’re working at multiple locations and building up quite a network, we’re submitting abstracts for a local dietetics’ conference, and we’re also doing our homework on the side. Sometimes, I’m overwhelmed and thinking this is crazy! But most of the time, I’m getting excited. I want to have a job I love, that I work hard for, and that I work hard to excel at. This will be over before I know it, and I’ll (hopefully) have the opportunity to put myself to the test; the opportunity to make my mark, and to pass on what I’ve learned to the next group.

So far, my longest “job” at one location has been 10 weeks (at a hospital, obviously). That seemed like forever, especially since it was followed by our two-week winter break.  Since the beginning of January we’ve been at three different places. Now, as I mentioned last week, I’m back on a schedule. I love this.

Consistency and I, we work great together.  I know I’m much more productive when I can plan out my days.  I’m back in training-mode for race #4, so this helps too. For some reason, when I have more to do I’m more likely to do it. I even make to-do lists for each day of the week, just to feel the satisfaction of crossing things off, every day.

On the opposite side of things, my weekends just keep changing! I had a surprise visit from a college friend, which was too much fun. I have family friends from home coming into the area soon. Then I have an expected visit from a former college roommate in two weeks! After that I have tentative road trip plans, a possible family visit, and then only about three weeks until the race. Whoa.

So, that’s my schedule. It’s consistent for now, but will be changing again soon enough! In the meantime I’ll be (hopefully) wondering how it’s already turning to spring, and already time to start job-searching.

I’ll keep you posted.

But it’s time to move on.

This week I have a new challenge; I’ll be back in food service for the next rotation. It really isn’t my favorite aspect of dietetics, so I’m not thrilled about this. However, I am excited to do something different, and I know that the staff we’ll work with is great. Really, I love food and I love cooking, but I don’t love all the little things that we’re responsible for worrying about, such as cooking/cooling temperatures and the right way to clean a pot and budgeting a menu. Ehh. The little details behind the scenes of a restaurant that nobody really wants to think about. But I guess somebody has to. That “somebody” is me, but just for six weeks!

Alright, enough complaining. The good stuff? We get to sleep in a little bit, since we don’t have to be there until 10 a.m. every day. YESSS. We don’t have to drive very far, and we’ll be avoiding some of the morning rush-hour traffic. We are provided with free lunch every day. Free food? That’s what we do like about food service. We get to plan a themed meal!! I’m from the Southwest (now living in the Northeast), and really don’t get a taste of my favorite foods often enough. My partner is in the same boat, so….guess what our theme is?? Yup, Southwestern food. Tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, green-chili sauce, salsa, Spanish rice……Yum. That is the good stuff.

I know that it’s pretty rare to have a job that you love everything about. There will always be things you don’t want to do, or be responsible for.  I also know that having a job for a short six weeks is unrealistic, and in the real-world you just have to stick it out.  I know that something about this change will pleasantly surprise me, as that seems to be happening over and over throughout this journey.  This is just another transition, just taking us one step further.

Oh, it also doesn’t help that the work I did do on Saturday was not there when I went to finish it last night.  Yup. Somewhere in the rush of getting ready for a dinner date with an old friend, I either didn’t save it, or saved it somewhere completely ridiculous that I later could not find to save my life.

Last night, starting over from scratch? Not so fun.

This week I’m in a rotation that I already know I love: pediatrics. However, this is also the clinical area that I have the least experience with. It’s a whole new set of guidelines and rules, which means it’s a lot of work to keep up with it all. But that’s just fine by me. I want to know everything!

Anyway. When I get stressed, I find an outlet. When I get like this? I find a few of them: running, planning, reading, etc.

Running is always there. I love to run: it’s my “thing.” Whether it’s a long run or a short run, they are my miles. Time spent doing what I choose to do.

Visitors….are coming! Plans are in the works for a March visit from my brother, and a May visit from my parents and sister. Excited???! That doesn’t do it justice. I realize it’s nowhere close to neither March nor May, but just to know they’ll be here is enough. Things are already in the planning stages, and I may have even convinced the little sis to do a half-marathon with me! This is good stuff.

I have a stack of books waiting for me on my nightstand. Dipping into a good story, one chapter at a time, is my favorite before-bed habit. It also keeps my mind from racing back to the to-do list, or what time my alarm clock is set for.

I need my de-stressors. And I also need to step back sometimes and take a deep breath. Homework and reading and working? Yes. That is manageable.

The biggest shocker? She’s only 29 years old.

I had so many questions for her! How can you not want to find out everything about somebody like that? Somebody who has clearly excelled in her field, and learned a lot along the way.  The biggest challenge to me in the upcoming months is deciding where I want to start. I’m about 99 percent sure that I want a clinical position. That’s definitely what I’m most interested in, but that’s definitely not where my interests end. I love running and I’d love to be a certified sports nutritionist. I love to write (obviously), design, cook, teach, learn, talk, and listen.

If a routine sets in, I quickly become a creature of habit. Stepping outside of my comfort zone can be hard for me. Knowing this, I have to continuously remind myself to be open to new things. While being at one job for the long-run can be a great thing, it can also be hindering. My fear? Becoming too comfortable. Because once that happens, I know how hard it is for me to leave. And there are just too many opportunities and choices out there to let that happen.

So, what do you gain from multi-jobbing? Other than the skills of how to do each new job?

You learn people skills: you learn how to work well with (or maybe just tolerate) different people, and you learn how to adjust to each new environment. You learn interviewing skills: they can ask you anything. It’s just a matter of being able to come up with a good answer on the spot.  You build up your network, your resume, your knowledge, and your confidence.

I know there are also plenty of good things about staying put for years in a job that you love. But right now? I don’t see myself passing up the opportunity to explore all the options of the field. There are too many things I’m interested in for me to “settle” on just one. 

Yes, I know where I want to start. Going from there, I like not knowing where I’ll end up!

The partner and I are now at a new hospital, just for the next two weeks. They use a different online charting system, divide responsibilities differently, actually work with the outpatient Dietitians, have different hours, and even have a different system for delivering patient meals.  This hospital world? It’s craaazy. Who knew there were so many ways to do the same thing?!

Just within the last seven months I’ve now worked in three different hospitals.  I’m no stranger to learning new systems and schedules and coworkers. It can get a little frustrating to have the thoughts “Well, we did it this way when I was at [name of hospital], and that worked much better….”  But if nothing else, it does keep me on my toes and helps me adjust quickly!  It also teaches me a lot of things – what works well, what doesn’t, what little changes have a big effect, which system is more effective, etc.  The reality is that when I do get a full-time job, I’ll have to do things their way. And it will probably be completely different than all of the above.

It can be frustrating to be shuffled around week after week; to develop even a little familiarity, only to have it dissipate as I move on to somewhere else. Yet I know that this is my advantage, my one-up on the next applicant. Many internships are stationed in only one hospital. By the end of this year (in addition to last summer), I will have been in four. I will have worked with four different groups of dietitians and food service managers, learned four different computer charting systems, and experienced four different work environments. This really gives me a better idea of what I’m looking for in a job/location/group of coworkers. 

And when they’re looking for “one year of work experience”, maybe I don’t have it (yet). But I think I do have the knowledge to make up for it.

Since there were no flights available, I’m still here: writing to you while I should be on a plane heading east.

At the beginning of this break, I realized it would be the last time that I’d be able to spend this long at home over the holidays. It’s unrealistic to think that an employer will give me two weeks off, especially at a hospital. That just won’t happen. They run 24  hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  I wouldn’t choose that job without weighing the consequences. But if it’s what you want to do, then that’s that.

However, when I do accept a job, there is one other thing I have control over – where I live. At the moment, that’s the hardest decision to make.

I moved to the East coast for college because I thought of it as an adventure. Why not go somewhere new, somewhere different, and somewhere unfamiliar? If I don’t like it right away, I’ll adapt. And if I don’t adapt after four years, then I’ll move again. Simple, right?

Hmm. Not so much.

I’ve never thought of myself as a city girl, and yet for this year….I’m living right between two of them. And I like it. There are opportunities here that I wouldn’t have anywhere else. There are always things to do, museums to be explored, shows to be seen, restaurants to taste, and shopping to be done.   Jobs are abundant, and there is the possibility of walking to work (or riding the Metro, but I’ll go ahead and avoid that). Why not stay? If just for a few more years….

Right when I think I have it all figured out, traveling hands me a day like this. I drive three hours to the nearest big airport, just so I can spend another four hours sitting in it, waiting, while somebody else decides if I get back or not. I stress out about missing work tomorrow, finishing a research paper by Friday, getting unpacked, etc.  And really, I chose it. Instead I could live closer, drive home and drive back on my time. Whew, wouldn’t that be nice?

Here I thought deciding what to do for work would be the hard choice, not where to do it.

I guess it’s a good thing I have six months to ponder this; going back and forth between the pros and cons of each. But location is definitely a big factor.

Just for a few days. Why not spend the first day of the New Year watching great football (I love football) in 70 degree sunshine?! Yes, sounds like a plan to me.

I’m not too excited about 24+ hours in the car (round trip), but it is nice to have some traveling company. Usually it’s just me, flying back and forth to get home all the time. I have no idea what will entertain me for that amount of time, but I know what I should be doing. My Major Case Study is in the works, and technically should be done within the next few weeks. Ehhhh. It’s ridiculously hard to motivate myself to do any kind of work while I’m home. When I’m here the weeks “off” are packed with busy days: holiday feasts, shopping, appointments, lunch dates, cleaning, etc.

Over my Thanksgiving break last year, I had a huge project to work on. It decided about 40% of my grade in that class, and was due the Thursday after classes resumed. Obviously I had to work on it, no real option there. We spent about 2 out of the 5 days I was home driving, and guess where I got the most done? In the car. I knew I couldn’t put it off anymore and just started typing. A few hours later my project was almost done and we were that much closer to home.

Soo…here’s to hoping that happens again!

After this short trip I’ll have two days to unwind before I’m back on a plane and back to life as an intern. And, hopefully after this trip, I’ll have a little bit less to worry about on the homework front.

Now it’s hitting me that after this year (or, at least for a while) that I’ll have this kind of ‘time off’ around the holidays. No more “winter breaks,” or “thanksgiving breaks.” Just hopefully some Paid Time Off and/or vacation days saved and added up to maybe equal a week at home.  Although, as the ‘new-comer,’ do you ever really get holidays off? Who knows? This will be the price I pay (well, along with the cost of the flight) for deciding to live far far away from the family. Decisions, decisions.

On another note, I still think of my laptop as a new ‘toy.’ After having a desktop for 5 years I still get excited about the luxury of traveling with my computer. I Love It! So, here I am, trying to waste time during a three and a half hour flight.  With full intentions of playing card games (not doing work), I opened it up. For some reason I clicked on documents, saw “My Resume 6/08” and thought, “Hmm, haven’t looked at that in a while…..”

What did I do on my flight? I updated my resume. What inspired me to do this? I have no idea. But, yessss, it’s done!

There will be so many little things like this to think about/get done in the upcoming months. I need to be updating the resume, deciding which online job-search sites are actually worthwhile and/or updated frequently, deciding where to live (well, that might not fall under “little” things to do….), writing/editing application letters, etc. I might as well get started now, right? Just a little something to check off the ‘list.’  Now I’ll go relax.

Happy holidays!

Friday will mark the end of Staff Relief (sigh), and Saturday I’m heading home! This break is much more than ‘needed,’ and the timing is ideal. I know it will be hard to come back, but January represents a whole new territory. A new year, a new rotation, and a new set of objectives.

The first four months have been about adjustment. I’ve adjusted to what life as an intern is like; working without pay, but making/eliminating career choices. I’ve adjusted to life in the “city;” always plenty of things to do, but choose wisely, because you might be spending plenty of money to do it.  I’ve adjusted to a budget: plan it out, stick to it, think twice before buying, and watch those bank statements! Most of all, I’ve adjusted to three different jobs and I’ve narrowed things [career options] down.

So…..now what?

Well, if the first half is any indication, these next six months are going to fly. Before I know it, May will creep up behind me, and June will be tagging right along.  I’ll live and breathe job listings, applications, resume edits, interviews (um, I hope!), and decision-making. Call me crazy, but I can’t wait!

I have a lot to do between now and then, including rotations in everything from (more) Food Service to Information Technology. I’ll plan a themed meal, set up some web sites, and continue developing my own web site (yes, you’ll see it eventually…), and network network network!

Soon I’ll start searching the web for sites that post nutrition job listings, and subscribe to them.  This will give me an idea of what the market looks like. It’s still up in the air as to where I actually want to live after this, so I’ll just pick a few cities/areas and see what’s out there.

To be honest, I’ve already started doing this (subscribing and searching), but it’s a little disheartening to know I can’t take any action yet. So, I try to only look at it periodically. We’ve been told that the real searches should start about six weeks before I’m actually available to work.

Right now, I’m trying not to think about the number six. It’s a little overwhelming. If I could start working tomorrow, I totally would! But, I realize there is still much more to be learned and many more experiences to be had. I appreciate that. I do.  Plus, I suppose it does give me plenty time to do all of the above.

