Line ’Em Up!

After I left my job in the summer of 2015, I had to dig deep and ask myself what job I wanted next that wasn’t going to suck me emotionally and financially dry; disregard my ethics and integrity; and leave me feeling like I made no positive human impact.

Nutrition surfaced because I love to shop, cook and eat healthy and above all, I wanted to help my mom who has Type 2 diabetes. I imagined it to be a beautiful circle of life helping life. I would help her manage her health, and in turn, she would allow me to put theory into practice.

I went to Dallas, Austin and Far West Texas a month after I quit my job to do more reconnaissance after my first trip back in February 2015. I took a side trip to glide through Texas’ big sky for my second time with the best crew — Burt Compton and the Moondogs — so I can gain a clearer perspective of my purpose and my path to happiness and freedom.

When I got back to Austin, I met with an admissions counselor from the Nutrition Science program with the intent of lining up my ducks in a row to get a Masters degree in Nutrition Sciences to be a Registered Dietician in one of the fattest states in America. At that moment, I saw myself being named as one of the people who knocked down percentage points off the state population who suffered from obesity and diabetes.

I know University of Texas at Austin has a competitive program to get into, so I wanted to get started on building my knowledge and portfolio on nutrition while I actively, patiently and productively wait one year so I can officially become a Texas resident. This way, I can take my pre-reqs at Austin Community College and pay the in-district/in-state tuition fee instead of out-of-state which is five times more.

During that time, I plan to be a health coach for my private practice and work at a hospital. By the time I satisfy all those basic courses, I will have at least three years of experience to add to my resume and I’ll be super ready to apply for my masters at UT and ensure admittance.

In December, I noticed a Facebook ad about IIN and saw that one of my acquaintances graduated from the program. My curiosity was piqued and I looked into it deeper. I was considering it, but the fact that they didn’t publish how much the tuition is, deterred me from reaching out. On Friday December 18 , I came across an e-mail from IIN about the no-interest option promotion. It was ending that day and a fire was lit under my bum.

I called with hands sweaty and heart beating fast, asked as many questions as I could, got all the pertinent details and said I needed to inform my parents and will call them back. I explained what I wanted to do to my mom on her smartphone — who was in Florida on their intermittent trips with my dad at that time — but she couldn’t focus on it because they were driving with their friend and she said she’d call back.

I communicated to them that I was on a deadline to give Institute of Integrative Nutrition School (IIN) the YES and payment info by 7:00PM. Honestly, I was worried that my parents wouldn’t take my purpose and time sensitivity seriously, but I was wrong. They called back in less than 30 minutes, gave me their blessing and shouldered my first month.

I felt a warm rush of happiness because I saw a path towards my future and fortunate to have my parent’s support despite interrupting their leisure time.

I reached out to my friend for her thoughts, but didn’t hear back from her until a week after I enrolled. I was a little uneasy but I told myself that I had to trust my gut that I made the right decision.

Today, I finished my first week at Institute of Integrative Nutrition School and I have a clearer picture of my intentions!