My first experience was enlisting in the United States Navy at the age of twenty. In the Navy, I was a flight deck director where I manage multiple responsibilities that reinforced my abilities to work under pressure, be adaptable and have perseverance. I participated in the orchestration of hundreds of crew members for the launch and recovery efforts during combat support missions on board the Aircraft Carrier George H. W. Bush, CVN 77. The military bestowed the greatest confidence in myself in order to conquer any given task while motivating others. Another experience that better prepared me was my time spent as a student at Norfolk State University. The didactic program built rich foundations of knowledge in food, exercise science and nutrition. As a student I had a healthy balance of academics, sport participation, work and volunteering. I enjoyed the involvement in community development providing nutrition and exercise awareness. I created and implemented educational materials, presentations and nutrition assessments for; health fairs, community organizations, elementary schools, conferences and club assignments. Lastly, the greatest experiences that best prepared me for the career in dietetics are my years working in medical facilities. As a patient line chef at Riverside Regional Medical Center I had …show more content…
My strongest traits are being self-motivated, my reverence for nature and people, mindfulness, self-progression and flexibility. My areas of weakness were my lack of self confidence, sensitivity and impatience. To elaborate on my progression, my growth started in the military where I was subjected to a variety of stresses. These constant exposures allowed me to build confidence in myself and trust in others. I learned to follow respectfully, keep an open mind and to lead humbly. Along with that, Riverside and the VA Medical Center allowed me to express transparency. I learned the importance of being direct in my communications and to not take situations personally. Adding to that, working in hospitals requires an acceptance for ambiguity. My team members and the patients respond and react uniquely where I found it best to slow down and appreciate each person’s wants, needs and