Nutrition Content Application of Knowledge
SAT
While I haven’t taken many classes in Human Nutrition (HNF classes), I have performed incredibly well in the ones that I have taken. My cumulative GPA in HNF 150 (Introduction to Human Nutrition) and HNF 444 (Business of Nutrition Services) was a 3.5, indicating superior understanding and application of the practices discussed within those classes. I believe that the introductory course (HNF 150) was particularly valuable, because it framed the context of my studies for me. It provided a setting for all further study in this field, as well as providing specific information regarding the basics of human nutrition. HNF 444 provided me a clear understanding of the way nutrition works in a business setting, particularly in relation to food service and meal planning. This gave me a means of understanding nutrition in a setting that was more general, rather than specific to an individual and an individual diet.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
NI
Given that I have not yet taken a class in medical nutrition therapy, I believe my performance cannot be accurately measured, and does not meet a high standard. However, this is not due to poor performance so much as simple lack of knowledge due to having not yet taken the class. I am aware, however, that this term refers to using nutrition and diet to treat chronic and acute diseases. It can mean dealing with things such as food sensitivities and allergies, maintaining diabetic patients, or helping to support individuals with disorders such as cancer. In these situations, diet can greatly improve the life and quality of life of an individual patient. I believe by studying this, I will be a better practitioner.
Foodservice Management
SAT
When I began in my program, I was unclear on my eventual goals and the way I wished to focus my study in dietetics. However, after taking several management classes (HNF 444, Business of Nutrition Services, and MGT 325, Management Skills) I believe I was able to hone my ideas, and shape my goals. I received a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on both of those classes, and gathered a great deal of useful information from them. For example, I now understand the ways in which nutritionists and dietitians are utilized by a variety of organizations, companies, and corporations to provide nutrition information to everyone from students to patients to employees. In the management class, I learned different strategies for management, and how to apply those strategies to a working environment. I believe myself to be well-versed in both how dieticians fit into their respective places of employment, and how to use effective management skills within those positions.
Analytical Skills/Problem SolvingSAT
My problem-solving skills are exceptional. I have been living independently in the United States for three years. Given that the United States is not my country of origin, and that it is in many ways quite different from where I grew up, this has given me the chance to develop both my analytic skills and problem solving abilities. I had to learn to act in appropriate manners, and provide for myself completely. I had little to no social or familial support, which meant that I was entirely independent, giving me the chance to fully develop my own coping mechanisms, and train my own problem solving abilities. Living on my own has given me a great deal of independence, and faith in my own abilities.
Conceptual Skills
SAT
Given my experience living on my own, I believe my conceptual skills have vastly improved in the past three years. Whereas before I came to the United States to study, I felt that I occasionally had difficulty grasping the context of a problem, I believe that now I am more fully enmeshed in a culture that encourages taking a broad view of the world and a given situation. As such, I have grown dramatically in my ability to conceptualized a problem, and find a variety of solutions to it.
Oral Communication Skills
NI
I am uncomfortable with my oral communication skills. Partially, this is due to the fact that English is not my primary language. As such, I feel that I may miscommunicate unintentionally. I have difficulty expressing myself clearly, because I am unsure of which words to choose and how to arrange them. I feel especially nervous when speaking to or in front of native English speakers, because I worry they will judge me based on my linguistic ability. I believe this is something I need to work on, and to seriously improve. I believe I have the skills necessary, but need to build confidence in myself, and in my self-expression.
WrittenSAT
I have taken several writing courses and received exceptional grades in both (4.0). I believe this demonstrates my positive ability when it comes to the written word. I am adept at putting my ideas down on paper. Perhaps because I am nervous when speaking to English speakers, I have practiced writing much more extensively and believe my writing to be at or above standard. I feel that I am better able to express myself in writing, because it is easier to take time and make sure all the words that are used are used correctly.
Interpersonal Skills
NI
While my skills related to working with other people are strong, in that I am able to negotiate and function with a wide variety of people from differing backgrounds, I believe that my un-comfortability with verbal communication becomes an impediment to my success in this area. I feel that I am skilled at understanding people, especially people who have a variety of different backgrounds and experiences, but because English is not my primary language, I believe that I tend to be more reticent when it comes to participating in group work or work with my peers or coworkers. I tend to hesitate rather than diving into situations, because I am unsure about how I will be perceived, which makes me uncomfortable. I want to become an effective communicator, and an effective peer/coworker, but in order to do so I will have to become more comfortable with communicating verbally in English.
Teaching/Supervising
NI
Currently in my life I have very little leadership experience. I have never been a teacher nor a supervisor, and as such feel that I strongly need improvement in this area. I feel that if anything my preparation for study was lacking in this area. There were few opportunities for me to learn to be a leader prior to my entering school, and while I have had a few opportunities now, I believe that they were not accessible to me. I need to improve in my ability to communicate, which will in turn result in an improved level of confidence that will allow me to become a teacher, mentor, and supervisor.
Leadership Potential
NI
I would like to say I have a great deal of leadership potential, however, I believe this may not be the case at the current point in my life. I believe I have the capability to become a good leader eventually, but at this juncture I lack the confidence required to be an exceptional leader. I have high expectations of myself and would not be pleased if I were less than exemplary in my ability to lead others. As mentioned above, this lack of confidence is due to my lack of extreme fluency in the English language, and my hesitancy to speak in front of crowds. I am uncomfortable being in front of groups of people, particularly those who are English speaking, because I do not want to fail in my goals, and that seems to be more possible in addressing large groups. I believe if I work on these factors, I will have the chance to be a good leader.
