6 answers
Owen
Student
Conroe, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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How can building connections early help later in life?
I am currently a senior in high school and I will go to college in less than a year to pursue a nutrition and dietetics degree from UTSA.
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6 answers
Dr Lucas Txibamba
Humanitarian
19
Answers
Luanda, Luanda Province, Angola
Updated
Dr Lucas’s Answer
Great question, Owen! As you start your college journey at UTSA, it's wise to focus on building connections. This isn't just about being social; it's a key step for your future.
Think of it as creating a network of support, opportunities, and knowledge. Here's why it's important, especially in nutrition and dietetics:
1. Career Growth and Opportunities
Your degree gives you credentials, but connections open doors.
Internships and Jobs: Many positions, like those needed to become a Registered Dietitian, aren't advertised. They're filled through recommendations. A professor or a graduate you meet can recommend you.
The "Who Knows You" Effect: Employers prefer hiring someone recommended by a trusted person over a stranger with a perfect resume.
2. Learning and Skill Building
The people you meet have valuable experiences.
Learn from Others: Connect with juniors and seniors to learn which professors and classes are best. Later, working RDs can offer insights into different specialties.
Stay Updated: Nutrition is always changing. A strong network keeps you informed about the latest research and trends.
3. Support and Resilience
The path to becoming an RD is tough. Your network is your support.
Study Groups: Friends from your classes will become study partners and motivation. You'll learn more together than alone.
Professional Guidance: A mentor can offer advice when you face challenges or career decisions.
4. Flexibility and Collaboration
Your career goals may change. A strong network gives you options.
Private Practice: If you start your own practice, you'll need referrals. Connections from school and early career will help.
Research and Advocacy: Public health policy and research rely on collaborations. Colleagues from conferences and organizations will be future partners.
Your Action Plan for UTSA and Beyond
This is about building genuine relationships.
Phase 1: Starting at UTSA (First Year)
Go to Office Hours: Meet your nutrition professors and ask about their careers. This makes you more than just a name on a roster.
Join Clubs: Look for the Student Dietetic Association at UTSA. Attend meetings and events.
Connect with Peers: Form a study group for tough courses. These peers understand your program's challenges.
Phase 2: Deepening Connections (Sophomore/Junior Year)
Find a Mentor: Identify a professor or dietitian you admire. Ask to meet them for coffee and learn about their career.
Volunteer: Look for opportunities in community health or food banks. You'll meet passionate people and gain experience.
Get a Relevant Job: Work in a hospital, healthy restaurant, or as a barista. You'll learn about food service and meet healthcare staff.
Phase 3: Launching Your Career (Senior Year & Internship)
Leverage Your Network for Internships: When it's time for your dietetic internship, talk to professors and RDs you've met. They can offer recommendations and advice.
Stay in Touch: After graduating, connect with peers and professors on LinkedIn. Send thank-you notes to mentors.
The Golden Rule: Networking is mutual. Ask, "How can I help?" as much as "How can you help me?" Share opportunities, celebrate successes, and offer help when you can.
Building this network now means you won't start from scratch later. You're creating a community that will support and boost your career for years. Good luck at UTSA!
Think of it as creating a network of support, opportunities, and knowledge. Here's why it's important, especially in nutrition and dietetics:
1. Career Growth and Opportunities
Your degree gives you credentials, but connections open doors.
Internships and Jobs: Many positions, like those needed to become a Registered Dietitian, aren't advertised. They're filled through recommendations. A professor or a graduate you meet can recommend you.
The "Who Knows You" Effect: Employers prefer hiring someone recommended by a trusted person over a stranger with a perfect resume.
2. Learning and Skill Building
The people you meet have valuable experiences.
Learn from Others: Connect with juniors and seniors to learn which professors and classes are best. Later, working RDs can offer insights into different specialties.
Stay Updated: Nutrition is always changing. A strong network keeps you informed about the latest research and trends.
3. Support and Resilience
The path to becoming an RD is tough. Your network is your support.
Study Groups: Friends from your classes will become study partners and motivation. You'll learn more together than alone.
Professional Guidance: A mentor can offer advice when you face challenges or career decisions.
4. Flexibility and Collaboration
Your career goals may change. A strong network gives you options.
Private Practice: If you start your own practice, you'll need referrals. Connections from school and early career will help.