Today, I started week one (of two).  The idea behind these two weeks is for the hospital dietitians to think of us as staff members. We have our own patients that we follow, we do assessments, and we write up the notes. This is exactly what I’ve been doing for the past eight weeks; sooo….I wasn’t too worried. The only difference is the amount of work on my plate.  Rather than doing seven or eight  patients per day, I’m doing around 13 to 15+. Whew.

Again, I’ve survived another “Day 1.” I knew I would be fine; it was just a matter of time. How much time would it take me to see this many patients? How much time would it take me to write the notes? Would I be there for 10 to 12 hours just trying to get things done in time?  Well, it turns out that I work a little bit faster when I have a little bit more to do.  And just like I had hoped, I’ll be fine.

I think it will be hard to understand what this is really doing for us until we’re out there, in the work world.  Hopefully, it will mean starting a job, already knowing I’m able to do what will be asked of me.  And if this isn’t what I want to do, I’m thinking this is the time to figure that out.  Pretty quickly.  The only thing left to worry about will be what this crazy economy will look like in six months. Here’s to hoping the jobs still actually exist.

Luckily for me, my last day is followed by a break.  Yesss! Two weeks off. Home. Away from the city and enjoying good company. 

Until Sunday……but really, with the prediction of a five-inch snowfall, I should’ve expected it. 

I went to check in at the airport, only to learn that my first flight was delayed so long that I would miss my connection. Not that it mattered, because my connecting flight was cancelled, “Due to weather.” I was then asked, “Well, is it imperative that you make it to Baltimore tonight?” Um, if it wasn’t, would I have booked the flight for today? Right. 

I won’t go into details: dealing with airline personnel is not a pleasant experience. Bottom line, my internship director is always accommodating, a new flight was booked for the next day at noon, and I’m just fine.

Since this gave me one more night away from the apartment, and a little extended “break,” I decided to use it wisely.  Traveling with my laptop and books clearly does not ensure that I’ll do work, because…well, I didn’t.  And I know that for me, just getting the smaller things out of the way makes the big things seem much more attainable. So, on Sunday night I got some little homework things done. 

A year ago I used this mentality to get through my finals week and Christmas break with at least one less thing to worry my stressed out mind. I knew that by mid-February I needed to have five application packets signed, sealed and ready to ship out.  To make progress, I made a new deadline. By December 20, I handed out my packets* to the three people who wrote my letters of recommendation, and I had the first draft of my cover letter saved onto my computer. At the time, I knew I had a lot more to do before everything was ready. But, at the time, it felt good to check one or two things off of that list. And it felt good to know I could head into my holiday break, and actually enjoy the extra time, just for me.

*First, ask the people you want to write your letters of recommendation if they would be willing to do this for you. Then, when you’ve decided which programs you’re applying to, put together a packet for your references to make the process smoother and ensure that you get what you need. I typed up a list of the programs I was applying to, including the Internship director’s name and address (office address). I added a copy of my transcript and resume (for their reference), and  stamped envelopes for them to put each reference letter in, addressed to the specific program. You may also want to include a “thank-you” note.

Then, all I heard this summer while working at the hospital were warning:. “This internship, it will be one of the most stressful years you’ll have. But! You’ll just be so glad when it’s over!”

If only that had prepared me…

I know that right now I’m in the thick of it. Our clinical rotation requires the most of us, and the most of our time.  There’s homework, case studies, and readings on a different topic every week….and that’s simply an attempt to prepare us for what we see every day in the workplace. Not that we’re expected to learn it all and be experts by the end of the 12 weeks, but I feel like I’ve stuffed more into my brain in the last eight weeks (about 2/3 done) than I did throughout  my entire senior year. Reading and learning for a test just isn’t the same as learning so that you can apply it to the patient you help take care of for the next week.

At my hospital, they’re moving me around. There are four dietitians total, and I work with a different one every two weeks. The great part of this is that their responsibilities (re: patient care) are divided up, so I get a taste of everything. After my orientation, I spent two weeks working mostly in general care and oncology (cancer patients), the next two weeks were general care and cardiology (heart stuff), and now I’m into intensive/critical care.

I’ve enjoyed all of the above, but the latter is certainly a category all its own. I still see some of the same illnesses, but on a whole new level.  I’m learning about feeding formulas, calculations/equations to estimate patients’ needs (much different than one that would work for me or you), and another slew of terminology and acronyms to help me look at a chart and understand the information.

It’s a lot to learn at once, but it’s interesting. This time, what I was doing at work actually corresponded with the topic of our homework for the week; “Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition” (fancy words for tube feedings/nutrition support).  My mind has been entirely taken over by it all, trying to soak it in and apply it to real people.  There are times where I feel a little stressed, as this is moving quickly and I want to make sure I actually learn rather than just try to get through the days, but nothing out of the ordinary. 

At least that’s what I thought……

…until I woke up three nights in a row last week, doing tube feeding calculations in my head.

One night it was actually a dream where I had put myself on tube feeding! I woke up completely confused and reaching for a tube to pull out—obviously not there. 

All I can think is…..I guess I reached that point. Stress. It has clearly arrived, in a most unpleasant way.  Something in my mind must’ve thought I needed to be constantly working--day or night, sleeping or awake.

Well, that is not the case. I’m not sure what triggered those episodes last week. Unpleasant as it was, it helped me realize that this internship is not meant to have us thinking so hard about one thing that we’re working in our sleep.  We should be learning, not obsessing.  It’s okay to make breathing room, and use it often.

Luckily our schedules are doing that for us this week, in the form of a holiday break.  I hope you all use it wisely;  take your time back to breathe, relax, and refresh. You deserve it.

Thanks to my tight budget, and no source of income for at least 10 more months, I tend to stay in a lot.  A typical Friday or Saturday night for me and the roomie is not anything you’d expect from two 22-year-olds.  Not that I’m sure anything could be considered typical for our age group, but let’s just say we don’t know really know much about anything—from where to find the closest movie theater  to where you can get cheap drinks with an exciting crowd.

So, having visitors? That’s quite an event around here!

I asked around where I’m doing my internship: What are some casual/inexpensive places to go out? Which areas would you recommend.?Where do we even park?!

It’s not too often that I get excited about living here, mostly because it’s still a little overwhelming. I’m not sure I’ll ever be used to an hour commute, or a Metro ride into D.C. just for the day. But then the suggestions rolled in, and my co-workers told me about all these things that go on when it starts getting nicer outside (example: movies projected onto the backs of buildings, and you bring lawn chairs and food. Um, that sounds great!), and all the things to see around Christmas, and where you can find the “college crowd” and where it’s a little bit more expensive but so much fun.

Hmm, that changes things a little bit.

And then there was the weekend with my parents. There was too much to do. We were busy for the full four days, and they even squeezed in touristy things while I was at work.  It was a good time, and about an hour before they left, my Mom decided that they’re just coming back in the spring to fit more in.  Because, really, how can you skip watching the cherry blossoms bloom? Or walking through the American History Museum (currently shut down for renovation)? Or even spending an afternoon in Annapolis to taste-test all the ice cream shops and eat fresh crab cakes by the water?

Well. It may have taken three months, but I’m starting to really appreciate that this is where I am. I’m finally recognizing exits and roads, and remembering where that parking garage is if we want to go to this seafood restaurant or that shopping center.  Now, to add to the list, I know a few places that don’t charge cover, and one that has a dueling piano players (that’s talent right there).  Good times.

I know how important it is to open your eyes to new places. I’ve lived in four states over the last five  years! Each move is hard and definitely takes some adjustment before it feels like home. But, with each new place there is a new adventure, and more importantly…..a new opportunity.

I knew what I wanted to do (the internship I’m doing now), but there were a lot of things I didn’t know. Where do I want to live? Which program would fit me best? Should I pick by location, convenience, program layout, cost, school, hospital….?! Whoa.

My “free” time during the months of November and October were spent doing these things: checking internship web sites, checking for internship programs, making a list, checking things off the list, adding things to the list, agonizing over the list, stressing out.

Luckily, we had a job-search class specifically designed to help us with this. This process of narrowing things down, deciding where to apply, putting together application packets, and then….the interviews and the results.

Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be right now if it weren’t for that class. But, not everyone is so lucky. Not everyone has that kind of guidance, and not everyone has that time frame laid out in front of them to make everything just a little bit easier.

Without a little help I wouldn’t have known a lot of the “little” things, things like the date by which we should have asked for our recommendation letters, the variety of people we should consider to write our recommendation letters, who we need to send a “thank-you” note to, how to dress and prepare for an interview, and then....even the post-interview etiquette. Oh yes, there’s always etiquette.

Here’s my point: If you plan on doing an internship, grad school, or any kind of continuing education program next year…..start NOW. Go to your career center and take some job-search workshops.

Then, start looking at programs, evaluating them based on your wants/needs/goals, make your lists, edit your lists, and then edit them again. Make sure you’ve looked everything over. Put some thought into it.

Read over the program’s web site at least three times. Don’t. Miss. Anything. They make those web sites for a reason—because they expect you to read them. Most programs will offer suggestions, everything from who to ask for recommendation letters (e.g., One from a professor, one from a boss, one from [fill in the blank]) to what kind of folder to put everything in. You’ll be amazed at the detail some people require. Don’t ignore it. That’s definitely not a good move.

At this point you will probably feel sufficiently overwhelmed. So take a deep breath. And get busy!

It was so much fun to be there again, seeing all the familiar landmarks and driving around like I had my daily errands to take care of. In no way did it seem like I haven’t been there in five months, or that it’s not where I actually live anymore. In fact, I drove right by our old apartment and almost instinctively turned in, parked, and ran up to the door. I got this sudden home-sick feeling, wishing that my roommates were inside of the window I could see, and I could just run up the stairs and walk in.

Other than staying with a friend, and not in my own digs, the weekend felt completely normal. I went to Target Friday night to look around, I had a haircut appointment, I went to say hi to the kids I babysat, I went for a run around campus Saturday morning (which was absolutely gorgeous, can’t beat the bright fall colors on the East Coast), and I bought more shirts to add to my collection of college paraphernalia. You really can’t have too many of those. One shirt says “alumni,” which is my way of trying to get that little fact to soak in.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t too hard to get up and drive back today. I thought I’d be dramatically dragging my feet, dreading the homework, laundry, and grocery shopping that awaited me. Instead, it was just a matter of fact. That was then, this is now. I had my four years to enjoy the town, and now I get to come back and appreciate it. I get to proudly flaunt my shirts and hoodies, and my diploma that says I no longer have to worry about 8 a.m. lectures, 20-page papers, and final-exam schedules. Instead I carry my “Alumni Association” card, and enjoy the power of this extensive network of people who love that place as much as I do.

There will always be the part of me that visits and thinks “back in our days here….”, but now there’s also a part of me that just loves that I had those days.

I just want to you know, networking doesn’t stop there. It can happen anywhere!

This weekend I had a worthwhile encounter that brought me to a realization; I’m always ready to market myself. Or at least, I should be. I need to be.  You never know who you’ll meet, where you’ll meet them, and what kinds of opportunities are just right there. Waiting for you.

My parents were visiting, and we headed into D.C. for the day. For dinner and an eventful Saturday night, we had one thing on the agenda: good food and college football. My team was playing, and I’d heard of a bar in the area that was known for hosting the alumni for game days. Perfect.  What we weren’t expecting was for that particular place to be completely packed…..five hours before kickoff. Hmm, onto plan B. We settled on another sports bar and grill a few blocks down. Funny how that worked out….

While it would’ve been amazing to watch the game among tons of fellow alumni, I had a very different experience.  Wearing my football jersey (yup, I’m totally a fan. No game without the jersey on!), chatting, eating, and watching the game with my parents….with zero intentions of “networking.”  Then someone from group next to us leaned over and said “{insert opposing team} is gonna win.”

Here we go….

Obviously the comment sparked my reaction, jokingly defending my alma mater and my jersey. And so starts the chain of questions….Where are you from? Why’d you go there? What was your major? Why are you here?  I gave him my business card.  And to make a (very) long story short, he has my information, will be contacting me about the possibility of an intern/externship working in sports nutrition at the university where he coaches, and is interested in my advice as a nutritionist. 
All in a night’s chat.

 The group he was with was equally as interesting. One person noticed the Walt Disney quote on the bottom of my business card (which I had made while doing the Disney internship. I would say ‘oops,’ but hey, it caught somebody’s attention right?), and had the usual inquiry. Turns out he just came off of quite an impressive career with the company, which always creates great conversation. I love Disney. I’ll talk Disney with anyone who will listen. And I love hearing about people who built a career with that company. It’s never a boring story.

Heading home on the Metro I had quite a few things to smile about: a big win, an eventful day in the city, and a successful night of networking to top it all off.

I will spend the next 10 weeks in a hospital working with the dietitians.  Starting off, I’ve spent time shadowing them throughout their “typical” day (nothing is ever really typical in a hospital—always changing, always unexpected).  I’m asking ridiculous amounts of questions, because I’m curious and I want to learn as much as I can. I carry around a notebook with me and write down everything I want to remember and everything I think I’ll need to know.  So far my notes include everything from which medications are nutrition related, to commonly used abbreviations (which, in medical terminology, basically means every word. They really love those acronyms.), to what allows a little newborn to be released from the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). 

