Employment
Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant in BYU's Microbiology Department
I once heard, if you don't like bacteria--you're living on the wrong planet. Although microorganisms are often believed to be dangerous and undesirable in our lives, microorganisms play an important role in our digestive tract and in creating delicious foods we all enjoy. However, all things in moderation. Throughout my work as a Microbiology Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant I came to further appreciate food safety and and the role bacteria plays in this world. Not only have I loved the material I present to the class, but I have loved the opportunity to teach and grow in my path as a future dietitian. Over the past two years, I have grown a love for teaching and helping my students understand the material they are required. I have learned how to adequately prepare for lessons and how to instruct the class on the procedures of the lab with minimal confusion. This opportunity has provided me with an experience to increase my knowledge about microorganisms and practice my love for teaching.
I once heard, if you don't like bacteria--you're living on the wrong planet. Although microorganisms are often believed to be dangerous and undesirable in our lives, microorganisms play an important role in our digestive tract and in creating delicious foods we all enjoy. However, all things in moderation. Throughout my work as a Microbiology Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant I came to further appreciate food safety and and the role bacteria plays in this world. Not only have I loved the material I present to the class, but I have loved the opportunity to teach and grow in my path as a future dietitian. Over the past two years, I have grown a love for teaching and helping my students understand the material they are required. I have learned how to adequately prepare for lessons and how to instruct the class on the procedures of the lab with minimal confusion. This opportunity has provided me with an experience to increase my knowledge about microorganisms and practice my love for teaching.
Cook at The Courtyard at Jamestown Assisted Living
From temperature control to proper documentation of production schedules, being a cook at Jamestown was the best possible job to put my food service management and food production knowledge to the test. I worked as the cook preparing delicious, gourmet meals for the residences of Jamestown such as Chateaubriand topped with béarnaise sauce or fresh baked Tilapia with tomato florintine on the side. After starting this job, I quickly learned that life in the food service industry is not for the weak. Food hazards can occur within each step of the food production process and without proper attention to detail, the health of those living within the community are at stake. My appreciation for the time and dedication that food service managers give to produce effective food service systems has grown tremendously and I was able to get a further understanding and insights on food production.
Courtyard at Jamestown Assisted Living Website
From temperature control to proper documentation of production schedules, being a cook at Jamestown was the best possible job to put my food service management and food production knowledge to the test. I worked as the cook preparing delicious, gourmet meals for the residences of Jamestown such as Chateaubriand topped with béarnaise sauce or fresh baked Tilapia with tomato florintine on the side. After starting this job, I quickly learned that life in the food service industry is not for the weak. Food hazards can occur within each step of the food production process and without proper attention to detail, the health of those living within the community are at stake. My appreciation for the time and dedication that food service managers give to produce effective food service systems has grown tremendously and I was able to get a further understanding and insights on food production.
Courtyard at Jamestown Assisted Living Website
Attendant at BYU's Athletic Nutrition Center
Nutrition is essential for optimal energy during physical activity and BYU encourages their athletic teams to perform their best through the help of the nutrition center. The nutrition center provides an opportunity for athletes to grab nutrient dense foods after practice such as chocolate milk, Good2Go bars, and fresh fruit. Knowing me and my co-workers were dietetic students, we were often asked basic sports nutrition questions that we were able to share our knowledge and encourage athletes to visit BYU's Sport's Dietitian, Rachel Higginson for further counseling.
I had a blast promoting nutrition in any way we found possible. For National Nutrition Month, Rachel Higginson wanted the nutrition center to make an extra effort to spread the health conscious ideas for athletes. We loved encouraging athletes to eat their servings of fruits and vegetables to help their team win the grand prize at the end of the month while sharing fun and easy recipes that would help them stay healthy and strong.
Nutrition is essential for optimal energy during physical activity and BYU encourages their athletic teams to perform their best through the help of the nutrition center. The nutrition center provides an opportunity for athletes to grab nutrient dense foods after practice such as chocolate milk, Good2Go bars, and fresh fruit. Knowing me and my co-workers were dietetic students, we were often asked basic sports nutrition questions that we were able to share our knowledge and encourage athletes to visit BYU's Sport's Dietitian, Rachel Higginson for further counseling.
I had a blast promoting nutrition in any way we found possible. For National Nutrition Month, Rachel Higginson wanted the nutrition center to make an extra effort to spread the health conscious ideas for athletes. We loved encouraging athletes to eat their servings of fruits and vegetables to help their team win the grand prize at the end of the month while sharing fun and easy recipes that would help them stay healthy and strong.
Food Service Cast Member at Walt Disney World
Through Disney's competitive interview process, I was selected to be apart of the Disney College Program Experience for the Summer of 2013. I was selected to work in Animal Kingdom as part of Restaurantosaurus where I worked in the front and back of the house in food preparation. Being a well-respected company, Disney took great pride in teaching their cast members about proper cooking and holding temperatures, efficiency in production, and of course delicious and creative products.
Because of the education I learned from the Walt Disney Company's high standards in food preparation, I have been able to give advice and share my knowledge to other co-workers and even my professors based on techniques and training I learned while there.
Awards and comments from my co-workers at Restaurantosaurus
Through Disney's competitive interview process, I was selected to be apart of the Disney College Program Experience for the Summer of 2013. I was selected to work in Animal Kingdom as part of Restaurantosaurus where I worked in the front and back of the house in food preparation. Being a well-respected company, Disney took great pride in teaching their cast members about proper cooking and holding temperatures, efficiency in production, and of course delicious and creative products.
