Friday, August 26, 2011

Change of life plans!

So...you know how the last post said that I'd be a traveling dietitian? Well, I lied (kinda)! 


Turns out that fate took it's course and I ended up being offered a permanent pediatric clinical dietitian position at Mott Children's Hospital! So this girl is setting up a few roots in Ann Arbor. I'm more than excited/stoked/relieved. After much thinking about which position I'd rather have, I had to put it into perspective. 


- I've been traveling from room to room, house to house ever since I left home after high school.
- Both positions are float positions (basically), but at Mott, it'll be purely pediatrics!
- I'll be able to get involved with projects and committees at Mott, make a name for myself.
- I'll be able to establish myself an address, a group of friends, and a room of my own.
- I'll be closer to home, and be able to make future plans, as I know I'll always have weekends off.


So, it took some thinking, but in the end, someone gave me a great piece of advice, she said: "I know neither position is your dream job, but which one will get you there faster?"


No. Brainer.




Oh, and not to mention, I passed my RD exam yesterday! So happy that it's over. Surprisingly a lot more difficult than I anticipated, but I passed and I'm all done, nonetheless. So now, with my free time, I'm doing a lot of reading, relaxing, and soaking in feeling of accomplishment...because I simply have no other place to be, and nothing else better to do.


Well, until I go back to work on Monday, anyway. 

Monday, August 8, 2011

Rewind and review.

Ok, ok, ok. I know, I know, I know. I haven't written on here for over a month and it's completely my fault!

But, the good news is that I successfully completed my internship, $4,500 in tuition and 1,560++ hours of free labor later. Our graduation ceremony was very nice and relaxing, my family really enjoyed it and it came and went so quickly, it seemed.

Following the graduation ceremony, I left for a family July 4th weekend party in which I went golfing and enjoyed the sunshine and lack of responsibilities, assignments, and places to be. Then, the following day was my birthday in which I turned 23! Jeez I'm getting old...hehe.

Then, the day after that, I started my new job as a temporary clinical dietitian at Mott Children's Hospital. Basically, in all reality, I'm doing exactly what I was doing during the internship, but now just getting paid. I'm covering RD's who go on vacation, take a day off, or who are on maternity leave. It's a nice variety and I've covered multiple positions including PICU, transplant, cystic fibrosis, among many others.

Needless to say that I'm still living in my extended family's basement. But, that will all soon change because...

I got a (permanent) big girl job!

This "Will Work For Free" blog must now be renamed. I got a position as a clinical resource dietitian for Sodexo. Basically, I'll be traveling all over the East/Midwest in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and many other states covering for RD's who go on long vacations, maternity leaves, or if someone suddenly leaves and they need someone to fill in before they hire a new person.

BUT - the cool part is, is that I can travel for as long as I'd like. The position is permanent and full-time within Sodexo, but when I'm ready and there's an opening in an area I like, I can apply, interview, and (hopefully!) secure a position in one particular hospital. Then, I no longer travel. It works out perfectly as I'm young, not too much holding me down, and I have wanted to travel for a while. Even better - I'll be getting paid to travel.

That adventure starts in late August. But for now, I'm still putting in my last two weeks at Mott Children's and studying for my RD exam. A few girls from the internship have taken it already and successfully passed, which makes me feel a little better. Of course, no matter what, I'll be freaking out the day of the exam.

So, hopefully all of those who were accepted to an internship are gearing up (or have already started?) for their internships. It was a really long, strenuous, stressful, but extremely rewarding year, and I can't imagine going straight into an entry-level position without doing an internship first. Good luck!

But, seeing as how I'll have a little extra time on my hands while I'm on the road, I've decided to keep blogging from my new position as I travel. Although the title of my blog will need to be changed...