In college I was so scared of the clinical setting, basically vowing never to work in a hospital.  It just seemed so intimidating; you have to know so much, and constantly interact with very sick patients, and memorize all the lab values, and know all the medical terminology, and remember equations. Ugh, that’s a lot of work. 

To calm my nerves, and see what this clinical business was really about, I applied for the summer internship at the hospital.  Much to my surprise, I loved it. I got to work in a few different areas, and see how everything operates.  I got to shadow one of the dietitians, and received some much appreciated advice on how this year would really feel.  What she told me was straight on, and what I learned there set me up for this rotation.  Had it not been for that experience, I probably would’ve fallen into the group that has been known to, um, freak out on day one. 

Instead, I was ready. It is a much bigger hospital, and I still have no clue where to go when I get off the elevator (on any of the seven floors…..), but it feels strangely comfortable to be back.  I’m learning how to assess charts (online, because we’re all technologically advanced over here), and expanding my medical vocabulary.
 
And I’ve found myself thinking…..this could be the best place to start. All of a sudden, it’s clear that there’s no other job where I’ll learn so much on a daily basis. It’s completely ideal for a first job; something that will consistently test my knowledge and skills, keeping me on my toes with every new patient, developing those problem-solving and leadership skills I’ll later brag about on my resume.

Yup, the college-sophomore mentality is gone; I’m totally up for this challenge.

Umm, what?

First off, I had no idea it would be a conference-call with the addition of an online slideshow. I thought I’d literally watch a lecture, streaming online. So, as instructed, I called the number and entered the conference “key.”  When no one answered, and instead I heard clicking noises here and there and the distant sound of somebody talking in an office, I realized what was going on. Since my partner and I were both partaking in this webinar, I immediately looked over at her (as she’s getting the laptop ready) and mouthed “You need to dial in! This is over the phone!” …trying not to make any noise, because 100+ other people would’ve heard me. 

The first question from our speaker: “What do you want to do, that you just don’t have time for?”

The first answer: “Travel the world, and keep my job.”

Uhhh, did we dial the wrong number?

Within minutes, and after already realizing we were about to be on the phone for an hour, we threw all expectations out the window. We knew this would be about “time management.” We did not know that we, the “interns,” were on the phone with CEOs, CFOs, managers, VPs, supervisors, etc. We were listening to somebody whose career involves “coaching” people, helping them make more time in each day so that they can fit in 50- to 60-hour work weeks, family, gym, travel, e-mail, meals, leisure, more work, career advancement, etc…..and still have room to breeeathe.

Needless to say, we initially felt a little out of place. We work eight-hour days, have weekends off, do a little homework most nights, and have plenty of time to watch the morning news and enjoy  “The Office” on Thursdays. 

But, once we got into the details, there were definitely plenty of good ideas to walk away with. Things that will help us as we get into the thick of this internship, and habits to form that will help us be that much more successful in any career.  And since I’m here to help you, and share my experiences with you, here they are…..

• Think about this: How do you feel at the end of each day?......Then think: How do you want to feel at the end of each day? There’s probably a pretty big difference between the two.  Find the balance.
• A year from now, what has happened? If you are celebrating your “Most xtraordinary Year,” what will that mean you’ve accomplished?
• Tip: Quit focusing on time, and start focusing on your personal energy.  You could be working 70+ hours per week, feel stressed 24/7, and still not be accomplishing what you truly want to. Because you don’t have the energy. There are simple ways to reduce your hours, but increase your productivity (we’ll get into that next…), which will result in more energy. To do what you want, the things that make you keep on keeepin’ on. 
• Look at your to-do list (Do you love to make them too?? Ah, it keeps me sane! Really, I just love to check stuff off. Doesn’t that feel gooood?).  Focus on three high-value activities, no more and no less. These are things that must get done that day. No excuses!
  Sometimes we put wayyyy too many things on our list, and get over-whelmed. Which means, we do none of them. Instead, focus on three things. Do them. And you’ll feel (and be) more productive.
• Give yourself “Scheduled Thinking Time.” A literal block in your schedule—whether it be 30 minutes in the morning, one hour at lunch, or two hours after dinner—when your energy is high and you can concentrate.
• Decide on how often you will check your e-mail each day. And Stick To It!! This is something I’ll always struggle with. If there’s a computer in front of me, I probably check my e-mail twice every hour…..um, if not more than that. It’s completely ridiculous, and unnecessary, and a waste of time. Now, I’ve decided I have three times per day to check my e-mail. Before work, when I get home, and before I go to bed.

It’s hard for most, if not all, of us to do this.  We get e-mails consistently throughout the day, and feel compelled to respond right away. Or we get an e-mail, which leads to another web page, which will consequently distract us for the next 15-plus minutes. It’s a vicious cycle. And a huuuge time-waster.  Especially with g-mail and its “chat” option. Ugh. Don’t get me started….

I feel like this is definitely the hardest tip to implement into your daily schedule, but will also be the most effective change. Trust me, try it….. and you’ll be amazed.

Well, there ya have it. It’s not everything I learned in the short hour with my ear pressed to a cell phone. But it’s what I felt was most important. And will be most useful to you.  Maybe by next week you’ll be booking a flight across the Atlantic. And I’ll be happy that I have one more hour in my night to absorb nutrition therapy in Renal Disease.

With every lecture, every new location, every general interaction with another person, we are meeting a potential future employer.  Come June, they could be looking to hire, and we will be on the market. 

Most people ask for a general introduction upon meeting all eight interns in the program: name, college, hometown, general area of interest (within nutrition).

Clearly, the first three are a constant. With the last one, my answer is always changing.

There are so many opportunities and choices within this field. I’m interested in too many things. I love to write (obviously); I like the idea of working with technology and design and all this Internet stuff; I’m into sports nutrition; I love to cook; I enjoyed working in a hospital. All of the above.

I like it. I’ll do it. It just comes down to one thing….figuring out where to start.

This isn’t something you decide overnight; you can’t really just go and say “I’ll be a sports nutritionist  starting today.” Any kind of specialty will require extra schooling, usually a certification, and certainly more experience.

Toward the end of this program, we have one “elective” week:  A time where we choose where we’ll be.  Ideally the choice is somewhere you want more experience, or somewhere you really enjoyed and want to return to. 

Even though we’re only one month in, I’ve started weighing the options.  I’m taking note of people that could help me find somewhere to go.   For instance, my partner and I got to attend a food show last week (which, if you ever get the chance, GO. It’s basically tons of free food. And it’s delicious, because they want people to buy it! Good stuff.).

We met a sales rep who knows the sports nutritionist at an academy in this area. Mental note: get her e-mail, to get the sports nutritionist’s e-mail, so I can contact her and possibly set up a meeting. Even if it’s just to talk and say “Hey, what is your job like?!”

This year will be full of these kinds of networking, and I love it. One experience leads to the next. Every meeting is a step in one direction or the other, a foot in this door or the next. You just have to keep track of your steps and decide on your destination. 

I decided to register for this after running my second race.  Clearly I’m a little into this whole running thing.  There are the obvious pros; it keeps me in shape, it keeps me active, and it gets me outside when I’ve been stuck at my desk reading scientific words all day.  I hesitated in the decision to do this, because it’s in October.  Sitting in front of my computer in July, I had no idea what my life would be like in three months. All I knew was that I’d probably have homework, I’d probably be working 9-5 type days, and I’d probably be stressed out. I had no idea if I’d have time, or energy, to train for another one. 

When I clicked  “Register,” I decided I would make time. Just for me. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.

Whether it’s this year as an intern, or next year as a full-time employee (um, *fingers crossed*), I need to know that somewhere in the craziness there is time to do what I enjoy. I need to know that I won’t always let a stressful work day lead into a long and grumpy night.  I need to know that I can have a crazy work day, and come home to something that lets me vent.   And at the end of any day, I need to know that I can make time for things I want to do. 

So, I’ve been training.

There have been some unexpected challenges, but overall it’s been interesting. If anything, I’ve learned a lot about the area I live in. I’ve found the neighborhoods, and I’ve also found the roads that don’t even have bike lanes. Not good.  I’ve used online mapping tools (www.mapmyrun.com is genius), and drove around trying to get a feel for what’s safe, where the hills are, where I’ll definitely get run over, and where I’ll be in the company of other runners and walkers. 

It’s been a lot like the beginning of this internship. Through the different rotations, I’m getting a feel for things. I’m realizing where I feel safe and knowledgeable, and also where I feel like I’m constantly climbing uphill. I’m discovering what challenges me.   I’m figuring out the roads that will lead to certain careers, and the ones that would lead me to a dead-end. 

And through it all I’ll continue to learn what I’m capable of, and what works for me.

I come home, work out when I’m not completely exhausted, make dinner, and do homework. Every night. That’s it.

By no means is this a boring schedule. On the contrary, it’s always changing. Our hours depend on where we’re working, and the longest we’re at any site is eight weeks.  Then come the weekends, and I’m kind of lost. The area I’m living in is almost scarily close to Baltimore, and D.C. Not far from where I went to school, or some of my best friends, or five other states.  Assuming I’m up for braving the traffic, there is certainly no shortage of places to explore.

After a week of learning, reading, studying, homeworking, and actually working…..it’s too easy to lounge around alllll day on Saturdays and Sundays, and relax.  This is exactly what I’ve done, most weekend days. And then I get ambitious and realize I need to keep things interesting. I need to take advantage of this craziness. I need to explore!

So that’s exactly what I’m doing. If for no other reason, it’s just to keep things interesting. The roommate and I have already made two day trips, venturing to D.C. and Annapolis. 

D.C. was certainly a learning experience, learning: to use the Metro, that you have to get there early or all of the museums have lines, that you will pay at least $3 for a bottle of water, how to read a map so you don’t end up walking all the way around Capitol Hill just to get to the Air & Space Museum (that’s a loooong detour), and that it’s nice and easy (and pretty cheap!) to get there and back.  Yesss. Good exploring skills.

Annapolis was beautiful.  Always is. I’ve been there a couple of times before, so I knew how to navigate. This is a necessary skill in these old American towns. Gah.  Certainly makes you appreciate wide highways and four-way stops.  Annapolis has narrow roads, lots of parallel parking (um, not my strong point), and roundabouts. When the GPS system says to take the fourth exit of a roundabout that means you are driving in circles and thinking “Um, which one is the “first” exit???” Clearly GPS was created long after the streets of Annapolis.

Aside from that, it’s hard to find anything not to like about this coastal town. Water, yachts, tons of shopping (which I’m avoiding, right?), book stores, the Naval Academy, lots of restaurants, and a plethora of places to get ice cream. Yummm.  And it’s all found by walking the streets downtown. Wonderful.

Our little day trips are time to unwind.  To realize that while this year is going to be (well, already is) stressful, it’s also a year to experience and enjoy this area.  It’s almost too easy to get lost and frustrated and possibly end up in New York City thinking, “Um, oops.”. But that’s how you learn. And that’s definitely one way to keep things interesting.

Ever heard of them? You’re not alone. I hadn’t either. And I had no idea what to expect.

The only thing we did know was that this is a center of food delivery for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, ALS, or another life-altering disease.  Serious stuff. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to this, but I thought…if anything…it will be eye-opening.

It has turned out to be much more than that.

We spent the first day touring the beautiful new building that houses the amazing staff. Covering the walls are pictures of events, staff, and volunteers; the people they’ve served, and the people who’ve made it all possible. There are those who donate their money and those who donate their time. Some do both. So far this year, they’ve seen approximately 7,600 volunteers go in and out the doors. And on a daily basis, they serve 1,400 people. Hearing those numbers left me in awe.

Here we are, two new college graduates, “assigned” to be here for two weeks.

Fortunately for us (not for them), one of the dietitians just left for maternity leave, so we could actually be helpful. After week #1, we’ve finished two small projects and been able to help out in different areas. They keep telling us that there’s not a “normal” day around there, and that’s already proven true many times. And that means we’ll get to do things that aren’t on our “schedule,” letting us see more of the big picture.

We’re only here for two weeks, which already seems too short. This seems like a place that you get a little crush on, and then totally fall for. You get a little taste and end up wanting much more. We’ve already talked about possibly heading out there once a month on Saturdays (AKA, the only day we have “free time”), to help out. While it may not happen that way, with homework assignments, and trips, and visitors, and a long list of other excuses….I do hope I can give something to them.

There are plenty of fields involving nutrition that are helpful, but not as meaningful. It can be easy to get wrapped up in how to make “low fat desserts,” or bulk up the next athlete, or write yet another piece on why extreme low-carb diets aren’t the way to go (ehhh, don’t get me started). And then there are organizations like this. I can’t think of a better way to have started off the internship.

I haven’t been without a job since the first semester of my sophomore year. The concept of putting dents in my bank account—money that won’t be quickly replaced—is taking some adjustment. Before any unnecessary purchase I keep thinking “budget, budget, budget!” I quickly realize what I need/don’t need, and which online shopping sites I should probably have blocked from my browser.