Research and Advocacy: Public health policy and research rely on collaborations. Colleagues from conferences and organizations will be future partners.
Your Action Plan for UTSA and Beyond
This is about building genuine relationships.
Phase 1: Starting at UTSA (First Year)
Go to Office Hours: Meet your nutrition professors and ask about their careers. This makes you more than just a name on a roster.
Join Clubs: Look for the Student Dietetic Association at UTSA. Attend meetings and events.
Connect with Peers: Form a study group for tough courses. These peers understand your program's challenges.
Phase 2: Deepening Connections (Sophomore/Junior Year)
Find a Mentor: Identify a professor or dietitian you admire. Ask to meet them for coffee and learn about their career.
Volunteer: Look for opportunities in community health or food banks. You'll meet passionate people and gain experience.
Get a Relevant Job: Work in a hospital, healthy restaurant, or as a barista. You'll learn about food service and meet healthcare staff.
Phase 3: Launching Your Career (Senior Year & Internship)
Leverage Your Network for Internships: When it's time for your dietetic internship, talk to professors and RDs you've met. They can offer recommendations and advice.
Stay in Touch: After graduating, connect with peers and professors on LinkedIn. Send thank-you notes to mentors.
The Golden Rule: Networking is mutual. Ask, "How can I help?" as much as "How can you help me?" Share opportunities, celebrate successes, and offer help when you can.
Building this network now means you won't start from scratch later. You're creating a community that will support and boost your career for years. Good luck at UTSA!
Melanie Silverman
Chief Clinical Officer
21
Answers
Laguna Beach, California
Updated
Melanie’s Answer
Dear Owen,
I am actually a registered dietitian and have good advice to give you! I'm so excited you are interested in dietetics. It's a great field. We need more people in it! All of the advice other people have given here is excellent. My advice is to go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to learn more about the profession. https://www.eatright.org/. They are a wonderful resource for you to learn more about the profession. Also, find out if there are local dietetics groups where you can attend meetings. If you have other questions, please let me know. GOOD LUCK!
I am actually a registered dietitian and have good advice to give you! I'm so excited you are interested in dietetics. It's a great field. We need more people in it! All of the advice other people have given here is excellent. My advice is to go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to learn more about the profession. https://www.eatright.org/. They are a wonderful resource for you to learn more about the profession. Also, find out if there are local dietetics groups where you can attend meetings. If you have other questions, please let me know. GOOD LUCK!
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Owen. Building connections early in your life can make a big difference later, especially as you get ready for college and your future career.
In college, having connections with professors, classmates, and professionals in the nutrition field can be really helpful. You'll likely need to do internships or clinical work as part of your degree. By getting to know people early on, you might hear about these opportunities before they're posted or get advice on where to look. Professors can also be great mentors who will offer support and help you figure out what direction to take in your career. Making these connections now can help you when you need advice, job opportunities, or just someone to talk to about your future.
Networking with professors and professionals also helps you stay informed about what's happening in the field of nutrition and dietetics. You can learn about new trends, challenges, and career paths by talking to people who are already working in the industry. For example, many universities offer chances to meet alumni or guest speakers. These connections can help you learn from others' experiences and avoid common mistakes.
Socially, connecting with your peers in college is important, too. Starting to build friendships and study groups early on will help you adjust to college life more smoothly. Having a support system of friends and classmates can make a big difference when you're facing difficult assignments or projects.
Building relationships can also pay off after you graduate. Many employers like to hire candidates who have good references, and the people you meet in college (like professors) can become great references for your job search later. Hope this helps. All the best.
In college, having connections with professors, classmates, and professionals in the nutrition field can be really helpful. You'll likely need to do internships or clinical work as part of your degree. By getting to know people early on, you might hear about these opportunities before they're posted or get advice on where to look. Professors can also be great mentors who will offer support and help you figure out what direction to take in your career. Making these connections now can help you when you need advice, job opportunities, or just someone to talk to about your future.
Networking with professors and professionals also helps you stay informed about what's happening in the field of nutrition and dietetics. You can learn about new trends, challenges, and career paths by talking to people who are already working in the industry. For example, many universities offer chances to meet alumni or guest speakers. These connections can help you learn from others' experiences and avoid common mistakes.
