Sara Saiovici - Region 4

​Hello current and future dietetic interns! As a fellow Sodexo intern, I am excited to share my experience with you. As of today, I have completed all of my rotations, with only a few hours of community left. Looking back on my internship experience, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities I have had to learn and grow. Each rotation presented its own unique challenges and rewards, and I have come a long way from the first day of clinical when I was told that I would be seeing my own patients in just a few weeks.
 
Clinical was definitely my favorite rotation. And in my staff relief, I saw up to 12 patients daily! Even though I had gained months of experience and felt more confident, my hands were still sweating before walking into a patient's room. But that's okay, it's a normal reaction to the pressure and responsibility of patient care. And now, I've developed a way to calm my nerves - a mini meditation routine. I take a few deep breaths, clear my mind, and tell myself that I've got this. It might sound silly, but it works! And if you need a mini meditation routine of your own, just let me know! 
 
But let's talk about another important aspect of learning and growth - asking questions. I cannot stress this enough - don't be afraid to ask questions! I literally bombarded all of my preceptors with questions, and that's how I learned so much. And the great thing was, they were all more than happy to answer them. So go ahead, ask away! Don't be afraid to admit that you don't know something. Asking questions is a sign of strength, not weakness. 
 
Food service was challenging at first because it wasn't an area I was super interested in, but a shift in attitude and making the best of it really changed my experience. And even though I wasn't dealing with patients, I still found myself getting a little anxious before my shifts. That's when I would remind myself to take a deep breath and trust in my abilities. 
 
Of course, there were also the hours spent on assignments and projects, which at times felt overwhelming. But looking back, I am grateful for every moment of it. It helped me stay up to date with the latest practices and research, and taught me so much about what I was putting into practice on a daily basis during my rotations.
 
Overall, my internship experience has been a rollercoaster of fun and learning! I'm beyond excited to dive deeper into this field and continue growing my knowledge. I've been pushed out of my comfort zone more times than I can count, but the payoff has been amazing! The challenges have made me stronger and more confident, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes me. To all the other dietetic interns out there, keep pushing yourself and asking questions. It's so worth it! I can’t wait to be an RD- finally!!!! 

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