The Big Leagues and Bigger Lessons

Dr. Combs invited me to share guidance and insights with the newest ACP cohort during their first meeting.

As I sit here writing this, while the sun seems to finally shine on Lexington for the first time in weeks, I am amazed by the multitude of opportunities I have had since being with Extension. For those following along, whether you are a dietetic student, a fellow career changer, or simply curious about the realities of supervised practice, this post reflects on some of the wins and challenges I’ve experienced over the past few weeks. It is hard to believe we’re already more than halfway through this rotation, and by this time next month I’ll be stepping into the next phase. So, before my millennial nostalgia pulls me under, let’s take a look at a few of the moments that have stretched me most since we last spoke.

If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting me in person, you probably know that talking is something that comes naturally to me, my brothers may even argue that it comes too naturally. This and the B.S. in Public Relations may play a part in my ability to deliver presentations without much forethought. However, those tend to be done in person, standing before a group of people and having fully developed the materials that are being presented. So, imagine my surprise when I found myself nervous before a webinar on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, where I would be presenting three slides to a host of extension agents. Not until that time did I realize that I could be uncomfortable when it comes to giving a presentation. It felt like I was stepping up to the “Big Leagues” with an audience of over 100 participants I realized my internal monologue was panicky slightly wondering if we were ready for this. That’s the thing about being outside of your comfort zone, one minute you have no idea how you are going to get through it and the next you realize that maybe you have the tools you need after all.

I’m sure you’re waiting on the edge of your seat to find out how that meeting went and whether I sank or swam. Well, I’m happy to report that I made it through the presentation with a new appreciation for what my preceptors and other presenters go through on the regular. There were some mishaps along the way such as my air pods jumping ship from my ear multiple times and a sneeze needing to be suppressed at the transition to my last slide. It wasn’t all doom and gloom though, the confidence that came at the conclusion of the presentation was small but meaningful, it was that first spark of change from student to professional. During a post-presentation recap with Dr. Luecking and Dr. Norman-Burgdolf I was able to purposefully reflect on the experience, realizing that I need to work on expanding my library of transition words and phrases. The support of my preceptors helped to bolster feelings of my ability to not only continue to succeed in this rotation but those still to come and beyond.

You will often hear me say that I passionately believe in continuing to learn new things because, as I like to put it, knowledge is power. My time with Extension has opened my eyes to the incredible scope of their work and the many ways they collaborate across disciplines to serve the community. But the excitement of wanting to learn it all comes with a challenge I didn’t fully expect, there simply isn’t enough time to do everything. I’ve caught myself wishing for extra hours in the day, or Hermione’s time turner so that I could say yes to every opportunity. Learning to prioritize has been one of the hardest parts of this experience. It has pushed me to accept that growth sometimes means choosing depth over breadth and trusting that each experience, even the ones I can’t fit in, contributes to a bigger picture of learning.

Learning to prioritize and manage time has also reminded me how important it is to build a strong support system. During orientation, Dr. Combs guided us through an exercise where we identified people we could lean on throughout our rotations to help us stay balanced and avoid becoming overwhelmed. Wanting to put that into practice, and with my millennial nostalgia running high, I chose to turn it into action by organizing a breakfast meet-up with friends I had studied abroad with in Italy last May. We spent two hours catching up, laughing, and talking honestly about our experiences.

What I didn’t fully anticipate was how naturally the conversation evolved into mentorship. The other three students were from the next two cohorts of our program, which allowed me to reflect on my own journey while offering insight from my experiences so far. At the same time, hearing their perspectives reminded me that support in this field is rarely one-directional and that mentorship doesn’t have to be formal, it can happen in simple moments of connection, and we often learn just as much from one another as we do from formal instruction. That morning showed me how valuable it is to intentionally create space for support and build your own community, not only as a buffer against stress, but as a source of encouragement and shared growth as we navigate this demanding but rewarding journey.

Making space for connection and community. Breakfast with friends from our Italy study abroad trip, representing three ACP cohorts.

104 pounds of food rescued from campus Starbucks locations for the WiN-WiN program, turning surplus into support and helping fight food waste and food insecurity in Kentucky.

Shadowed Anna Cason, senior extension associate and DHN alumna, as she spoke with ABC 36 News Now anchor Jennifer Brown about heart health and the importance of fiber.