Since I’ll be “working” 40+ hours per week, and focusing on homework, and trying to sleep, I know there won’t be a lot of time for shopping per se. But there has been a huge change of scenery. Now living between two huge cities, as opposed to the exact center of a huge state (surrounded by hills, trees, deer…..etc.), is giving me too much reason to explore. Taking a break on a weekend could easily mean a 20-minute drive to a downtown shopping and eating haven. But that also translates to a downtown hole in my account. Ehhhh.

So, attempting to be more grown-up and responsible about spending, I did something drastic. I made a budget for myself.

With no idea how to go about this, I’m just hoping it’s even a little bit accurate. I have these categories: groceries, shopping, eating out, drinks, toiletries, travel, and “extra.” I don’t know what the “extra” means, but I figure something else needs to be there. The logic being that I’ll quickly find out what those “extra” things I’m buying are, so I can stop buying them.

I did my budgeting in Excel, because I looove Excel. It allows me to be creative, while also nurturing my obsessive organizational tendencies.  I have every month worked out, and all the necessary cells programmed to start adding things up. It’s a little scary to watch those numbers climb every time you type something in. However, all categories are color-coded and bordered. Yes, I took the time to do that. Because if I have to work with a budget, it might as well be something I like to look at… even if I don’t like what it’s telling me.

There will be plenty of things I buy that I don’t need, but my new buddy will help me realize where I can give and take, and where certain things will have to be compromised. It’s another learning process, and I’m workin’ with it.

I never thought I’d say this, but I miss syllabus-week.

We had our orientation today: Just a small refresher, I’m starting a dietetic internship. This particular program (most are similar) is 10 months, comprised of work in the following settings; hospitals, community centers, WIC, food service, management, meal planning, business, and technology training.  I’m in the Baltimore-DC area, so it’ll be a LOT of driving and a LOT of dealing with traffic and a LOT of getting used to this “city” atmosphere.

I’m in a new state, a new apartment with new furniture (built with my own hands, thanks to IKEA and their DIY philosophy. Ehhhh), and starting a completely NEW life style.  For the first time in my life I have a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday schedule.  I will never again  look at all my syllabi and get stressed out just thinking about the class-overload I’m about to enter. But I’ll also never get to spend random hours coming back to my apartment for a morning/afternoon break. Or trek to the library for a coffee-and-crossword puzzle break. Or wake up on a Friday at 9:30 a.m. for a 10:10 a.m. class, only to be done by 11 a.m. and think “Helloooo weekend.”

Nope. Those days are gone, and a consistent schedule (well, for the next 10 months) has replaced them.  Instead of a variety of topics to study and get to know, I only have one. Nutrition.  Not that I’m over here thinking that will be any easier, because I will have to know nutrition like the inside of my purse.  I will have to reach into my brain and pull out those work-place skills; critical thinking, organization, time (and stress) management, problem solving, etc.  And I’ll shake a lot of hands, take a lot of business cards, and say things like,

“Hi, I’m Heather. It’s nice to meet you. Please hire me when I’m done because I’d Loooove to work for you!”

Well, maybe not word for word, but something along those lines.

It feels good to have Day 1 over with, to have something under my belt. And so the next phase of my life begins….
 

Me.

I’m not leaving for another week, but I know that will only seem like days. Monday is the big day, and Friday will be the first day I have to think about that. Instead of enjoying the last week of summer, and relaxing in the comfort of being home, and finishing up my little summer projects…I’m waking up at  5:30 a.m. every day and coming home at 4 o’clock.  Completely exhausted. Not wanting to think about the end of summer, or packing everything, or leaving.

Originally I was just going to ask for this week off. I thought, why not? I’ll relax, not do anything, and bask in some laziness. Then I changed my mind.  And when I gave the supervisor my schedule for this week, I thought that if I had every day off I’d probably get bored. My logic was that since they’d only be eight-hour days (instead of my usual 10), I’d still be making money and have a little more time in my day to do the last “summer” things I wanted to do. Wrong. Soooo wrong.

So here I am, wondering what would have been so bad about being just a little bored. What would have been so boring in taking a week to have to myself? I could hang out with my brother and sister, who are just home for the week. I could slowly pack up my stuff, instead of hating that I waited until the last minute and shoving it all in (which I probably would’ve done anyway, but still).  I could watch a lot of TV (i.e. Olympics!), and enjoy the fact that I had the day to just watch TV. Yah, I think I could have found some ways to entertain myself.

Alas. I am stuck with my already-made decision, and the already-decided schedule. And I’m learning a lesson. It’s a great thing to have work ethic, I know this. It’s a great thing to help out your co-workers when you know that they’ve been short-handed all summer. It’s even okay to make a little extra money while you’re doing it. But, sometimes, it’s okay if you’re just a little bit bored.

With that being said, I’m gonna go ahead and be contradictory. Crazy, I know. But I honestly went into my internship with the hospital this summer having no expectations. I didn’t even have a clear idea of what my job would be, much less that I’d want to keep it. All I knew was that it fit: live at home for the summer, save up money, work at the hospital, and get experience. Then head back to the East when it’s over and get back to my other life. Perfect.

Well, now here I am, and the countdown is dangerously close to being over. Somehow June and July have made their exit and August is here. Um, how did that happen?! All of a sudden I’m handing in my request for my “last day,” and signing a new apartment lease, and starting to freak out about how the heck all I’m going to pack everything I’ve bought plus the stuff I brought. On that note, always leave room for shopping when you pack. Don’t bring so much stuff that your suitcases are ounces away from the 50-pound limit on the airline, and then buy more stuff. Really. Not a good idea.

I’ve loved my job. I was finally able to apply the concepts I studied and work in the field. It’s been a great way to see what my career could be like as a dietitian. I’ve loved being at home, being around my family, and sleeping in my own bed. Yes, not paying for groceries has also been a huuuge plus. I was sad to see my name stop appearing on the new schedule.

So, ideally, this would be the time that hints are dropped and offers are considered. This would be a great opportunity to think about what you want to say in your exit interview, and whether or not you see yourself with this position/company long term. And if you do, start crossing your fingers that the big boss sees you there too.

The other day I was approached by one of the dietitians, casually asking if I was at all interested in coming back here after my program. I gotta admit, it caught me off guard. I had forgotten that this was an internship. This was me, in my field, learning the system and how things work, and potentially lining myself up for a job. But I hadn’t seen it that way. And I hadn’t even thought about coming back, as a dietitian. With a real job, and the start of a career. The opportunity is there, and the territory is familiar (aka “home”), and it would probably make this upcoming year a little less stressful. So, where’s the catch? What’s the problem?

I never officially said “No,” because who knows what I’ll want to do a year from now. But my initial response was just that. While I’m a desert girl at heart, and prefer the West with its sunshine and mountains and deserts, I’ve had a delicious taste of the East over the last four years. I’m going back for at least one more run, and I don’t know if that’s enough. Maybe I’ll want to stay there a little longer. Maybe I’ll find something I’m more interested in than clinical work. Maybe.

But at least they offered.

My hours at the hospital have been all kinds of crazy lately. We’ve had two people quit in two weeks, and two people leave for vacation. Ehhhh. Basically a lot of us have been stuck doing two jobs in one day, most of the time. It’s a little crazy. I could be going in at 6, 6:30, 7, or 9 in the morning.  You never know. Sometimes I get home at 8 p.m., and I’m back at work by 6 a.m. Um, not fun.

At the beginning of the summer, I had all these projects that I wanted to get done. Realistically I knew that not every single one of them would happen, but they were there. And I was hopeful.
 
I wanted to help redecorate our study because it looks awful: no one really uses it, since the printer was broken and my parents have a lap-top now. The unwanted stuff has been cleaned out. We picked out cute (Inexpensive! Because it’s mostly for looks.) furniture at Target, and even purchased the bookshelf already. Guess where it is…..? Still in the box, sitting in the garage.  Needless to say, there’s much more to be done.

I started a “college” scrapbook. Yes, I’m a scrap booker. I love to do it, but it takes me foreeeever. I’ve been known to spend two hours on one page, which usually has three or four pictures on it. The craft store here had a huge sale at the beginning of the summer, which prompted my ambitious idea. Most of the pictures are developed, and I have pages up through my sophomore year done. You do the math; I have two more years to cover in three weeks. Whoa.

And here’s a new concept for me: summer homework assignments. I did take summer classes last year, but that’s an obvious reason to have homework. Here I am; full-time job, trying to enjoy summer, reading too many novels, running, scrapbooking, and then remembering at the last minute that I have homework due about every two weeks for my upcoming internship.

 In the beginning it sounded like no problem; around 15 days between assignments? Easyyy.  Which I guess it would be, if I didn’t use 10 of those days to forget that I had homework, one of them to look at it and think “Oh wow, this is going to take a while…”, and then the next four actually doing it. It would also help if I had thought of this when packing my bags for the summer. I would have actually brought my reference books, rather than leaving them back East where they are clearly of no use. Ehhh, oops.

Somehow I did find time to train for, and run in a race. There’s one thing to check off the list!

What happened to the concept of time management?!? And where did this summer disappear to?!

I can’t believe I have three weeks before this internship starts.  I’ve got my work schedule for the next month, showing only blank spaces after August 14. It’s so weird that I’m almost done with this job and it will soon be time to move on to the next...

The course was like this: flat for mile one, downhill for the next five, and curvy for the rest. It looks good on paper, but turned out to be quite different than I expected.

At 6 in the morning the only thing you’re running off of is adrenaline. As with any race, it pushes you off the starting line with hundreds of runners around you. Most of the time it means you start out a little too fast, but as long as you can find your pace quickly, you’ll be okay. However, when you’re thrown onto a downhill slope, it makes the process of finding your pace much harder. Do you let gravity do its thing and ignore the urge to slow down? Do you take bigger strides to lessen the impact? Do you stomp down harder to keep your ground, or float down and put on the brakes when it flattens out?

It reminded me of a new job/new year of school/grad school……whatever your “new” adventure might be. You’re suddenly thrown onto this course, not knowing what to expect. If it starts out fast, maybe you should pace yourself, knowing that a challenge could be around the corner, unexpected. If you feel like you’re on a downhill slope, it doesn’t automatically mean you’ve got the “easy path” ahead.

There was one runner in particular who started to get to me. I’ve read about emotions during a race, how it can really affect your performance and outcome. I wasn’t going there. I enjoy running because it’s just me and my thoughts, my pace, and discovering what I’m capable of. She was interrupting all of the above. She’d pass me, and then I’d pass her. At first I was annoyed because I couldn’t tell if it was my pace or hers that was fluctuating. But I had a pretty good guess. She cut corners in front of me, and kept floating between sides of the ride (or at least the lane we were in). It was like she thought she’d save a few yards here and there by always being on the inside. By mile 8 I was ahead, and didn’t see her again…

There will always be a seemingly easier or quicker way of doing things, that doesn’t make it the better way. We’ll be told over and over that cutting the corners won’t get you anywhere. She proved it for me first hand; she wasn’t saving herself any miles. We all had 13.1 ahead of us. She may have always been on the inside, but I came out on top.

Every mile was marked with a sign and a bright orange flag. That’s a surefire way to make 13 miles seem a lot longer. I saw Mile 1, and I thought “Ehh, awesome. I have 12 to go.” For the first seven or eight, it was daunting, for the rest of them it was both exciting and tiring. It reminded me of looking at the syllabi at the beginning of each semester. You see all the assignments you will somehow complete before the four months are over. It seems so daunting at first—how will you fit it all in, and go to football games, and have drinks on Friday, and watch “The Office” on Thursday?! But with each one down, I felt a little more relieved and a little more accomplished.

Soon enough I ran past Mile 12. The sun has climbed on up, raised the temperature by about 15 degrees, and the exhaustion is setting in. I need water, I want to walk, and I really want to be done. The next water station is about half a mile up; I make it there, let myself slow down, and enjoy the refreshing drink. Rejuvenated and ready to finish this deal.

There will be plenty of days that you want to quit. It’s hard, it’s exhausting, it’s all-consuming. This is where the training, studying, hard-work come in. It’s frustrating that sometimes no matter how much you prepare, you aren’t ready for what comes your way. Here’s the opportunity to let your work ethic shine through, defined as “a belief in the importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character.” (www.dictionary.com) The feeling of accomplishment will always overshadow the difficulty it took to get there. Discover what you’re capable of and be proud of yourself for it.

So, how did I do? Well, in spite of starting off a little too fast, and feeling exhausted with only two miles to go, I did great. Much better than I was expecting and that is a good feeling. I finished 31 overall, out of 1000+ runners. I beat my first time by six minutes, coming in at 1:43:19. I had family waiting for me at the finish line with big ol’ smiles and big cold bottles of water. It doesn’t get any better than that!

That enthusiasm never faded. I picked it up pretty quick, and loved my lessons with her. Every Thursday my mom would pick us up from school, get us a cookie from TCBY, and then drive us out to her house. She had a beautiful baby grand piano, and an awesome electric keyboard right next to it. We played on both, but mostly the keyboard. Sometimes we got to choose what we wanted it to sound like; an electric guitar, an organ, or just a plain ol’ piano.

