I am currently a full-time online student in NUNM's Master of Science in Nutrition program. The flexibility of the online program has allowed me to continue working while completing classes. With that said, alongside what I'm learning in class, I'm also learning to perfect my time management skills, self-discipline, and virtual communication skills.I couldn't be happier with my choice of program. My professors are incredibly talented individuals who genuinely care about the wellbeing and futures of their students, and the courses they teach have offered incomparable insight to the field of nutrition. I look forward to completing my second year, as well as the clinical requirements necessary to become a CNS.

In addition to my role at BID-Plymouth, I work at The Village of Duxbury as a bartender and server. My previous experiences working with older adults (and the cost of graduate school) inspired me to apply, and I'm so happy I did! I absolutely love working at The Village.Similar to my experience at Caley Ridge, I'm able to connect with the residents personally and often have conversations with them about nutrition and general wellness. I am inspired by this population. That said, I look forward to working with both older and young adults as a future CNS.

I began working at BID-Plymouth while the pandemic was still in full swing. Despite being somewhat intimidated by the hospital environment and the threat of COVID-19, I was excited to gain relevant experience by interacting with patients.It has now been over three years since I began working at BID-Plymouth, and my role as a dietary aide has provided valuable experience. Serving patients in a hospital setting is a special kind of customer service that requires strong interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, empathy, and patience. It also requires attention to detail, especially when ensuring that the correct patient receives the correct meal according to their assigned diet. Finally, implementing infection control guidelines and sanitation have remained crucial aspects of my role at BID-Plymouth.The BID-Plymouth team is an admirable workforce that I am proud to be part of!

In the Fall of 2023, I had the opportunity to live in Colorado for 4 months. In need of work, I applied to Caley Ridge Assisted Living. Though brief, I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend working at Caley Ridge. As a server in the dining room, I got to know each of the residents personally by serving them multiple times each shift. After just a few weeks, I'd memorized the names, needs, and unique nutritional preferences of each resident that came to the dining room. This was yet another great opportunity to learn more about senior nutrition.It was such a pleasure getting to know the residents and care staff at Caley Ridge!

In addition to working at Caley Ridge Assisted Living during my short time living in Colorado, I worked a couple days a week at NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop. In this fast-paced environment, I prepared sandwiches, smoothies, and coffee for both in-person customers and mobile order customers alike. Aside from one cook in the back of house, my boss and I were the only employees running the rest of the shop. We each jumped back and forth between the register and the kitchen to maintain efficiency. The busy atmosphere and high demand were often stressful; however, this taught me how to work under pressure while maintaining food safety and quality.

I met Alex Eaves during my time as president of the Bridgewater State University Environmental Action Team. After coming to campus for our annual Earth Day Fair, Alex invited me to work for him as a new business development specialist. I appreciate the work he does and I admire his mission, so it was a pleasure to work for Alex over the summer.I was responsible for maintaining communication with current relationships as well as establishing new business relationships. I set up film screenings of Alex's documentaries with schools, universities, and organizations and assisted in the development of contracts and pitches. This position was a great opportunity for me to refresh my Microsoft Excel skills as well as practice event organization and formal business communication.

As a staff member of the Bridgewater State University Health and Kinesiology Department, I was responsible for maintaining the department's social media pages, managing the department's equipment and supplies, and updating the department's websites, among other responsibilities.This position gave me a taste of administration and allowed me to make more connections with professors from my undergraduate program while supporting the department.

At the Cole-Yeaton Senior Center in Bridgewater, I had the opportunity to connect with members of the community and share with them what my nutrition courses at Bridgewater taught me. Through one-on-one discussions with various residents, I was able to better understand the nutritional challenges faced by older adults in Bridgewater. Monthly presentations allowed me to discuss various topics regarding senior nutrition with a larger audience and perfect the art of trifold pamphlets. As a nutrition intern, my final project was to investigate a particular nutrition issue observed when collaborating with the seniors and create a case study.

Working at my grandfather's general store was the perfect summer job. Food safety, sanitation, and food preparation were core skills provided by this role; however, the most valuable skill I gained from this position is customer service. In a world where younger generations struggle with face-to-face communication, I feel grateful to have learned how to handle various challenging situations with customers in a mature, respectful manner. Though this was simply a convenient summer job, it laid the foundation for future positions requiring strong interpersonal skills.

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is a magical place. As my first job, I was able to work in the art room with children aged 4 to 15. With guidance by our supervisor, my coworkers and I had the opportunity to plan, organize, and oversee art projects for the kids. We also encouraged creativity and fostered imagination by letting the members create independently.As a staff member, I was responsible for encouraging good behavior among club members and reporting any poor behavior to the program director. Working with kids builds character! Teaching them how to share supplies, listen to the staff, and be kind to each other was not always easy, but it was an incredibly valuable learning experience.