About Jessica
I will be graduating from the DPD program at Bradley University in May, 2010. After finishing up my undergraduate I will be relocating to Texas to complete my Dietetic Internship at the University of Houston! I currently teach group fitness classes, including PiYo (a class meshing Pilates with yoga) and total body conditioning (TBC). Although I am nearing the end, I remain very involved as a student, working closely with professors as well as local dietitians, constantly looking to expand my network.
As I move forward in becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD), I am continually working to take risks and expose myself to new areas of practice within the profession. I have discovered it is these circumstances that build character. It is these conditions that were present when I blossomed from a reserved and uninvolved student to one who thrives on constant involvement. My participation began with the Dietetic Student Association, and quickly expanded to Kappa Omicron Nu, RK Team Nutrition, the Cancer Center for Healthy Living, and beyond.
With a desire to remain current in the field, I constantly expose myself to new and unique areas of dietetics practice. Being goal-oriented I strive for continual improvement, seeking opportunities and varying approaches on educating individuals to lead a healthy lifestyle. My creativity prevails as I challenge myself to work with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Through numerous volunteer experiences and shadowing opportunities, I have determined that I would enjoy beginning my career as a school district or university dietitian, working in a fast paced environment with growing individuals who are still forming their lifestyle patterns. My passion in teaching group fitness classes has driven me in the direction of sports dietetics. I would like to become a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics within 10 years of completing my dietetic internship. Combining these two professional roles would allow me to continue working with the school while furthering my involvement through consultation with sports teams and athletes, whether grade school or college.
Although determined to fulfill these career goals, my lifelong goal is to motivate others to lead a healthier lifestyle, and most importantly, to build a relationship with each client, focusing on his or her specific objectives. My self-motivation and ability to challenge myself has led to the level of engagement I currently maintain; exposure to new organizations and areas of practice, which I once feared, have become an aspect of my studies that I thrive off of, one that enlivens me. I know that as a future dietetic intern and RD I will continue to venture into unfamiliar areas of practice, advancing my knowledge base as well as my clientele. As an RD, I will aid in the prevention of disease and work to fight child obesity, utilizing my skills to provide lifelong service to the community.
