Happy summer! We finished our dietetic internship in May 2019 but, we still have a year of school left before we can get our verification statements and become dietitians! At first, we were disappointed that we couldn’t be dietitians because we had so much knowledge coming out from the internship that we were excited to use. Though after some thought, we realized that this would be a good opportunity to branch out and relax!
So here’s a little bit from each of us talking about how we’re making use and enjoying our summer from two different cities, Rui in Pittsburgh and Nicole in Boston:
Rui: We both had a condensed summer class for the first 6 weeks of the summer. During this time and currently, I work for a health tech start-up company. Remotely, I search for high-quality evidence to make nutrition and exercise recommendations. Depending on the blood results of a client's biomarker such as triglycerides or certain hormones, I take the evidence and condense it into an easy-to-understand recommendation!
I have never had a 100% remote job so I am learning A LOT about this kind of role and especially about myself. Working remotely requires a lot of independence and time management. The fun part about this is that I can make my own schedule! I don’t have to sit for 8 hours a day, every day. Also, this remote position has given me a taste of what having your own business or a private practice feels like! From networking and during my dietetic internship, I heard from many private practice RDs that this job can feel a bit lonely compared to working for a hospital.
Also, I became a Yelp Elite! With more time on my hands, I’ve loved exploring both local and chain businesses around the area. I am so excited for future events while bringing honest reviews to everyone!
Nicole: Immediately after the dietetic internship after I flew to Bangkok, Thailand to surprise my family and to attend my sister’s high school graduation. My sister’s reaction was PRICELESS. Bangkok was super hot, but it was refreshing to be able to actually relax, I thought I had forgotten how to! I also got to indulge myself with all the different types of Thai food and stylist malls there, my favorite being Terminal 21.
When I returned to Boston, I had to bring myself back into study mode. I had the summer class with Rui and I got a part-time job in an eating disorder treatment center. As a recovery coach, I spend a lot of time with clients whether it be during groups, at meals or at the apartments. Sometimes conversations can be challenging because I get stuck! I don’t know if I should say something or if the thing I want to say is the right thing to say… AH. This was a good opportunity for me to continue practicing my counseling skills from the internship. Additionally, I get to continue observing the different types of programs and how they work with their clients. This experience has allowed me to reflect on my skills and think about what I want after I graduate.
AND because it IS the summer, I’ve been going on some short weekend trips visiting other towns in the area and enjoying the beach because in THIS heat. I just want to sit in the pool all the livelong day haha.
Tips that we think are vital and super helpful for the summer!
NETWORK! This is your time to connect with other RDs and other healthcare professionals in your area. You can learn from them and also share your experiences so far! There are a couple of ways to do this:
Instagram: Search #RegisteredDietitian(city) → Ex: #RegisteredDietitianBoston
LinkedIn: Look for RDs in your area and message them or email them!
Attend Networking Groups: Simply google the location and subject interest to find nearby events!
Since we spend so much of our time trying out different restaurants here are our current restaurant favorites:
Pittsburgh:
BRGR - a burger joint with amazing dip for chips/fries, milkshakes, and make your own burgers
The Abbey on Butler street - coffee shop in the day, board games and unique cocktails in the evening!
KungFu Tea- who doesn’t love a refreshing cup of bubble tea?
Boston:
Pho Pasteur - They have the most hearty bowl of noodle soups including my Bun Bo Hue.
Shojo - My favorite bar for some fusion Asian dishes that plays old martial art films all night long
Explorateur - Library-esk looking cafe, that’s where I get all my work done!
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