Dear Internship Committee:
After researching your program and visiting with the DI director, faculty, and current interns, I am confident that this program is
right for me. The fact that everyone was excited and passionate about their
work stuck out to me, and I feel I would make a definite contribution in terms
of asserting my current knowledge and developing the skills necessary in
becoming a Nutrition professional.
I stand behind the belief that working hard and
giving one’s all is important not only in achieving a desired effect but also
in feeling accomplished about what you’ve earned, no matter how big or small it
may be. I feel that this personal attribute is one of the most important along
with self-discipline, persistence, and respect. I strive to strengthen these
attributes in my daily life- at work, in the classroom, at home- as well
as promote and encourage those around me to do the same. During my time at the University of Tennessee, I
have gained a multitude of knowledge in Nutrition and the sciences; I have
strengthened my writing, study, research, and people skills, as these will be
important in pursuing my Master’s degree and eventually in conducting a
professional career.
As the field of Nutrition and Dietetics is
ever-changing, it is essential to be up-to-date on current happenings and
emerging research. In the same respect, it is important to be a part of this
research. I have gained much experience in this area during my time in Dr.
Hollie Raynor’s Healthy Eating and Activity Lab, where we conduct research and
interventions on behavioral and dietary factors that may impact eating
behaviors. I am in the process of conducting a basic human-subjects study on
food habituation under Dr. Raynor; additionally, I have assisted three of my graduate peers in
their respective studies. I have developed efficiency in data entry, Microsoft
Excel, and have practiced with SPSS software. I deal with scheduling
appointments, as we have people coming in every day to participate in studies;
this must be done efficiently and accordingly so as not to run into conflicts. I
have experience in study designs, participant recruitment, weighing out foods,
and preparing session materials. Additionally, I have strengthened my
ability to be very concise, controlled, technical, and organized; if these skills are
not paid the closest attention to, the results of the research will yield no
significance or credibility. Not only have I gained the aforesaid skills during
my time in the lab, but I have also developed a greater appreciation for the
time, effort, and money necessary for conducting successful research.
Another major aspect of Dietetics is knowledge and
experience in food service. I have extensive experience in this industry as I
held a part-time job in a local ice cream shop beginning my sophomore year. My
job duties as Shift Manager taught me first-hand the essentials in food
preparation & safety, training and overseeing employees, organizing
catering orders, assessing inventory & purchasing, and dealing properly
with customers.
Not exclusive to but very important in Dietetics
is the aspect of community involvement. As Nutrition professionals, we will
come into contact with diverse individuals daily, along with their respective
problems, opinions, and levels of education. It is important to have
experience, patience, and people skills in these instances. If one is truly
passionate about something, promotion and education to those around you is key;
I feel I have had sufficient time in my undergraduate career to practice and
perfect these necessary qualities via part-time work and volunteer experience.
I would compare my avidness in the field of
Nutrition to that of an Olympic athlete competing for a gold medal- I am
passionate and excited about my educational engagements; my peers and myself
are competing for a spot on the “team” of various Dietetic Internship programs;
and I am practicing and developing my skills as a future Registered Dietitian with
the goal of being among the best and brightest. Up to this point, I have given
my all. I plan to do the same in pursuing a Dietetic Intern position.