Hello! My name is Tara Pellecchia, and I am an intern at Sodexo Dietetic Internships' Philadelphia campus. After completing my Masters degree in Nutrition from Drexel University, I was thrilled to be matched with Sodexo Dietetic Internships, and continue on my journey toward becoming a Registered Dietitian. Before starting the program in February, I felt excited knowing the internship would afford me many opportunities to strengthen and expand my understanding of applied nutrition. And indeed, it has! During my time spent at each of my clinical, outpatient, community, and food service sites, I have learned more about the dietitian’s role and how the Nutrition Care Process is implemented in different settings. With the guidance of my preceptors, I have learned how to assess and determine appropriate interventions for patients with complicated medical issues, and have developed a greater understanding of how to provide effective nutrition education.
But this internship has taught me much more than simply the application of nutrition science. It has taught me leadership skills, which I have come to realize are just as important to develop in order to be a successful dietitian in any setting. During the internship, I found myself in many new situations, working with a variety of people, and assigned many tasks I had never been asked to do before. Whenever I faced something challenging, I recognized it as a chance for me to learn. By taking on these challenges, I have gained more confidence, learned to communicate more effectively with other professionals as well as patients, and strengthened my ability to maintain a positive attitude when facing difficult situations. If I had one piece of advice to give new or future interns, it would be to use the time during the internship to seek out as many different opportunities that you can and stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. As it has been said before, that is where the greatest opportunity for growth lies!
My experience with the internship has been both rewarding and challenging in ways I never imagined. As I enter my community rotation next month, I look forward to finding more ways to share my passion and knowledge for nutrition with others, and also to continue growing both personally and professionally.
But this internship has taught me much more than simply the application of nutrition science. It has taught me leadership skills, which I have come to realize are just as important to develop in order to be a successful dietitian in any setting. During the internship, I found myself in many new situations, working with a variety of people, and assigned many tasks I had never been asked to do before. Whenever I faced something challenging, I recognized it as a chance for me to learn. By taking on these challenges, I have gained more confidence, learned to communicate more effectively with other professionals as well as patients, and strengthened my ability to maintain a positive attitude when facing difficult situations. If I had one piece of advice to give new or future interns, it would be to use the time during the internship to seek out as many different opportunities that you can and stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. As it has been said before, that is where the greatest opportunity for growth lies!
My experience with the internship has been both rewarding and challenging in ways I never imagined. As I enter my community rotation next month, I look forward to finding more ways to share my passion and knowledge for nutrition with others, and also to continue growing both personally and professionally.
