I transferred from my local community college to the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign in my junior year to complete my undergraduate degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN), and I am currently a first-year master's student studying FSHN and completing my dietetic internship. I have enjoyed my experience in FSHN, and I am excited to see what is to come.

The two major things I love about FSNH are the hands-on learning opportunities and the FSHN faculty. This program's hands-on approach truly turns what is taught in class into life. In FSHN 232-Science of Food Preparation, you can make a recipe that matches the food science principles you are learning each week. In FSHN 340-Food Production and Service, your class works together to serve over 100 patrons in a fully-functioning restaurant. Another class I loved was FSHN 459-Nutrition Focused Physical Assessment; I learned how to complete a malnutrition assessment in this class. Students had the opportunity to go to a nursing home and complete an assessment of a resident.

The faculty in FSHN made my transfer to the U of I seamless. I was scared that coming to a bigger institution, my professors would not even know my name. However, that is the exact opposite of what happened. The professors were so welcoming, and I could tell they genuinely cared about me. Some advice I would give to future FSHN students would be to get to know your professors and do not be afraid to ask questions. The faculty is there to help you get the most out of your education. Another tip is to say yes to as many extracurricular opportunities as possible; this is a great way to learn without taking another class!

As a student completing my dietetic internship, the classes I have taken at the U of I have prepared me to succeed in my internship. When I was in the food service rotation of my internship, I could use the skills I learned in FSHN 232 and 340 in a real-world setting, which made my education come full circle. It was also gratifying to complete malnutrition assessments in my clinical rotation and apply my education in a meaningful way. As a result of my education in FSHN, I am confident that I will be highly successful in my future career. I just know you will love the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and FSHN just as much as I have! Go Illini!