I can’t think of a time that she wasn’t smiling. I can’t think of a lesson where she got frustrated with me. I can’t think of a song she gave me that I didn’t like.

She rewarded progress and encouraged me to learn. She let me highlight notes that I was having trouble with so that they stood out on the page for me. She focused on all the things I did well, and gave me goals for the next lesson. While she made sure I was learning, she always made sure I was enjoying the process.

I had a mentor, a friend, and an idol. She was so talented, I thought (still think) she could play anything. I was so inspired, and I always hoped that one day the notes would sound like that when I played them too. When I think about those years now, I realize I learned a lot more than just how to read the notes and press the keys.

I learned that I have to be persistent and patient with something if I want to get it right. I learned that everything will require some practice, and with that comes the reward of knowing that I’m making progress. I learned discipline from practicing every day, memorization skills that have helped in all sorts of situations, and an appreciation for art and music that I’ll always carry with me—no matter how much science consumes my career! You can definitely love both.

Last Saturday I attended a Celebration of her life (I don’t like the word “funeral”). She had Wegener’s Granulomatosis, a rare disease affecting the blood vessels. Even though she died at a young age, she had accomplished so much in her life (operas, singing at the Olympics, teaching, etc.). I hadn’t realized until then how much she had influenced me and what I’ve done. After hearing stories about her and what she’s done, I felt so lucky to have had her as a part of my life. 

I may not take lessons anymore, but I still sit down and play the piano whenever I can. My first dorm in college had one in the basement (a little creepy), and I would go down there and play when I felt stressed or bored. I never thought of it as an “outlet,” but I guess it is. And I love that.

It’s not often that we look back on things like piano lessons, or second-grade teachers, or soccer coaches, and really think about how much they influenced us to do what we do. But I definitely think it is important to pause and remember those who helped along the way.

*name changed for privacy

It’s all about who you know, and who knows you.

As I started the college program for Disney, I heard a lot of advice from students who had done the program. But there was one thing that they seemed to emphasize—networking.  As freshman and sophomores in college, none of us really knew what they meant by this. And none of us wanted to be the one who asked. So we just nodded ours heads….uh-huh, networking, yes, we’ll do lots of that!

Finally somebody from Disney stepped up and said, “Let me explain this, because I didn’t know what networking meant. All we’re saying is get your name out there. Introduce yourself to everybody. Tell them what you want them to know—you’re a student, this is your major, this is where you go to school, this is what you’re interested in doing when you graduate. All of the above, or whatever you think is important.”

She couldn’t have said it better.

The managers at my store knew two things about me (besides my name): where I went to school, and my major.  Within weeks, one of them (I had six. Yes, six managers) approached me and said that he knew someone who worked on the team of 16 people who plan, design, create, and open all of the Disney resorts in the Walt Disney World Complex. This person had graduated from the same school I was attending, and was involved in designing the Fitness Spas at each hotel. And he had started with the college program back in the 70s.

Would I like to meet him? Yes!!!

So I did. He showed me the fitness center in the newest resort, asked me a few questions, and told me a lot about himself and how he got where he is now.  Then he said he knew somebody I might be interested in meeting. She also graduated from our alma mater, and worked in food service (more applicable to my nutrition major).  After a few e-mails and phone calls, I had a meeting with her. We met and had a great little chat, and she introduced to me to yet another person she thought I’d like to meet—a chef. Not just any chef, the chef who writes all the menus for special food allergies or needs (vegan, gluten-free, no peanuts, no lactose, etc.).  When I met with him, he encouraged me to specialize in food allergies, if I had interest in it.  Obviously he did, and was doing something great with it—allowing people with allergies to still enjoy dining out while on vacation without worrying about a trip to the ER.

I still have the business cards I collected from everyone I met, and I still keep in touch with my manager. They know me, and if I wanted to go back down to Florida and work, I’d just give them a call. Obviously that doesn’t guarantee me a job, but it puts me one step ahead of other job candidates.

Since that experience, I never hesitate to introduce myself to anyone and everyone.  I’ve learned that it doesn’t just have to be the “food people”, or the nutritionists, or even just people in health care. Everyone I’ve worked with has something to offer me, and hopefully I am able to return the favor…..somewhere along the way.  And now, as a new graduate, I’ve joined the alumni association.  In college it sounded like a group that just kept giving money to the school. Now, I realize it’s a powerful networking tool.  You can never know too many people.

As I head into my new role as an Intern, I know this is crucial. We will be at hospitals, community centers, conferences, cafeterias, etc. We will work with a lot of people that could potentially hire us when it’s all over. I’ll put my name out there, introduce myself, and do what I can to make my mark.  We’ll see where it goes from there…

I did my first half-marathon in March, and told you guys all about it here. Right away I was addicted. The excitement when you can finally see the finish line and that feeling of accomplishment when you do….that can’t be beat.

Finding a race in the summer is a little bit harder.  This may partly be due to the fact that people want to vacation, not train, and um, it’s hoooooot.  Very hot. Since I live in a desert area, my selection was limited. Obviously none of the above has stopped me. I found a few to choose from, and decided I would wait and see how the altitude here affected me once I got back for the summer.

Oh, did I mention we’re about a mile high? Yes, approximately 5,500 ft. This means a lot less oxygen and an unhappy me.

Every race and every trail are completely their own—different in so many ways.  Some are longer, some are shorter; some are uphill, some are downhill; some are in the city, some are on a mountain trail; some require a six hour drive, while some would require about ten.  You have to find one that fits.

I realized that I used this same philosophy when I searched for my internship program. It had to be just right.  I had no idea how different each one would be until I started looking. I remember seeing the  differences—some are longer, some are shorter; some are through a hospital, some are through a University; some are clinical-based, some are food service-based; some are close to home, some are close to where I went to school; some are in a big city, and some are in the suburbs.  I had to find one that fit.

Choosing a college was difficult—but I knew any choice would lead me to a school for four years, where I could get the degree of my choice, then graduate and go where I wanted to.

Choosing my internship was more challenging—I knew that the location could potentially determine my job and where I live afterwards. The program itself will determine whether or not I have a specialty, or expertise, in any certain area. The curriculum will affect whether or not I’m ready for the RD exam once I’m done. And passing that exam is pretty much the purpose of the whole thing.

Passing that finish line is the reason you run the race.

I ruled out Vail, because it was actually 14.5 miles (instead of the standard 13.1). Over the course of the race you climb about 4,000 ft in elevation, and don’t start to come back down until mile nine.  You’re running switchbacks (back and forth) up a mountain. It’s on a narrow trail, so I wondered….if I want to pass somebody, how would I do that?  This setting would definitely provide some beautiful scenery, but one hell of a race.  You end at 11,000 feet. So, basically, when you’re tired and gasping for air…it won’t be there.  With only a month and a half to train, I knew I wasn’t ready for that.

I decided on Utah. A closer drive (saving money), a scenic run along an old highway (early in the morning, don’t worry, I’m not going to get run over), some hills for a challenge, and some slow declines to even it out.  I’ll travel the 13.1 miles, from one town to the next.  And while I’ll miss the company of LB (my previous running partner) and our two roomies cheering us on, this time I’ll see my family on the sidelines. 

I’m right on schedule with the training, with only about three weeks until the big day.

In the meantime, I’ve been completing small homework assignments, doing some reading and even a little studying, and preparing for the fall. It’s a different kind of training, and a different kind of race.  And  I want to be ready.

What experience do you have?

Have you applied for internships?

What do you want to do with your degree?

What steps will you have to take to get where you want to be?

For most majors, nothing is too specific. Take mine, for example. I just got my B.S. in nutritional sciences. What does that mean? What do I want to do with that? Well, that has yet to be decided (see: Internship, and another whole year of school!). But what I do know is that my options are open! I could be a dietitian at a hospital, work in research, work in education (not as in elementary school, as in “These foods are good for you,” or “If you have diabetes, this will help…”), work in food product development, work for a food company, work in school food service, write for magazines/papers/foodie books…..okay, you get it.

It seems almost impossible to decide on that “one” thing you’re supposed to do with your degree. But, fear not. This is why we have internships. This is why you get that summer experience or that part-time job during school or that first job after graduate. If you hate the job, you can cross one thing off the list of possibilities. If you love it, start figuring out how you can do that one thing.

I declared my major at the beginning of my sophomore year. I actually went into college thinking I wanted to be an architect. Ehhhh. That clearly didn’t happen. I absolutely love the concept of what the architect does: I love the design and the creativity and the ingenuity. I love the possibility of doing what you want with each building and space, and the idea of art movements and styles and patterns. But as things turned out, it just wasn’t my thing. I can study it and have a passion for it, that doesn’t mean it’s the one thing I’m supposed to do. Especially since I’m no artist, and that’s kind of a necessary trait.

I enjoyed my Intro to Nutrition class. I did well in it. I also, quite unexpectedly, loved my chemistry class, and did well in that too. The more I thought about these facts, the more I realized….this is what I want to do. So I did it.

My first internship replaced the Spring semester of my sophomore year. I had been having thoughts of transferring, but realized that wasn’t really what I wanted. I just wanted a break, I wanted to be somewhere warm for the winter, and I wanted to just—pause—and take a step back. I met some amazing people who were doing the same program, and decided this was definitely the next step in my college life. So, over Christmas break, I packed my things and moved to Florida.

I worked for Disney, in the merchandise department. What does that have to do with nutrition? Absolutely nothing. But, to this day, it was the best training I have ever received, and I still carry the skills I learned on-the-job with me. I always will. And it was the first time I had a full-time job. No school in the background, just work. I paid for my rent, groceries, gas, and fun. I lived with seven other girls, and I learned just as much from that experience as I did from work. I grew up.

I would say I learned, most importantly (definitely the BIG emphasis with this company) amazing customer service skills, that I've used in every job I've had since. I learned how to make quick decisions on the spot, how to deal with the language barrier, how to manage money, how to effectively communicate with other workers and managers, *teamwork!!* (that's a big one), and the importance of attention to detail.  My next job was working as a reference desk assistant in the library...a completely different role...and yet I found myself using my experience and what I had learned at Disney alllll the time.

I returned to school in summer to take two classes and I immediately missed the constant paychecks. I applied for a job in the library on campus, and got an interview a few weeks later. I updated my resume, proud to put my latest work experience right at the top. Good thing I did, because it got me the job in the business library. I’m clearly no “business” major, but the person interviewing me wanted to hear all about what I had done with the company. He said it was the first thing he noticed on my resume and it caught his eye. Lucky for me! I had that job for the next two years, until I graduated. That added another aspect to my resume—longevity.

Employers are looking for three things when they glance at your resume—What experience do you have? And with whom? And, how long have you held your jobs?

What’s the point of all this? Get experience. Even if it’s just a part-time job at a grocery store, that you hold for your entire college career. Even if it’s just a summer internship. In every job and every experience you will learn something. You will gain knowledge of how some system works, how to deal with large volumes of people, how to deal with people at all, knowledge of different cultures, how to be a good leader, and how to stick it out. When you have interviews, you can talk about these experiences and shine proudly in your answers. And it will be clear that you’ve worked hard to get where you want to be.

Anyway. I went into this internship expecting a typical work week—eight-hour days, five days a week, weekends off.  Reality check.  Somebody should give you a formal warning before you enter the world of healthcare. It’s a completely different scene. You don’t get holidays, or nights, or weekends. People never know when they will get sick, people will always need care, and emergencies occur often and unpredictably. Hence the term—emergency--defined as a “sudden crisis requiring action.”

Not that I’m dealing with emergencies, or taking care of people, or even admitting them to the hospital for whatever reason. However, I go visit every new admission and screen them for the dietitian. I gather their information and record their answers to questions that I ask them, put it all into a computer, and decide whether or not they should be referred to the registered dietician. And guess what? Every day there are new admissions. At any time during the day somebody is being brought into the hospital or somebody is taken home from the hospital.

Result: I didn’t get my 9-to-5. I don’t have my Monday to Friday. Oh, no. Instead, I have 7 to 5:30, or 9 to 7:30. I have Tuesday to Friday or Friday to Monday. Or Wednesday to Sunday. I see very young, and I see very old. I see cancer, and high fever, and end-stage renal disease.  I work with cardiac diets, and diabetic diets, and the very dreaded….clear liquid diet. I have to tell people who have sodium restrictions that, Yes….that means you can’t have both french-fries and cheesecake in one meal. Moderation, people. Simply moderation.  (Easier said than done, I know this.)

So, what’s the “up” side to all of this? I have three-day weekends!  They might not be the typical Friday, Saturday, Sunday….but it’s still three days that I have off. Three days I have to do “me” things—be productive, relax, enjoy a good book, a good run, or a tasty martini.  I had hoped that the first on that list would happen more often than not, but let’s be honest….when you work 10 hours a day, it basically means you come home and do absolutely nothing. Well, except the obvious, necessary things. Check e-mail, check blogs, read the book (whatever the flavor of the week is, I’m totally a summer bookworm!*), or get some sleeeeeep.

