My Career Change Into Nutrition
I could spend HOURS talking about this topic because it was genuinely the best & hardest change I have ever made. As a quick overview, I completed my undergrad at St. John’s University in Queens, NY in 2014 where I was recruited to play soccer and graduated with a major in Public Relations. I truly thought I had my entire career path laid out since I knew exactly what I wanted at the time. I had a few amazing internships throughout college with some of NYC’s top PR agencies that shed a light on working with the trendiest brands, events, & products, but also shed a light on some of the craziness that came along with it. People used to ask me what my dream job was and my answer every time was to someday be the PR Director of SoulCycle - the same answer I’m sure a million other girls had at one point. I was SO excited to get my life on the road, land my first job, and live the life I so glamorously built up in my own head.
Fast forward to July 2017 when I quit my PR job forever…I went through two different PR agencies working in everything from hospitality, celebrity entertainment, events, consumer to health/wellness, and realized there was nothing left that could make me happy. It’s an industry that requires A LOT of your time, holds a ton of stress, and requires a non stop lifestyle. Some people absolutely thrive in this industry and I still have some of my best friends from these jobs that are killing it in their jobs today. I no longer found anything “cool’ and lost every ounce of fulfillment that I once had from seeing a client in a big time magazine or online outlet. I realized just how much I hated sitting at a desk all day, working on projects I felt nothing for, waking up miserable every morning, and listening to myself complain over & over again. I kew this was not the life I was meant to live day in & day out. I just had that deep feeling that there was so much more for me and I hadn’t reached any of it yet. The worst feeling was knowing that I needed a change, but felt completely stuck in what direction to go in or how to even begin.
I’ve always been interested in nutrition through my years of playing competitive soccer, but it became a HUGE part of my life during my freshman year of college when I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I was introduced to registered dietitians + nutritionists who helped guide me through this new transition, and also taught me a ton about nutrition in general. After college & up until recently (Spring 2019), I became extremely sick with multiple autoimmune diseases, which completely destroyed me both physically & mentally. I became obsessed with trying to heal my body and as I learned more about the power of food & the effects it can have on our body + overall health, I was hooked. I saw the difference it made in me and I wanted nothing more than to help other people who were struggling in the same way.
I never struggled with finding what I was passionate about, which I think for some people is the hardest part, but I personally struggled with starting from scratch. I spent 4 years in college studying one thing to now throw that all away and start another. I looked into every option - online programs, health coach certifications, Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian, etc. After doing every ounce of research I could and speaking with tons of professionals in the field, I decided to go for the highest education + qualification I could and start the process of becoming a Registered Dietitian. I wish I could count the number of mental breakdowns I had throughout this entire process, but I truly don’t think there’s a number high enough - just ask my mom. I’ll never forget her telling me that if I’m really going to quit this career & make a change, then I should go the whole way.
The road to becoming a Registered Dietitian is HARD. It’s long, stressful, and extremely difficult (whole post on this coming!) I almost didn’t make the jump because I was extremely discouraged by how long it would take. After 1 full year of completing science prerequisite courses just to be able to apply to nutrition RD programs (It was horrible I’m not going to lie), I am now half way through my 2 year coordinated Master’s program that I was accepted into and will be graduating in 2020! I can honestly say I have never been happier or felt more passionate + confident in what I’m meant to do in a career & in life. It’s an unreal feeling to look back at the person I was the day I quit my job and to now see the person I have worked my ass off to become.
So much more to come & I can’t wait to share it all with you!
Xx