After a Year in the Cal Poly Dietetic Internship

Today is the last day of rotations for our current class of interns. I couldn’t be more excited for them as they prepare to move on to the next phase of their professional dietetics careers.

In honor of the end of their dietetic internship experience, I asked them to reflect on their year together, and to share their thoughts about all they’ve been through and on what’s to come.

Several of the interns had a message they wanted to share with their peers. Here’s what they had to say:

I remember the first day of orientation last year and how it felt meeting my cohort for the first time. I felt a strong bond between all of us from the first time hung out in Solvang. We connected on a level beyond the typical “dietetics majors” commonality. We shared similar goals and our food preferences were almost split down the middle between omnivores and vegetarians and vegans. Our conversations were natural and we talked about interests outside of dietetics which helped friendships develop. I appreciated our journal club conversations where everyone respectfully shared opinions and still supported one another without judgement. I will always look back on this time as a period of growth and development professionally and personally. I know this internship would have been vastly different if the members of my cohort were any other people. I am so grateful I was able to spend this year with down-to-earth, fun-loving, positive people!

- Bonnie Broek

You guys have been amazing! Each of you individually has had such a positive impact on my life and my overall experience this past year in the internship. Thank you for your unrelenting support, laughs, shoulders to lean on, passion and amazing energy! So looking forward to seeing where each of our next chapters take us.

- Kamala Ersson

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future and accepts you just the way you are.” As we all go on to the next step, I just want to say I am so incredibly thankful for your friendship this year. I couldn't have done it without you guys! I look forward to seeing your accomplishments as I know you all will be amazing RDs!

- Ambar Mendoza

And here’s what our interns wanted to share with the incoming class of Cal Poly dietetic interns:

I am excited for the incoming interns to discover their path, whether it’s something new or reaffirming their interests. This internship gives you the perfect opportunity to explore diverse opportunities in the nutrition field. Take this time to cherish your strengths, work on your weaknesses and determine your professional needs. And most of all, have fun!

- Maris Altieri

As an intern you have a lot to get excited for like cool experiences in the kitchen, interesting travels, and maybe some free food along the way. For me personally, the best and most exciting experiences were always spent hanging out with other interns or exploring new trails on the beautiful coast. Coming from some of the most beautiful mountains on the East coast (the Blue Ridge Mountains), I can honestly say that the central coast is as beautiful as it gets in terms of mountains and sea.

- Brian Tran

The incoming interns have so much to look forward to! This internship provided such a wide variety of opportunities—ones that I couldn’t have experienced anywhere else in a 10-month period. Every rotation will provide something different, some may be more memorable than others, some they may be ready to move on more quickly from while others they may wish they could spend the rest of the internship in. But undoubtedly, every rotation will provide more insight on what it is they want to do career-wise/after the internship—whether that is figuring out what they want and what they don't want.

- Kamala Ersson

I hope you all make the effort to learn something new each day. If a rotation site isn't quite where you see yourself in the future, you should still use it as a learning experience. If you make the conscious effort to go into your rotation with an open mind and a willingness to learn, you will likely get much more out of the experience. Our preceptors are a wealth of knowledge, so use them to your advantage!

- Maria Dellanina

I am so excited for the interns who will be the new cohort of such an AMAZING program, during a year that will kickstart their future careers. They will likely discover more about themselves and the dietetics field than they ever knew possible. They will meet and work with amazing and inspiring individuals. Every day will bring new adventures, challenges, and opportunities from which they can learn. I am excited for them to experience this year of growth, friendship, and endless possibilities!

- Jillian Emerson

Ultimately, I want the next cohort to know how important it is to lean on each other. Through the good and bad, your fellow interns will be the only ones who understand it all. Making sure to take time out of your busy schedules and build relationships with one another is a critical reason why this internship has been such a fun and successful DI program! Our Monday classes were some of my favorite times due to our silly check in activities and learning more about one another. I am a big believer in that we can all learn from each other and the different perspectives our Monday classes brought about allowed us all to become well rounded and sensitive individuals. I am truly grateful that I had this experience and I hope the new incoming class builds just as strong of relationships as they get ready for the new 2018-2019 dietetic internship year!

- Alyssa Los

To the 2018-19 Cal Poly DI Cohort-- MAKE THIS YOUR OWN. Pave your path in this internship personally and professionally. View this year like it’s a jungle gym- explore, be creative, jump and take a risk, make mistakes, try different approaches, but don't stop moving. Get ready to experience the BEST DI internship!

- Arissa Lujano