Initiative/Motivation
SAT
In my study of dietetics, I have discovered that many of the required classes are quite difficult. They require a great deal of independent study, including quite a lot of reading. I am driven to succeed, and as such always make sure to finish the reading and assignments in a timely manner. I have no difficulty pursuing my goals through hard work, and in fact prefer working hard because it means my goals came to me honestly. I am incredibly motivated, and will always achieve my ends, even if it requires much independent study, work, and reading.
Punctuality
NI
While I almost never miss a class, I do occasionally have difficulty being punctual. I am by nature rather nocturnal, and prefer to stay awake late at night. This is especially true when I have been studying, because I tend to lose track of time, and continue to work far later than I should. After going to bed so late, I tend to sleep in later than I should, meaning I am occasionally late to class. I believe this lack of punctuality is easily overcome, but as of now it is a drawback I will need to address.
Adaptability
SAT
My three years in the United States have shown my extreme adaptability. For example, my home in China is much warmer than here, and I had never seen snow before attending school here. I was forced to adapt to the new environment physically, in a very immediate way. In addition, I am not a native English speaker, but all my classes and social life are now conducted in English. This shows my adaptability as well, because I am able to function in a second language, and make myself understood, as well as understand what is being said around me. Because of this, I view myself as highly flexible.
Reaction to Stress
MS
I react positively to stress, and manage it effectively. As an international student, there are a wide range of stressors, from foreign languages, to alien cultures, to foods we are not familiar with. I have been forced to adapt to these stressors, and still continue to work and thrive in my academic programs. While it has been difficult from a social standpoint, it has been highly positive for me academically. I believe that I have managed my stress incredibly well, both because I have had so much of it in the past three years, and because I find outlets for stress that are less negative than some individuals I have encountered.
Perseverance
MS
I am incredibly dedicated and persistent. I will not stop a course once I have started on it, and always strive to achieve my goals. I work incredibly hard to make sure I am able to finish what I start.
Creativity
NI
Given that I spend much of my time studying, working, and applying myself, I feel as though I lack creative outlets. I have never been very artistic or musical, and have not sought out avenues to pursue creative endeavors. I would honestly prefer to work, study, and enjoy myself in a less abstract way, as I do not always enjoy creative outlets. However, in order to be a well-rounded and balanced person, I believe I do need to find more creative outlets, and work on them. I believe that my drive to succeed occasionally gets in the way of creative endeavors, because I feel as though they are less important than succeeding at a given task, and that focusing on creative pursuits would draw my attention away. I believe it is necessary for me to learn to balance these two elements.
Organizational Skills
NI
While I haven’t organized groups of individuals much, as mentioned above, I do have excellent personal organization skills. I have highly skilled at managing my own life, and making sure things are put together clearly for myself. However, in terms of interpersonal organization, I lack ability and practice. I believe I could become a skilled organizer if I was given the opportunity to do so, but without such opportunities, I will not grow. I must learn to seek out such opportunities, and advance myself in that manner, without the help of others in order to be more successful.
Works Independently
SAT
I am an exceedingly adept independent worker. I strongly prefer to work on my own, to complete projects without collaboration or outside input. I believe these assignments are much better for being worked on in a solitary manner. I am both comfortable with working independently and skilled at doing so. I feel that I have gained a high degree of self-awareness, in my own ability to work independently. In some ways, however, my ability to work independently can be seen as a drawback, because I am much more comfortable working alone than working with other individuals. While this means I accomplish a great deal, it also means that I have difficulty working in groups, where I feel that I should be a primary contributor. I do not feel that I have superior knowledge or information, but rather that I am able to work more concertedly toward the group’s goals, which makes me tend to assume the role of primary worker. This can sometimes cause me to over tax myself, and do more than is necessary.
Responsibility/Maturity
SAT
In my three years here, I have developed a great deal more maturity and independence. In fact, I have become dramatically more independent than I anticipated. Being on my own in a different country forced me to become much more mature than I’d expected, and it, in fact, benefited me dramatically in the long run. I have learned to take care of myself, to provide my own motivation and drive, due to the fact that I have been largely independent in my experience in the United States. I am particularly proud of the fact that I have come to understand my own motivations, and the situations which push me to achieve my utmost. I think that my ambition is a strong suit, because it has caused me to excel in the things I attempt. This is reflected in my classroom grades, which have been consistently exceptional.
Overall Potential as a Dietitian
SAT
I believe I will be an excellent dietitian, if I can overcome my insecurities. Currently, I am insecure about my interpersonal relationships and my ability to discuss situations with my peers and coworkers. However, my knowledge of the field continues to grow, and I believe that as it advances, I will become more and more skilled till I become an excellent addition to the field. I believe, moreover, that my experiences as a non-English speaker have helped me to learn how to better relate to a variety of individuals, and that this skill will be highly beneficial,. As someone who worked in an environment outside my comfort zone, I believe I will be able to relate to individuals who are in differing environments. When I overcome my difficulty in public speaking, I believe I will be a superior leader, because of this experience working in a setting that is not one I am familiar with. In addition, I believe that my knowledge of the way in which individuals adapt to their surroundings will allow me to learn to teach others to adapt their dietary and nutrition habits to their changing environment and health conditions.