After two weeks I’m trying to find a balance between my work-days and my off-days. I’m starting to adjust to the work-life, as opposed to the school-life…or even the Yes!-I’m finally on summer break-life. I have summer assignments to complete for my internship, books to read (by choice….but I can’t stop reading!*), and some TV to catch up on here and there.  I’ve scheduled appointments for my days off (personal hygiene is important too, let’s not forget this! Plus, who doesn’t love a good haircut?!), and I’m attempting to train for my next half-marathon at the end of July.  Ehhh, we’ll see how that goes.

In the meantime, I’m enjoying my job. I’m adjusting to this schedule, and I’m making some money to save up in the process.

*Books I’ve read so far, and highly recommend for your reading pleasure:
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Change of Heart by Jodi Piccoult

So far I’ve had one loooong, boring day of orientation and three days of training. I’ve had a drug test, a TB skin test, and an MMR test. Yes, they really make sure you aren’t trying to bring any more disease into a hospital than there already is.

My first day actually working: “Knock, knock….It’s Dietary.”

That’s what I said…all day...as I wandered around the hospital, peeking into patients’ rooms and asking them:
“…a few quick questions for the dietitian.”

Apparently the position that was described to me last month as “Well…you’ll be delivering some meals, maybe talking to the patients…you know…” (yes, great description), is actually more like “Well, you’ll be walking into the patient’s rooms all morning, and then finishing the ones you missed in the afternoon, and taking call-in meal orders, and working with our computer system.” That would have been a MUCH more accurate description. In fact, it would have been right on the dot.

It has been so long since I’ve been in a hospital.  Due to the fact that a family member of mine works there, some assume I’m familiar with the building, Wrong. It’s not exactly the type of place you meet up for a family dinner or a night out. In fact, the last time I was there was in high school, to visit a friend. Ehhhh, long story.

Anyway! Where was I? Oh, patients’ rooms? Walking in. Uninvited, and mostly likely very unwanted. In all honesty, I just felt like I am invading their space. They are sick, they have doctors and nurses in and out, they have nothing to do in that little room all day but lay there and maybe watch some TV here and there, or chat with some family.  Oh, if it were me….my attention span would battle me to my death.

On top of everything else, they are sick. They are vulnerable and exposed. And here I come, waltzing in like it’s nothing and asking a few questions. I realize this is completely harmless, and they likely think nothing of it, but it just feels weird. By the end of the first day I was a little more desensitized. Good thing, because I have to do it again, every day.

All right, on another note, there are some pretty cool people hangin’ out in those rooms. I met one Korean lady, who at first seemed so fragile and ill, but as she woke up a little bit and answered some questions I found out something pretty cool…..she shares a birthday with me. And she was born in 1931.

And one guy said that he was so impressed by the hospital food and service he’d rather just come live here and eat all day. (Possibly a bit of a stretch, but we’ll take it buddy!)

Fast forward to apartment life—all of a sudden you are responsible for all things food related. You buy it, you store it, you prepare it, and you eat it (assuming hungry roommates don’t get to it first!). The only experience I had with anything was helping my mom with dinner here and there, and making Funfetti cupcakes with my sister. So clearly I was prepared for this cooking thing. Easy. No problem. Right?

It all started with the grocery store. The first time I bought my own groceries I had no idea what I was doing. I never expected that aspect of it to be hard, or so expensive! All I did was wander around buying snacks that looked tasty, and probably bread and turkey for sandwiches. I had no idea how to plan for dinners, or meals in general. Frozen dinners and pasta made frequent appearances, obviously because of the convenience.

However, being a Nutrition major, there was only so much of this I could handle. So, after hours of watching the Food Network, wandering around on certain web sites, and reading those cooking magazines that I adore, I learned a thing or two. A food lab I had to take last Spring made it final; I Love to Cook!

I know a lot of you probably live in apartments and face these same challenges and dilemmas. So here I am giving you some Easy dinner options that are favorites with me and my roommates.

Taco Night!!

This is easily my favorite meal. I’m from a state in the southwest, so I love “Mexican” food and all things spicy! This dinner is on the “cheap” side and it feeds lots of mouths. Which basically means it’s perfect for us. Plus, it’s pretty healthy when you go with the lean ground beef option. (Look for 90/10 or 93/7 on the label. It indicates the percent fat that the meat is.)

1 lb. Lean Ground Beef
1 box Taco Shells
1 package Taco Seasoning

Choose toppings: Salsa, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, and/or chopped tomatoes.

In a large skillet, use cooking spray (or heat 1 tsp. olive or canola oil) to grease the pan. On medium heat, cook the beef until it’s brown. Drain the fat (don’t put this down the drain in the sink!!! Do it in a trash can or an extra empty can. This stuff hardens, and it’s gross). Add the seasoning according to the directions on the package (differs by brand). The box of taco shells usually has directions for heating them in the oven, which just makes them a little crispier. This is optional.

That’s it! You’re done! Top the taco with whatever you want, and you have a delicious, quick, and easy dinner!

Salmon—Broiled

This one is for the fish lovers, and isn’t as cheap, but is just as easy and quick. Look for packages of frozen salmon, usually they are cut and packed/sealed individually and you purchase it by the bag. A serving is about 4-5 ounces. This recipe is for an individual serving, if you want to make more, it’s easy—they can all go in the oven at the same time.

1 Salmon Filet (4-5 oz.)
1 tsp Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper

Flavors to choose from: Barbeque, teriyaki, lemon, honey, maple

Set your oven on Broil. While it heats up, place a small sheet of aluminum foil onto a baking pan and place the salmon on the foil (you can omit this step and just use a cooking spray to grease the pan; either one makes it easier to remove the salmon once it is done). 

Sprinkle the filet with salt & pepper (to your liking) and drizzle with the 1 tsp. olive oil (you can also rub the olive oil in, to get more flavor).

Depending on your taste preference, you can just use salt, pepper and oil to flavor the fish. However, if you want to, you can also choose from the flavors listed above, and do the following for each:

•  Barbeque: Rub/brush the filet with 1 tbsp. of barbeque sauce.
•  Teriyaki: Using a teriyaki marinade, soak the salmon for 30 minutes. You may also use a teriyaki sauce and follow the same instructions as above (use 1 tbsp.).
•  Lemon: Using a fresh lemon, squeeze the juice onto the salmon before placing in the oven.
•  Honey/Maple: Same instructions as barbeque/teriyaki sauce (use 1 tbsp. and spread).
  

Once in the oven, the salmon only cooks for about 10-15 minutes. If you have a thermometer, the internal temperature should be about 140°F. If you don’t own a thermometer, a fish should “flake” easily when it is cooked thoroughly (use a fork to test this).

If you are looking for easy sides to prepare with the salmon, some choices include; steamed broccoli (or other seasonal vegetable), salad, baked potatoes, rice pilaf (or brown/white rice), etc.

Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches

This is another recipe that is easy, pretty inexpensive, and can easily be adjusted to feed a large group. The instructions here will feed about 4-6 people.

1 bag Hamburger Buns
1 lb. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 tsp. Olive Oil
1½ cups Barbeque Sauce
¾ cup Ketchup
2 tsp. Worcester Sauce
Salt & Pepper

Cut the uncooked chicken into small (1 inch) cubes and season with the salt & pepper. Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet, and cook the chicken (should take about 10-12 minutes). While it is cooking, combine the barbeque sauce, ketchup, Worcester sauce, and a dash of salt & pepper in a bowl. Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked, toss it in the barbeque sauce mix.

That’s it! Serve on the hamburger buns, and enjoy!

Sides to choose from: baked potato, salad, potato salad, French fries (using store-bought brands will usually cut down on the amount of fat/sodium in the fries), etc.

All of these dinners are relatively easy for the learning-cook, and can be easily made for one person or modified to feed a crowd (watch out for the price of the salmon though; it can get expensive!). Plus, as long as you follow the measurements and opt for the lean beef and skinless chicken breast, they are also healthy!!

Any other easy recipes you enjoy and would like to share??

It feels so weird to say that I’m no longer a “student” at what is now my alma mater.  It feels weird to drive out of the town I’ve lived in for the last four years, and realize that I won’t be back there in August to start classes again.  It feels weird to pack up the room I’ve lived in for the last two years, and look back at an empty space.  It feels weird to say good-bye to the people who have become my family, and made my home away from home.

Graduation is bittersweet. While most of us are ready to commence, and move on to the next chapter, it’s hard to realize what’s actually happening. The idea of having a job-actually applying the knowledge you’ve worked so hard to “learn” through those crazy classes/exams/term papers-is exciting. However, the idea of leaving the unpredictable, fun, hectic, sometimes lazy, and security-filled college life-style is scary. 

Hopefully by this time you have a job lined up, or at least a plan as to where you want to go and how you’re going to get there. I know that I have another year of hard work, learning, and growing as a nutritionist ahead of me.  I also know that gives me one more year of exploring all the different areas and options available, to see which one interests me most.  This is kind of the idea behind the Dietetic Internship; getting experience in all areas (Clinical, Community and Food Service), to see what you want to focus on. Lucky for me, because at this point I wouldn’t know where to start.

Instead of thinking about all this right now, I’m headed on a vacation with my family in central (warm, sunny) Florida. Sounds much more relaxing and happy than thoughts of jobs, the real world, and life after college, right? Yes, I think so.

Congratulations Graduates!!

Oh, I was wrong. Very wrong.

There are a LOT of buildings on this campus, but very few of which I’ve never stepped foot in.  This was one of them.  It’s in a convenient location on campus, and looks nice and big from the outside.  I opened the doors and wasn’t prepared for what I saw.

First of all, it’s HUGE. It’s warm, inviting, open, and appealing.  There’s a desk right inside the door, and I was immediately asked if I needed help finding anything, or if I had an appointment. Nope, just scopin’ things out.

As you walk in, there’s a doorway to offices on the right, a nice café straight ahead, more building space/stairs/rooms to the left, and a lounge area that resembles a library.  There is a wall-to-wall bookshelf full of resources, a row of computers for student use, lounge chairs, and an abundance of pamphlets/informational brochures/booklets on anything and everything that has to do with work.
 
 I picked up a booklet on the services that they provide. It’s amazing. They have career counselors that will meet with you to look over your resume or cover letter, help you edit it, give you tips for interviews, talk with you about job options, etc. They also have workshops throughout the semester that students can attend based on all of the above!

There is a career fair (which is common on most campuses) each semester where students can talk with companies they are interested in working for.  You can even set up interviews, which companies can hold in this building, and there is a locker room so you can bring your “business casual” clothes to change into. 

On top of all this, there’s a web site for students to use so they can access these resources from anywhere. Not only are these services available to students, but they are also there for the alumni! They provide networks through which the alumni association is in connection with, and post-graduation tips on job searching, recruiting, preparing for interviews, etc.  So even if you’re a little late in the game (graduating…without a job set up? don’t you worry), you can breathe easy. 

I wish I had stumbled upon this resource a lot earlier. Even though I had help and I got what I needed (see previous post—good internship news!!), the career center would have saved me a few hours of searching on what I wanted to do with my life and how I was going to do it. I took advantage of appointments with my major-adviser, and the class we had to take, but every  resource helps!  And it’s never too early, or too late, to take advantage of the things that are out there for you as a student!

This whole, being a senior thing, is really different. After Wednesday I’ll just be waiting around for the family to get here and then waiting to walk across the stage and get my diploma. In a week I’ll be considered an “alum.” A “college graduate.” In past years, I’d be studying for four or five tests (only having two is a record LOW for me), and trying to pack my suitcases to go home for a little bit. It’s so weird to think back to how differently I’ve done things each year.

Freshman year was crazy. I had four tests, and wasn’t going to be finished until 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. My dad was coming to help move me out and bring me home. All I remember about that week is being SO excited to leave this place. I needed a break, I needed to be home. I needed a huge serving of “real” Mexican food. I had my summer job lined up, where I would get to work with my younger sister, and I was so excited. The only question I hadn’t answered yet; where was I going to store all this stuff I had accumulated over the last two semesters?!? Ehhhh, oops.

Luckily, my Dad and I found a storage space that was about 15 minutes from campus. As long as I could remember the place and unit number for next fall, we were good to go. So, my advice to you: If you live far from where you go to school, find a storage unit around three to four weeks before you move out. That is definitely something you want to have lined up in advance. I’ve even heard of people who have cars at school that leave their car in the storage unit. That way you don’t have to pay to park it anywhere. Brilliant. Do what you gotta do.

My sophomore year I decided to do an internship that would require me to live somewhere else for the spring semester. This was kind of a crazy time for me, it cut my year in half and all of a sudden I had to move myself out of my dorm. Again, I wasn’t done with finals until Friday, so I had all week to stress out about packing up all the things I had unpacked only a few months earlier. That didn’t happen until Thursday night. Yes, I procrastinate. Luckily, my roommate is also my best friend, and offered her house as my next “storage unit.” This worked out perfectly, as I had no car and no way of actually moving my stuff from point A to point B. Her aunt gave me a ride to her house, and I flew home from there for Christmas break, putting college on hold until the next summer. My advice to you: when you know you will be moving in/out/in/out multiple times in one year, minimize the things you have to the things you need. It will make your life a lot easier.

