Athena Apalis - Region 12

Hello, my name is Athena Apalis and I am a Region 12 dietetic student and intern in the San Francisco Bay Area, California!
 
The Sodexo Dietetic Internship orientation in San Antonio, Texas has definitely been a highlight for me so far. It was very exciting to meet fellow interns and the directors from all across the nation in-person. I loved meeting other interns and sharing our unique experiences with each other. It can sometimes feel a little isolating as a dietetic student since there are so few of us but seeing so many other dietetic interns going through similar experiences made me feel less overwhelmed and more supported in my RD2Be journey. Connecting and creating new friendships has made me feel so inspired and even more appreciative of the orientation experience. One of my other favorite parts of the orientation was the nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE) training because it was so hands-on. It made me feel more prepared, confident and ready for my clinical rotations, which I’ll be starting next month.
 
Currently, I am two weeks into my foodservice management rotation in a corporate setting at a large Silicon Valley financial technology company and it has been an amazing experience so far! I was honestly nervous to start in a different nutrition setting than I was used to but I am so grateful that Sodexo gave me the opportunity to grow outside of my comfort zone. The team I work with was extremely welcoming and it was eye-opening to see what happens behind the scenes; I was impressed with how much work goes into foodservice management. Just yesterday, we successfully planned and executed a catering event for 3000 people, which was quite an experience! Now, I am currently working on my next project, which involves a cultural nutrition education event at my site that features plant-based recipes. I am eager to see how this event will turn out and share some valuable nutrition education with our clients!
 
Even though I am only a few weeks into the dietetic internship, I am looking forward to all of the new experiences I’ll get through the Sodexo DI program. The rotations definitely offer a unique perspective into all of the different routes and options you can take as a future RDN. I’m excited to see what this year has to offer and being one step closer to the finish line on my RD2be journey!

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