Because of the education I learned from the Walt Disney Company's high standards in food preparation, I have been able to give advice and share my knowledge to other co-workers and even my professors based on techniques and training I learned while there.
Awards and comments from my co-workers at Restaurantosaurus
Certified Nursing Assistant
I was able to increase my knowledge of medical care towards the elderly through Heritage Care Center as a certified nurse assistant. I loved the opportunity to help service those who were no longer as independent as they once were. It was eye opening to me how many nutrition related factors can occur in the elderly and sick.
As a CNA with an interest in dietetics, I was able to encourage and understand the importance of nutrition for residences with a different view. One experience that demonstrated this idea occurred when an elderly man was becoming more lethargic by the second due to a lack of food and water throughout the previous days. His family was becoming extremely worries over his current state and from my previous classes on clinical nutrition I new that it would be extremely beneficial to this man's health if I could help him get fluids back into his system. His family kept trying to give him water and he kept refusing. I however, thought that ice chips might be an appropriate way for this man to become hydrated once again. To everyone's luck, the man was able to suck on the ice chips and as we fed him throughout the next few hours, he slowly started to regain his awareness.
I was able to increase my knowledge of medical care towards the elderly through Heritage Care Center as a certified nurse assistant. I loved the opportunity to help service those who were no longer as independent as they once were. It was eye opening to me how many nutrition related factors can occur in the elderly and sick.
As a CNA with an interest in dietetics, I was able to encourage and understand the importance of nutrition for residences with a different view. One experience that demonstrated this idea occurred when an elderly man was becoming more lethargic by the second due to a lack of food and water throughout the previous days. His family was becoming extremely worries over his current state and from my previous classes on clinical nutrition I new that it would be extremely beneficial to this man's health if I could help him get fluids back into his system. His family kept trying to give him water and he kept refusing. I however, thought that ice chips might be an appropriate way for this man to become hydrated once again. To everyone's luck, the man was able to suck on the ice chips and as we fed him throughout the next few hours, he slowly started to regain his awareness.
Volunteer Experience
DDIVantage Cooking for Health Internship
I have absolutely loved my experience at Early Head Start teaching their Cooking for Health Class. This class is specifically aimed towards lower-income families to increase their awareness of nutrition and food safety. Each month, I have the opportunity to instruct the class on the importance of iron and fiber in the diet while making a nutritious, budget-friendly meal in front of the class. These classes are a wonderful opportunity for families to come learn basic cooking techniques as well as nutrition and food safety tidbits along the way. This experiences has opened my eyes to a variety of different cultures and their eating habits as well sparked my interest and love for community nutrition.
I have absolutely loved my experience at Early Head Start teaching their Cooking for Health Class. This class is specifically aimed towards lower-income families to increase their awareness of nutrition and food safety. Each month, I have the opportunity to instruct the class on the importance of iron and fiber in the diet while making a nutritious, budget-friendly meal in front of the class. These classes are a wonderful opportunity for families to come learn basic cooking techniques as well as nutrition and food safety tidbits along the way. This experiences has opened my eyes to a variety of different cultures and their eating habits as well sparked my interest and love for community nutrition.
Student Dietetics Association
The past two years, I have had the opportunity to serve as the secretary of the Student Dietetic Association at BYU. This role included assisting in meeting conduction, communication of SDA, and participation of various recreational and service oriented events.
One of my favorite opportunities I have had with SDA is National Nutrition Month. I have worked on a commit tie with a few other SDA members in order to find the best way to help promote National Nutrition Month to BYU's campus. I was in charge of designing a bright and fun poster to help catch the student's eyes. The link to my National Nutrition Month Poster is posted below.
National Nutrition Month Poster
The past two years, I have had the opportunity to serve as the secretary of the Student Dietetic Association at BYU. This role included assisting in meeting conduction, communication of SDA, and participation of various recreational and service oriented events.
One of my favorite opportunities I have had with SDA is National Nutrition Month. I have worked on a commit tie with a few other SDA members in order to find the best way to help promote National Nutrition Month to BYU's campus. I was in charge of designing a bright and fun poster to help catch the student's eyes. The link to my National Nutrition Month Poster is posted below.
National Nutrition Month Poster
Extended Family Coordinator
Extended Family is a temporary home for troubled youth. Some of my fellow peers and I saw an opportunity to use our dietetic education to help these teenagers grow in their desire to be fit, healthy, and confident in who they are. We taught nutrition and health related classes to these members every other Saturday for a semester and we absolutely loved our experience.
We went into this experience not knowing what subjects they may or may not be interested in. In order to capture our audience, we decided to ask them what nutrition and health related questions they have. By doing this, we created meaningful and unique lesson plans from mini cooking classes to survival nutrition in the wilderness that have helped these individuals feel more empowered in their life.
Extended Family is a temporary home for troubled youth. Some of my fellow peers and I saw an opportunity to use our dietetic education to help these teenagers grow in their desire to be fit, healthy, and confident in who they are. We taught nutrition and health related classes to these members every other Saturday for a semester and we absolutely loved our experience.
We went into this experience not knowing what subjects they may or may not be interested in. In order to capture our audience, we decided to ask them what nutrition and health related questions they have. By doing this, we created meaningful and unique lesson plans from mini cooking classes to survival nutrition in the wilderness that have helped these individuals feel more empowered in their life.