Socially, connecting with your peers in college is important, too. Starting to build friendships and study groups early on will help you adjust to college life more smoothly. Having a support system of friends and classmates can make a big difference when you're facing difficult assignments or projects.
Building relationships can also pay off after you graduate. Many employers like to hire candidates who have good references, and the people you meet in college (like professors) can become great references for your job search later. Hope this helps. All the best.
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi Owen
Congratulations on starting your nutrition journey! Building connections early like with professors, classmates, professionals in the field, or through volunteering can make a big difference later.
Here’s why:
1. Mentorship: Experienced professionals can guide you through courses, internships, and career decisions.
2. Opportunities: Connections often open doors to research, volunteering, and jobs you might not find on your own.
3. Learning from others: Seeing how others navigate challenges can give you insights and ideas for your own path.
4. Long-term relationships: Some of these connections may become collaborators, colleagues, or even references in the future.
Even small efforts... like reaching out to a professional on LinkedIn, attending webinars, or joining a student nutrition club, can pay off over time. Starting early gives you more time to build meaningful, lasting relationships.
Congratulations on starting your nutrition journey! Building connections early like with professors, classmates, professionals in the field, or through volunteering can make a big difference later.
Here’s why:
1. Mentorship: Experienced professionals can guide you through courses, internships, and career decisions.
2. Opportunities: Connections often open doors to research, volunteering, and jobs you might not find on your own.
3. Learning from others: Seeing how others navigate challenges can give you insights and ideas for your own path.
4. Long-term relationships: Some of these connections may become collaborators, colleagues, or even references in the future.
Even small efforts... like reaching out to a professional on LinkedIn, attending webinars, or joining a student nutrition club, can pay off over time. Starting early gives you more time to build meaningful, lasting relationships.
Michelle Schnob
Sales Enablement / Learning and Development
5
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi Owen, great question! Most people wait way too long to think about building their network, so the fact that you are asking now already puts you ahead. :)
Here is a simple way to think about it.
- Networking helps you shape your future before you need anything from anyone. A quick conversation with a professor or a classmate today can become an internship lead, a job referral, or even just really solid advice later. It turns a big world into a smaller one where you recognize faces, know who to ask for help, and feel more confident walking into new spaces.
- You also learn things you will never find in a textbook. People share their real experiences, the mistakes they made, and the shortcuts they wish they had known when they were just starting out. That kind of wisdom saves you a lot of time, stress, and effort.
- It makes college more enjoyable. The people you meet in classes, clubs, and volunteering often become real friends and part of your long term support circle.
If you want a very simple place to start, try this. Say hello to people in your classes. Visit office hours at least once. Join one club that genuinely interests you. Attend one event and introduce yourself to one new person. These small steps feel easy but they add up quickly.
Networking is not about collecting contacts or LinkedIn profiles. It is about building a community. And the earlier you start, the more natural and helpful it becomes. Hope this helps!
Here is a simple way to think about it.
- Networking helps you shape your future before you need anything from anyone. A quick conversation with a professor or a classmate today can become an internship lead, a job referral, or even just really solid advice later. It turns a big world into a smaller one where you recognize faces, know who to ask for help, and feel more confident walking into new spaces.
- You also learn things you will never find in a textbook. People share their real experiences, the mistakes they made, and the shortcuts they wish they had known when they were just starting out. That kind of wisdom saves you a lot of time, stress, and effort.
- It makes college more enjoyable. The people you meet in classes, clubs, and volunteering often become real friends and part of your long term support circle.
If you want a very simple place to start, try this. Say hello to people in your classes. Visit office hours at least once. Join one club that genuinely interests you. Attend one event and introduce yourself to one new person. These small steps feel easy but they add up quickly.
Networking is not about collecting contacts or LinkedIn profiles. It is about building a community. And the earlier you start, the more natural and helpful it becomes. Hope this helps!
Denise Jochims
2
Answers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Updated
Denise’s Answer
Hello,
I'm glad you asked this question. I suggest young professionals take part in events that promote networking. These can include volunteering, career fairs, campus activities, or even open office hours with professors. These experiences help you learn how to talk to new people and boost your confidence. Wishing you lots of success in your future!
I'm glad you asked this question. I suggest young professionals take part in events that promote networking. These can include volunteering, career fairs, campus activities, or even open office hours with professors. These experiences help you learn how to talk to new people and boost your confidence. Wishing you lots of success in your future!