Kirby Baber

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

All employers seek someone who is self-motivated. As such, it is always a good idea to continually research what is new in your field or what a day in the life of a professional in the career you want. I used to watch videos on what doctors did in their daily lives and sought out shadowing and organizational opportunities. This led me to realize that I actually wanted to be a Dietitian, not a Doctor. Its important to remember that figuring out what you absolutely do NOT want to do is just as important as figuring out what you really WANT to do. If you're in college, talk to your professors! Ask questions! Get involved! Not only will this help you learn your material better and to get a better experience out of school overall, but it may be useful during times when you need networking or a recommendation letter down the road!

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

I actually wanted to be a Doctor for most of my whole life. Despite urgings from a professor of mine (as well as some of my grades in the medical-related courses) I pushed myself to study hard and to try to keep up with the overwhelming competition at my school. I pushed myself to the brink of burn-out. It was when I got further into my nutrition career that I really took a look at my hobbies, at what I enjoyed. I realized that I would research nutrition in my free time, make handouts and mess with recipes - all things I could do while pursuing my desire to help others and to learn more about science. After taking the MCAT and getting a pretty dismal score, I ultimately decided that dietetics was where my heart truly was and that my path to becoming a doctor was something I was forcing myself into. Ever since then, I have been fully committed to becoming a Dietician and have never looked back!

How did you start building your network?

To begin, talking with your professors is a HUGE asset not only to your network, but in building mutual respect and trust. This can serve you in many ways from networking to fulfillment in your classes and in better comprehension of the material. As I progressed through my classes, I reached out more and more to my peers both in classes and organizations, even if they weren't necessarily Nutrition majors. Surround yourself with successful students to guide you to better study habits. Finally, I started utilizing LinkedIn and would try to reach out to professionals in my field, other students, and professors to build a network that is varied and widespread. Remember, while your classmates are indeed competing with you for spots in programs, see other students as people to learn from (either on what to do or what NOT to do) rather than people to beat. This will help you avoid a competitive and tiring mindset, teach you skills or perspectives you may not have thought of, and to make a network of supporters to cheer you on! Who knows? They may be your coworker or even your boss someday.