Hi, everyone! My name is Aaron, and I am a Sodexo Dietetic intern at the Baltimore/DC campus, and a URI master’s student.
September 3rd, 2018. It was the day before our Baltimore/DC campus orientation, and two days before my 26th birthday. I was sitting with my dog, Jack, in an empty apartment in an area I was completely unfamiliar with. Most of my belongings, bed, and furniture had not arrived on the moving truck yet. Naturally, I was filled with tons of emotion about the journey that was set to begin. The next morning, I got in my car and drove on roads I’d never navigated before to a hospital I’d never been to so that I could meet a room full of very important people, most of whom I’d never met.
My opening monologue is far from a complaint and probably quite familiar to the minds of many of my fellow interns. The moment we worked so hard to earn had finally arrived. Yet, as soon as I started to become a bit more comfortable, I was given the news that my grandma had passed away, filling my mind with more thoughts of uncertainty and discomfort. All weekend long, I was balancing all of my tasks with the loss of my grandma. My grandma was an elementary school teacher, and her passion for education was very real. It often became the topic of our conversations, for she saw most things in life as moments to learn. Every time we spoke about school or new opportunities, she always told me to shoot for the stars, because the worst that could happen, was that I would land on the moon.
I began to focus on my first full week as a dietetic intern. My food service rotation was first. The chef mentioned that he was giving a cooking demo to oncology patients and I eagerly jumped to be a part of it. Was it going to be new and slightly uncomfortable? Yes. Would I be nervous and possibly a bit overwhelmed? Absolutely. We demoed 3 amazing recipes that utilized eggplant for important phytonutrients and provided some nutrition education along the way. I was uncomfortable the whole time, and I loved every minute of it! I’m telling you this story to tell you, my fellow intern and Sodexo teammate, that embracing the things in our lives (and internship) that take us far away from our comfort zones will allow us to get the most out of any experience. As a matter of fact, stay as far away from your comfort zone as you can! Of the million opportunities you are presented in coming months, NEVER decide to pass on one because it will take you out of your comfort zone. Always shoot for the stars, because at worst, you’ll land on the moon.
September 3rd, 2018. It was the day before our Baltimore/DC campus orientation, and two days before my 26th birthday. I was sitting with my dog, Jack, in an empty apartment in an area I was completely unfamiliar with. Most of my belongings, bed, and furniture had not arrived on the moving truck yet. Naturally, I was filled with tons of emotion about the journey that was set to begin. The next morning, I got in my car and drove on roads I’d never navigated before to a hospital I’d never been to so that I could meet a room full of very important people, most of whom I’d never met.
My opening monologue is far from a complaint and probably quite familiar to the minds of many of my fellow interns. The moment we worked so hard to earn had finally arrived. Yet, as soon as I started to become a bit more comfortable, I was given the news that my grandma had passed away, filling my mind with more thoughts of uncertainty and discomfort. All weekend long, I was balancing all of my tasks with the loss of my grandma. My grandma was an elementary school teacher, and her passion for education was very real. It often became the topic of our conversations, for she saw most things in life as moments to learn. Every time we spoke about school or new opportunities, she always told me to shoot for the stars, because the worst that could happen, was that I would land on the moon.
I began to focus on my first full week as a dietetic intern. My food service rotation was first. The chef mentioned that he was giving a cooking demo to oncology patients and I eagerly jumped to be a part of it. Was it going to be new and slightly uncomfortable? Yes. Would I be nervous and possibly a bit overwhelmed? Absolutely. We demoed 3 amazing recipes that utilized eggplant for important phytonutrients and provided some nutrition education along the way. I was uncomfortable the whole time, and I loved every minute of it! I’m telling you this story to tell you, my fellow intern and Sodexo teammate, that embracing the things in our lives (and internship) that take us far away from our comfort zones will allow us to get the most out of any experience. As a matter of fact, stay as far away from your comfort zone as you can! Of the million opportunities you are presented in coming months, NEVER decide to pass on one because it will take you out of your comfort zone. Always shoot for the stars, because at worst, you’ll land on the moon.
