Raven Hunter

 

My passion for the health care profession dates back to when I was a young child. I have always visualized myself as being a doctor or nurse. I can vividly remember how I enjoyed dressing up as a doctor for career day in elementary school. I fell in love with the health care field and could not wait to embark on my education journey as a health care provider. As I transitioned to high school, I enjoyed taking challenging science courses and my interest in the science field lead me to choose my current major in Nutrition/Dietetics.

 

I chose to attend Auburn University for my undergraduate degree because of its reputation for academic excellence and rigorous curriculum. I enjoy a challenge so Auburn’s Didactic Program in Dietetics was a perfect fit for me. I quickly became involved with many organizations including the Student Dietetic Association. I have volunteered with the Food Bank of East Alabama where I assisted in distributing perishable and non-perishable food to low-income people. This experience helped me to recognize the importance of food security. Many people in the local community have a need for food so it is important not only to give food but also to make sure that people are getting nutritious foods to supplement their diet. Volunteering with the East Alabama Medical Center was beneficial to me because I gained hands-on experience of planning and preparing meals for patients in a clinical setting. I witnessed all of the work that is placed into meal preparations and the importance of creating the proper diet for patients in varying disease states. I also saw how significant communication plays a role in educating patients on ways to eat a healthier, balanced diet.

 

My short-term goals are to graduate from Auburn University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition/Dietetics in May 2015 and get accepted into a Dietetic Internship program upon graduation. After completion of my internship, I plan on passing the board examination for dietitians and ultimately work as a Registered Dietitian in a clinical setting. My long-term goal as a dietitian is to be a food and nutrition expert whose sole purpose is to improve the lives of Americans. I want to focus on diabetes education because I have witnessed firsthand how this disease drastically impact people’s lives. Many of my family members suffer from diabetes so I want to help diabetic patients recognize how important nutrition is in this disease and how healthy diet and exercise will greatly improve the management of diabetes.

 

One of my strengths is that I am self motivated and determined. Since I was a young, I have always been determined to do exceptionally well in school and pursue whatever I was capable of achieving. I am a second-generation college student and succeeding in college is just one of the many goals I want to accomplish. No matter how many difficulties I have faced, I somehow manage to overcome them. I believe that self-motivation is what gets me through trials in tribulations, whether it’s in school or in my personal life. I think that my determination is what sets me apart from others. Another one of my strengths is that I am hardworking and committed to what I love. I believe that your work speaks for itself. The amount of effort you put into something will determine your outcome. I am committed to putting in one hundred percent into my future career.

 

One of my weaknesses is that I can be too helpful at times go out of my way for everyone. I have people’s best intentions at heart and sometimes that can be overlooked and taken for granted. I am very amiable and patient which can cause me to not be as assertive as I would like to be. Another weakness that I could work on is my delegation skills. I get so caught up with on doings things right that I end up doing things myself. I can be a little too independent when it comes to doing work in teams and forget to incorporate other people’s ideas and opinions. The experiences I have gained over the past five years in and outside of the classroom have prepared me for acceptance into a dietetic internship. I exhibit hard work ethic and am ready to move on with the next phase of my career goals in becoming a Registered Dietitian.