Bringing Passion to the Field, Professionally and Personally
As I walked toward the front door of my next community rotation, at the San Luis Obispo Food Bank, I was overcome with excitement and anticipation. I knew this rotation would be very different from my last two at the SLO County Health Department and French Hospital. I had heard so many wonderful things about this organization but still had the usual first day jitters. As I approached the front desk, I was immediately greeted by a friendly group of warm faces who shortly after introduced me to my preceptor, Melissa.
Right off the bat, I could tell that Melissa was an energy-bringing, passion filled individual. I knew I was in for a fantastic four weeks ahead and couldn’t wait to get started.
Over the next few weeks I saw and experienced first-hand the enthusiasm and energy that Melissa brings to the table, and why she has made the nutrition program at the SLO Food Bank such a success.
Melissa’s interest in the health and wellness field first began after taking a few nutrition courses during her undergrad at North Carolina State University. Intertwined with her own personal journey in nutrition, she knew this was a field that she was connected to and could make a positive impact in. After completing her Masters in Nutrition at Meredith College, Melissa spent a few years in North Carolina working in corporate management training and restaurant management. While she enjoyed this work, she realized that her passions really lay elsewhere, specifically in community nutrition and had hopes of one day returning to that area.
During a week-long vacation with her husband to San Luis Obispo, the two fell in love with the area. Between her husband’s love for the ocean, surfing and kayaking, and Melissa’s love for trail running and the outdoors, SLO was a perfect fit for the two of them! And within a year they found themselves moving cross-country and Melissa began her job at the SLO Food Bank as the Nutrition Project Manager.
When she first started her job, the nutrition program consisted only of nutrition outreach at food distribution sites. Three years later, she has expanded the program to include a Children’s Farmer’s Market, Senior Farmer’s Market, nutrition education classes at local schools and other agency partners, and she manages the nutrition kitchen and volunteers who help make food samples to give out during outreach events. The hard work, dedication and desire for growth that allowed Melissa to build up such a successful nutrition program is not only present in her professional life, but also in her personal life.
During college, Melissa first took a stab at running, and what started as running a mile at a time quickly evolved into a life passion that has led her to running ultra-marathons and her longest race of running 113 miles in 24 hours! She is also part of the Big Brother, Big Sister program and recently became a foster mom—all of which stems from her passion for youth empowerment and education and being that voice for potentially underrepresented groups.
When asked “What is your favorite part of your job at the Food Bank?” Melissa lights up and shares, “Being out in the community, face-to-face, with the people that we serve—I absolutely love it!” This, along with her genuine desire to help others is exactly why community nutrition is so rewarding and such a great fit for Melissa.
As my preceptor for four weeks, Melissa really showed me
what it is be an exceptional preceptor in the Dietetic Internship. From day one, Melissa presented me with a wide array of opportunities for me to develop my professional and personal growth. I was able to lead and teach a class to parents on healthy snacking, attend the SLO Food Systems Coalition and other staff meetings, host nutrition education tables at local food distribution sites and experience first-hand many of the programs that are put on by the SLO Food Bank—from the Children’s Farmer’s Market to the Harvest Bag Home Delivery Service to harvesting local produce through the Glean Program. Not only did Melissa allow me such a vast array of opportunities, but she allowed me to pick and choose the ones that best fit with my own personal goals and hopes for this rotation.
My time at the SLO Food Bank will be one that I always look back on fondly, in large part due to the energy, gusto and passion that Melissa brought to this rotation. She showed me the true value and importance of the intern / preceptor role and I am very grateful for the guidance I received from her. Learning about Melissa’s own personal and professional stories have been such a great reminder that embodying strong work ethic, passion and a desire for self-growth will lead you to only great places.