What's in your Toolbox?
Your dietetic internship is a time to learn everything about nutrition and the field, but it is also really a time to learn about yourself. Every day is an opportunity to learn or discover your strengths. This is a time to learn about yourself, to figure out where your strengths lie and how those strengths can be applied to your profession. Along the way, you will build upon what I call your toolbox! Everyone's toolbox is different as everyone has different skills and experiences that they bring to the internship. Let’s talk about the tools that I’ve obtained so far in the internship and the tools that I’ve had all along that have been most useful to me.
The first very important tool that I have used extensively is flexibility. During your internship program, day to day, let me tell you, things do not always go as planned. But remember if you do what is expected, stay focused and stay driven, everything will work out as things always do. My first preceptor, Janet Velarde Loubet from Carpinteria School District would always say, “a day in the life of a sheet pan.”
This means at any given moment, you (the sheet pan) can be called to do different tasks. Sheet pans are used for so many different things, to bake obviously, as a cover, as a cooling rack, and even to make fried rice (which I did in my rotation with Janet). Metaphorically, as the sheet pan you need to be ready for anything. This is especially true in foodservice: be flexible, as anything goes, and be resourceful, as you have to use what you’ve got! My tool of flexibility has been used during the DI quite often but most notably is the time when my rotation schedule needed to be rearranged. It was difficult and frustrating for both, not knowing exactly where I would be for the next rotation and starting a rotation that wasn’t planned. However, I did make the most of the situation and had an exceptionally successful experience. Along with this tool, it's important to stay motivated when things don't always go your way or as planned.
Second, a very important tool for being successful during the internship is organization. Whether you keep a planner or use an e-calendar, stay on top of the many projects, deadlines, reflections, and meetings. A lot is going on and without being organized it can be very easy to miss important dates. Keeping my environment organized has been very useful as it removes clutter and stress from small everyday tasks. A big new tool that I am working on is keeping my mind organized. During this internship, there are so many different things to think about: DPD assignments, rotation projects, daily tasks, and social obligations. It is hard to focus on one thing when you have a million other things in mind. I found this especially true at my second rotation at the Food Bank of Santa Barbara. After my shift was over, my brain was focused on work, but I was also stressed about my DPD assignments, social obligations, and other daily tasks. I realized that I need to organize my thoughts and just focus on one thing without worrying about 100 other things. Intern life can be very overwhelming at times, but I’ve learned to take one step and task at a time. Make sure to organize in some restorative time!
The last tool I want to discuss, and maybe the most important, is confidence! Trust that you are ready and that you can do anything the internship throws at you. Be confident in your toolbox and know it’ll take you far in life. Be aware and proud of your abilities; even though at times you may fail or make mistakes, be confident that those are simply mistakes, that failure doesn’t define you, and keep moving onward. It's completely normal to have a hard time, to have bad days, and to feel overwhelmed, but be confident that you have the strength to overcome it.
At the start of the internship I was anxious and nervous that I would not perform well but once I let go of those thoughts and was confident in myself I started to excel within my rotations and even had fun! I leveraged my confidence while diffusing a situation on my own, as my preceptor was not available, with concerned parents at the school district. I stepped in as a lead exemplifying my confidence in my skills to communicate and knowledge of the site. Be confident that you have the skills and knowledge to do better and to grow; remember some things take time! When you are in an internship, know that you are smart and capable enough to be here. Confidence is key!
Remember what’s in your toolbox may be different from what other interns have in theirs. The fact that everyone has a different set of skills is what makes this learning experience so great. So, what’s in your toolbox?