By my junior year I had finally learned a few things. We moved into our apartment in August, and it would be the fourth place I had lived in 10 months. That’s a lot of moving. And let me tell you, I have never been more annoyed with the amount of things I own. Where does this stuff all come from?! Anyway. We decided to renew the lease for this year, which meant NO MORE moving for us! Oh, what a beautiful thing. The only packing I’ve done since then are the two (um, HUGE) suitcases that I bring home with me for breaks. You’d be amazed at what I can fit into those things. Seriously, master-of-packing. Right here. Roll your shirts and pants (instead of folding), and you can fit twice the amount. 

Now here I am, faced with the fact that my things have not moved, but have accumulated for two years. I don’t want to box them up, for more than one reason. It’s so weird to think I’m done here; this is not where I “live” anymore.

My best friends won’t always be my roommates. My apartment complex won’t always be full of other students, and there won’t always be housing events like “Free Breakfast” during finals. 

I’m still working on where I’ll be living next year, while trying to ignore the fact that I’m finishing up here.

I found out last Sunday that I got accepted to my top choice internship/graduate program. I’m SO excited!! There are tons of “pros” that go along with this, aside from the fact that I obviously love the program itself (otherwise it wouldn’t be my top choice, right? Right.)

It’s not too far from where I go to school now. Which is great because it means I can get a storage space here, and not have to haul everything I own across the country this summer, just to do it again next Fall. Although I’m even sure that’d be possible, the car would probably refuse to move.  This also means that I can visit for football weekends, roommate reunions, etc.!

I’ll still be on the East coast, which I’m strangely excited about. I thought as soon as I was finished with school I’d be right back in that warm desert sunshine that I know and love. I thought I’d be over this whole really-cold-winters and short-lived-warm-season thing that they’ve got going over here. I thought I’d need to be closer to my family. That would be wonderful, but I’m surviving.  This will give me a chance to explore some of the cities that I haven’t seen yet, and revisit the ones I haven’t seen enough of. Who lives on the East coast for four years and never goes to see NYC around Christmas time??!?! Oh, me. Let’s fix that. And see a Broadway show while we’re at it.

I know one other girl from my school that is going there too. There are eight interns total, so the odds of “knowing” somebody was slim.  Nutrition isn’t really a huge major, so we’ve had a lot of classes together in the last three years.  We aren’t really “friends”, yet, but it will be SO nice to have a familiar face around.

So, I only have one issue. Where should I live? The town I go to school in now is super small, a little “University Bubble,” if you will. It’s not necessarily a city, and is completely centered around the school. Most of the apartment complexes are close to campus, and house “students” only. Basically, I’ve never really had to think too hard about the whole living situation. I did the dorm thing for two years, and I’ve been in the same apartment for two years.

Now that I know where I’ll be next year, I have to figure out how to actually be there.  This has consisted of constant searches on sites like apartmentguide.com, realtor.com, Craig’s list…..you see where I’m going. In addition to that, I’ll be extremely close to (if not IN) a big city. I’ll spend a lot of time with public transportation, and interstates, and carpools.  Not the campus bus, or leisure walk to class that I’ve gotten so used to. Hello, real world.

I’ve been in contact with another intern so we are trying to find something together, which helps. This is one of those things that we’ll figure out the hard way, look back on, and think: Wow, that could have been SO much easier. Alas, that’s how you learn.

And my life after college begins….

For the last two years it has been pretty easy for me to decide my summer plans. I spent the entire Spring semester of my sophomore year doing an internship.  It was one of the best experiences I’ve had, but it also meant taking a semester off.  I used the next two summers to catch up on classes so that I didn’t have to spend any semester taking 20+ credits (which is possible, but not preferable).  So I spent them here, in a suddenly empty college town, working part time and staying in school mode.

Times have changed.  I have (almost) completed every requirement, earned all the credits, and will be graduating in three weeks. Plus, I just found out last night that I have been accepted into my Top Choice Graduate/Internship program!! It’s so rewarding to know that four years of this college life has taken me where I want to go.

There is only one problem.  While I’ve had the same job on campus for two years, and I’ve continued to work for the company I did the internship with (promoting and recruiting new students each semester), I have no clinical work experience.  Part of my internship next year will be a 16-week clinical rotation, working with a dietitian, and prescribing diets for patients.  I’ve never worked in a hospital. I’ve never worked in a clinic.  I’ve never worked with a Registered Dietitian (RD).

Ehhhh…

So, the only answer was to fix that. While I was home for Spring Break I weighed the options.  It hadn’t occurred to me that I could actually be HOME for the summer, as this hasn’t happened in three years. It was enticing, but also felt like I’d be leaving behind my college life so quickly.  My other options would be to stay here again and work (no!) or live in a nearby city, work, and sublet an apartment (expensive!). The choice was pretty obvious…. 

Our regional hospital has a specific number of spots open for summer interns. They require that you are in a healthcare major, and registered as a full-time student. Check. Check. I filled out an application, and wrote the cover letter stating my career goals and future plans.  You can work in any department, depending on your interests. I want to work with the RD on staff. I don’t know yet what that will actually mean. I’ll probably job-shadow for a few days to get an overall idea of what the job is like; visiting patients, analyzing diets, prescribing diets, working with the food service staff, etc.  Then, I’ll probably move on to smaller projects and odd jobs. I’m SO excited about working in a hospital.  A year ago I thought it was something I would never want to do. I’m not real sure what happened between then and now (lots of learning in class? Hmmm…), but I’m definitely ready to learn more through “hands-on” experience.

Plus, I get to hang out with my family, save money, and have the perfect job to prepare me for next year. All the while, enjoying what will probably be my last summer.  When it’s over, I’ll be headed right back up to the East coast for the next chapter in my life.

Well, I started reading her blog, and I really liked it.

*wheels start turning…*

I had always said I wanted to be a writer. Not as in short stories and novels, not as in flowery fiction romantic whatevers, and not as in memoirs or biographies. I wanted to be a writer as in, I Love this web site and I want to write stuff like That! And it hit me; if I want to write for a web site, why not start by writing for my own??

That’s basically what these blogs are, right? This is MY page. My web site. This is me, now. I put whatever I want on this blog. I even control how it looks (umm…to an extent. Hi, I have no idea how to write a CSS or HTML code, but I wish I did!!). Sure, it’s not going to show up if you put my full name into a “Google” search, but it’s here and it’s mine. Some people who know me know about it, but I’m not passing out fliers to advertise it.

I will admit it took me a while to actually do it. It scared me that my writing would be accessible to the public. It’s here for all to see, which also means it’s here for all to criticize or to love. But that’s the reality of writing, is it not? If I want to have opportunities to do it in the future, I have to have something to show for it, right? I have to know that I’m okay with knowing that anybody can see these words. That’s the point of having web sites and magazines in the first place. You want people to read them!

So my personal blog was born. It started off a little rough, but I’ve gotten used to writing about the everyday things and the cooking things and the little weird things about me. I don’t go too in depth about anything personal, and probably never will. I’m not sure why, maybe it’ll come at some time.
Now here I am, a few months later, and I blog because…..

…now I have had the opportunity to take the next step! I was contacted by someone who saw my personal blog and now I write for JobWeb once a week, about my life now  and over the next year or so. Graduating, job-searching, baking, working, shopping, running…..the things I learn and want to pass on to you in the process.

…Now I am addicted to writing and reading a lot of other great blogs!

…I love what it has allowed me to do with my writing, and I love how my writing has changed because of it. I also love that I actually write. I find myself going through each day thinking about what topic I want to do next! When something weird/entertaining happens to me, I think…. “I should blog about that.” I guess in many ways it has turned me into a story-teller. 

 I was even able to mention my blog in an interview I had for my top-choice graduate program in January.  It was an example of how I’m learning to use technology, and how I think it can be used as a valuable tool for education.  Almost every company, big or small, has a web site.  This would mean they have to hire people to manage, create, and write for that web site. It can say whatever they want it to, and portray whatever message they choose; much like this little blog of mine. 

…It allows me to meet some pretty fabulous people, and exchange fabulous e-mails! Because really, who isn’t addicted to e-mail? Don’t lie. I also met someone who gave me tips while I was training for the race, plus she loves Stacy & Clinton as much as I do!

Anyway. Hi, I’m Heather. I’m totally a blogger.

41 days (until graduation)
6 homework assignments
6 quizzes
3 exams
2 papers
2 finals
1 presentation

It’s crunch time! It’s that time of the year where everything seems to pile up.  You suddenly have test after test, followed by assignments out of nowhere and a 15-minute presentation on something you will supposedly “know” everything about.  Today I overheard two people talking about how we only have four weeks of classes left.  My internal response: Um, what?!? How did that happen?!

The last few weekends have been so busy, and gone by so fast.  I’ve traveled at least one day out of all of them, cutting each one short. Then I’m jam-packing homework into a Sunday afternoon without the ability to concentrate because I just want to watch the crappy TV and lounge around.   I would like to say that the “nice spring weather” is also adding to the mix, but that has been somewhat non-existent.  It’s coming though, not to worry!

Soon the apartment pool will open up, the restaurants downtown will set up patios so we can have a beer in the afternoon instead of a 50-minute lecture, and the grass will be green and inviting.  It will be warm and relaxing and even sunny on the good days.  It will be all the things that remind us that summer is quickly approaching, and school is almost done.  All the things that make us want to forget about the numbers above and slip on that “I don’t care” attitude, because in a few weeks we won’t have to.

As students, it doesn’t get any better than this. Instead of looking forward to a three-week “holiday” break, we look forward to three months of summer. We have time to get out of school mode, make some money, and enjoy weekends that aren’t plagued with deadlines. But as seniors, it couldn’t be more bittersweet.  We’ll relax and bask in our laziness, knowing that we’re doing this all (hopefully) for the last time.  Yet we know that the end of the next four weeks is actually the end of the last four years. 

For now, I have the strategy of getting things done early and having time to play. And by early, I mean what every student does: completed before midnight the day it’s due. We’ll see how that goes.  I’m not guaranteeing anything, except that it will get finished somehow.  And I will enjoy myself!

My friend, LB, and I arrived a little too early to pick up our race packets, and proceeded to freeze in the unexpected chilly morning temps.  We went against our better judgment and assumed that we'd be warm while running, and the cold 35 degrees wouldn't bother us one bit. Ehhhh. We were wrong. I wore the stretch pants that I've been training in, which was smart. But I paired it with a cute sports top I bought from Target on Friday, which was sleeveless. Not smart. I had a sweatshirt on (that I put in my bag before we started—there's no way I could've run in it), so I had no other option but to hope that my arms didn't fall off.  Luckily LB saved the day and gave me her gloves because she had sleeves to hide her hands in.

As we lined up to start the race, I went to get my iPod ready. Turns out it was cold too. The touch pad was hardly working, and I couldn't get it to "select" or "scroll down."  Ahh! After trying to warm it up and messing with it for about five minutes, I finally got it onto my “exercise” playlist and prayed it would stay there, which it did.

Race officials warned us that within the first half mile there was a big hill; don’t start off too strong and save some energy. As we started up the incline I could feel my left sock slowly coming off with each step. Awesome. I stepped off to the side to quickly pull it up, and within two seconds it was off again. All right, sock, I'm not looking to play games here. You want to be difficult and hang out just off the heel? Fine. And that's where it stayed the entire race.
So with the iPod being moody and the sock deciding on a different position for the day, I'm off to a great start right?

I found my pace, and after about four miles I looked around and realized that these are the people who will be running the rest of the race with me. I'll pass them a few times, and they'll step up and pass me every now and then. But we're all on the same page, and running in step with each other. One girl, wearing light pink pants with a black long-sleeved shirt, had a loose pony-tail that drove me crazy. I hate when my hair moves more than I do. She seemed okay with it. One guy, who looked about 55, had on a thick grey shirt and black sweatpants. He was barely picking up his feet between each step, which made it appear that he was running much slower than he really was. This made me think I should be moving faster than he was, and sometimes that was the case. But he always came back to join me. One lady was breathing so hard that I could tell when she was close to me because her exhale was louder than JT in my headphones. Another lady raised her hands to the sky every so often. Apparently gospel music helps her keep on keepin' on.

When I saw the 10-mile marker, I felt elated. My pace went up a notch because I was thinking, “All I have left is a 5K….easy!” I wasn’t tired yet, and I still had three miles in me, no problem.  I already knew what lay ahead, because we had passed through the finish line at the end of the first loop. I had a few small hills, twists and turns, and a speed bump to conquer before it was over.

My music finally died at mile 12, unexpectedly, in the middle of the song I had been waiting for. I was left to my own thoughts for the last 1.1 miles….

How did 12 miles go by that fast?? How did the last four years go by even faster?  When you realize you’re (only!?) halfway through, you feel exhausted. It’s the same old routine: classes, papers, exams, breaks, and then starting all over again knowing what’s ahead. When I started the second loop of the [half-marathon] trail, I knew what to anticipate. I knew where the hills would be, and I knew where it would be flat and smooth.  But when you come around the last corner, you have no idea what you’re in for. All of the training that you’ve done in the last four weeks, or learning for the past four years, comes together.  You know there’s one mile left—or one semester—and it’s nothing like what you expect. Instead of being bored and tired, you’re excited and pushing yourself to finish. You know that when you finally cross the finish line, the feeling of accomplishment you’ll get makes everything worth it. 

The night before, I set a goal for completing the race in less than two hours, figuring that was reasonable. I sped up around the last corner and I saw the end. As I got closer the timer came into focus, and it read “1:48:40.”  I did it!! I felt the adrenaline and sped up.

Sometimes in the rush of all the school stuff, and the going out, and the studying, and the activities, you forget to do things for yourself. I did this for Me.

A minute later I crossed the finish line, and I’ve never felt better!

When will I be considered an “adult?” When will I think of myself as an adult? When will I be treated like an adult?

Once you turn 18, you are “legally” considered an adult. Once you graduate high school, move away, and are finally in college, you want to think you’re an adult. Once you turn 21 and can finally buy drinks for yourself and go to bars, you think you’ll feel like an adult. Once you finally plan and take a trip with your friends, books flights, hotels, and transportation, you want to be treated like an adult (if only while on the trip). Once you have to deal with rude landlords and useless secretaries at the apartment office, you want to be respected as an adult.

However, in my experience, none of the above situations will result in the outcome you hope for. You are looked at as a “college kid.” Just a student. You clearly do not have the life experience or intelligence, to know what you’ve gotten yourself into.  No. No. You still have lots of learning left to do.

So as I enter into my last semester of college, I’m still left wondering when that moment will come….

Well, I found my moment. 

It started with “the call.” With someone on the other end of the line sounding eager and excited to talk to me, telling me that my [internship] application packet looks great, telling me that she “would love to schedule an interview.” At the end of this…very…week.  So I schedule the interview, and I’m excited, and I’m nervous, and I’m ready.

No this wasn’t a “first.” I’ve had plenty of interviews in my 20+ years of life. But they were all for jobs that held little or no significance to me. Part-time jobs. Jobs that bring in the cash, keep me busy, and give me some “experience” to list on the next résumé. But this is different. This is an interview for my top-choice graduate/internship program.  This interview is for something that will determine things in my near future. Where I live, where I network, where I get a job, where I start my career. This interview requires some preparation.

I spent the day before the interview doing a lot of different things; buying a business suit jacket (Sidenote: When you buy black pants, just buy the jacket too! Because it is nearly impossible to match a jacket to pants, especially pinstripes. Seriously. Impossible. I had to abandon the pinstripes and settle for just black.), putting together my portfolio, practicing my answers to questions like “Is there anything else we should know about you?” and the like, and printing the directions for going there AND coming back. (Yes, it’s important to do both. Simply reversing the directions from one way does not work, FYI. Believe me!)

I left for the interview super early to allow myself at least three hours to get lost and find where I needed to go. Which, sadly, was completely necessary. But I made it! I felt good about my presentation and my answers. I knew I did well. I drove back to my apartment just in time for a night out and some drinks with my best friends.

That’s when I felt like an adult.

feelings about the East Coast. I’m still not a big-city person, but I do love having so many cool places within a few hours.

I have the best roommates in the world and will miss them dearly when this is all over.

I love to travel, cook (and bake), read, write, create, learn, run, shop,do crosswords, make cards, drive, make music mixes, and do the family thing.

I’m a dork, and I own it. This explains me pretty well. 

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
-Walt Disney

I did my own laundry for the first time as a freshman, in college.

I can’t locate Yemen on a map.

I don’t know the capitals of all 50 states.

I probably chew gum too much.

I will always love Disney World, no matter how old I am.

I’m kind of a science nerd.

I never leave Target without a purchase.

I wish my sister and I were actually twins.

I get bored by the end of the football game.

I am definitely a neat freak.

I still know all the words to N’Sync songs (and to that I should probably add Christina, Britney, Spice girls….).

I am a dork. I own it.

I don’t care what the temperature is as long as the SUN is out.

I am a facebook stalker, on occasion.

I don’t know if I’m ready for a “real” job…..ehhh.

I have read all of the Harry Potter books (some more than once…).

I don’t get sick of watching “You’ve Got Mail”, and probably know every line.

I hate the movie “A Christmas Story”.

I secretly aspire to be a chef.

I consider “Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging” the funniest book ever written. Ever.

I never know when to use who/whom.

I probably eat too much candy. Reese’s and “gummies” are my faves.

I laugh at a joke while I’m still trying to “get it” in my head.

I tend to tell stories more than once (not on purpose!).

I am somewhat of a bookworm. A good book is satisfying.

I never want to move out of 134.

I had a place set aside in my room for when I won the “Krag Rock”on Nicolodeon’s “GUTS”.

I loooove to go out dancing.

I think vacuuming makes everything look clean.

I am addicted to crossword puzzles and Sudokus.

I can’t leave the apartment without making my bed.

I am a roller-coaster fanatic.

I really like country music. And hip-hop. And funk. And Louie Armstrong. And a lot of other things.

I enjoy watching “The Girls Next Door”.

I love the feeling of an airplane taking off….but I get scared every time it lands.

I am the #1 fan of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, and ride!

I ask myself if Stacy and Clinton (”What Not to Wear” anybody?) would “approve” of things before I buy them….They have some valuable opinions!

I will always be in the “mood” for ice-cream.

My interest in these mini-magazines started at home when my mom began receiving them in the mail. This was far before I had acquired my interest in food, nutrition, and cooking; the days of browsing colorful pictures of Kraft mac-n-cheese variations and dreaming of those Jell-o pudding pies. The days when all I knew about cooking was how to boil water… and of course add the butter, milk, and cheese packet to those macaroni noodles. Also the days when recipes for innovative appetizers, simple lunch ideas, family dinners, and fresh new twists on classic deserts carried the magazine themselves.

Don’t get me wrong, this magazine is still full of all these things, and they’ve even expanded the wide array of what are labeled “Healthy Living” recipes. Yet, these staples tend to stand in the shadows of brand names for every ingredient, full page advertisements for crackers and pizza, and even two page spreads of “What’s New” on the market for brands that are now within the Kraft family.

For those who may not know, Kraft is the #1 food company in the United States. Somebody’s doing their job right! They’ve expanded to include Jacobs, Milka, Nabisco, Philadelphia (cream cheese anybody?), Oscar Meyer, and Post. (Source: Yahoo! Finance) Not that I wouldn’t brag if my company was #1 in the U.S., but when I’m looking for a fun new recipe to try and cook for my roommates sometime soon (yes, roomies, always thinking of you ) I don’t want to see a full page ad telling me how easy & delicious frozen pizza will be if I just heat it up!

Alright, Kraft…I can only be upset for so long. The truth is that even if the magazine inflated to 100 pages (with half of them being advertisements), but kept its heart of fabulous foods, healthy options, decadent deserts, quick-tips and up-with-the-times articles…I’m 100% content.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to fold in the corners of those irresistible recipes that I fully intend to cook for those lovely roommates of mine…soon…

Another wonderful resource that Kraft has set up is their web site: www.kraftfoods.com 

Check this out! I can’t say enough good things about this site! You can search everything from 20-minute dinners to crafty seasonal deserts. You can set up your own “recipe box”, essentially “bookmarking” those dinners that you know you’ll make…someday. Users can also rate recipes so you know which to try and which to pass-up, or maybe change-up to your own likings.

Number one indicator that I’m awake in the morning: our apartment smells of warm maple syrup and brown sugar.

I never skip breakfast. Honestly, I can’t do it. I love breakfast. I love sitting down, with my warm bowl of oatmeal (topped with raisins and maple syrup), and enjoying my first, most important, meal of the day. Even those mornings when the alarm clock doesn’t do the trick, or I spend too much time checking email/perusing the internet, or I’m just moving slowly and definitely running late…I have my breakfast.

As a nutrition major, I have been educated on all the reasons we should eat breakfast. A well-balanced breakfast can:
-Jump start your metabolism, kicking it in gear for the rest of the day!
-Help us focus and perform better in the mornings
-Prevent over-eating later in the day
-Provide a boost of energy that most of us can definitely use in the morning!
-Help get in all the nutrients you need every day
Calcium is something that most of us don’t get enough of, but it’s in a lot of breakfast foods including cereal (milk), oatmeal, yogurt, cream-cheese, and even Calcium-fortified Orange Juice!
-Give the body energy that it needs to engage in physical activities

All these things aside; it’s five minutes of your morning where you can sit, relax, eat and enjoy. Then, feeling satisfied and energized, get on with the rest of your day!

I have to give credit to those roommates of mine; great breakfast makers! Especially on Sunday mornings…

Larisa: queen of the pancakes!
Sally Jo: master of eggs, potatoes, and incorporating Ketchup!
Emily: best breakfast-sandwich-maker, no doubt!

…one of my favorite parts of the weekend.

This weekend I made chili, from scratch. No recipe or list, just a big pot of whatever I wanted to include. I realized that this is honestly the first thing I can “cook” without any sort of reference or guideline. Being from the Southwest, I found this appropriate and have decided to share the list of ingredients so that you can cook chili too…My way!

1 can kidney beans (can substitute and/or add black beans too)
2 cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup onions, diced
1 cup green peppers, diced (feel free to add/substitute red and yellow peppers as well!)
1 lb ground beef (if you’re going for a slightly healthier version, use lean ground beef)
1 packet taco seasoning
1 1/2 cup chunky salsa
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp chili powder

Spray a non-stick pan with cooking spray, heat & brown the ground beef. Once it’s browned, add the Taco seasoning (use directions on packet, they vary according to which brand you use).
In a large pot, combine the following: beans, tomatoes, celery, onions, peppers, salsa, sugar and the meat (when it’s finished). Stir this all together and bring to a boil. Add the salt, pepper and chili powder. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes (or until the diced vegetables are tender).

Done! Easy, right?! And it’s sooo good! The salsa is definitely optional, and feel free to use more/less depending on how spicy you like things. I like to use a little more, it adds a lot of flavor and I love the spice! I got this idea from my mom, good stuff.

You can also top it off with some shredded cheddar, crunched up tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream, or the new onion-flavored Premium crackers. Mmmmmm. This is also a healthy meal when using lean ground beef, and a great source of protein (from beans and meat), fiber (beans), and lots of vegetables!

I’d say this recipe makes about 5 servings (approx. 1 1/2 cups each), and takes about 30 minutes all together. Pretty quick and super easy. Plus it’s the perfect way to warm-up after a cold rainy/snowy day. Along with a nice cuppa’ tea of course

Finals are over, and the semester is done.
I’ve traveled afar, to a place that sees sun.
Back in the Southwest with my family and friends,
to celebrate the holidays and bring the new year in.

It feels wonderful to finally be back home for a nice loooong break from school! With no homework or tests to think about I can actually relax. Since arriving last night I have unpacked, finished Christmas shopping, and baked S’mores brownies. My sister is always baking something, so these were the first of many delicious desserts that I’m sure will be made over the next three weeks. She is a freshman in college this year, but already plans on getting a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, and then going on to Culinary School to specialize in Pastry Arts. Basically, we always have good desserts on hand. We love to go through magazines like Cooking Light (be weary of the cookies, but everything else is usually So good!), Kraft (of course!), and Bon Apetit. The recipes in Bon Apetit are usually a little more complex, but she’s learning and every time I’m home she is making something more and more complicated. Yummyyyy.

Today we went with something simple, the S’mores Brownies. This recipe can be found on the side of the box of brownie mix. As usual, we added a little “twist.” Obviously if you love s’mores, it doesn’t get any better than this! Except for the fireside golden-brown marshmellow melting the chocolate on the graham cracker. BUT, since most of us are spending out time inside during the winter, these make a perfect match!

S’mores Brownies

1 box Brownie Mix
3 cups Mini-Marshmellows
5 Honey Graham Crackers (crushed)
1 cup Peanut Butter Chips

Prepare the brownies as directed on the box. Bake for the time designated in the recipe (Or, if you prefer your brownies a little “soft” like we do…bake for about 3 minutes less). After they have baked and are still warm from the oven, add the marshmellows and peanut butter chips on the top. Place the browneis back in the oven for 2 minutes. Top with the crushed graham crackers.

Eat & Enjoy!!!

What my brain failed to inform me this morning was that it was going to go ahead and have a little ADD today.

Once I get to the gym, I notice that the treadmill I usually use is “Out Of Order.” Great. The only other two treadmills available are right in front of a mirror. I hate that. I can’t ever decide where to look, and when I watch myself I get dizzy because my brain tries to process that I’m running, but not going anywhere. Weird. Guess what this leads to…..Gym ADD (aka, not being able to think about one thing for more than 2 seconds. Thus making a 30 minute run feel like houurssss.)

Start off at a slow pace. Warm it up. Prepare the sore thighs.

Girl next to me is wearing a sweatshirt. On a treadmill, what’s that about?