One Olivia Rodrigo lyric that has stayed with me is from “Making the Bed”: “But it’s me who’s been making the bed.” At first, I connected with the song because of its honesty about the uncomfortable parts of growing up and realizing that sometimes we have more responsibility for our lives than we want to admit. As I have gotten older, though, I have found a different meaning in it. For me, it has become a reminder that taking ownership of my life also means taking ownership of the choices that have brought me here. I did not take the traditional path to becoming a dietitian. I earned a master’s degree in nutrition, built a career in public health and community nutrition, and spent years working with people who were trying to make healthier choices while navigating limited resources, complicated healthcare systems, and the realities of everyday life. I loved the work, but I kept feeling that something was missing. Becoming a registered dietitian had been a dream of mine for years, and eventually I had to decide whether I was willing to change my life to pursue it. Going back to school after already establishing a career was exciting, but it was also difficult. I reduced my work hours so I could focus on school, took on the financial burden of another degree, and eventually returned to full-time work while preparing for my dietetic internship. There were plenty of moments when I wondered if I had made things harder than they needed to be. I was choosing uncertainty when I could have stayed comfortable. That is what Olivia’s song made me think about. “Making the bed” can sound like a criticism of yourself, like you created the situation you are now stuck in. But I have learned that taking responsibility for your choices does not have to mean regretting them. Sometimes you make your own bed because you are brave enough to choose something different. I am now beginning my dietetic internship and moving toward a career I have wanted for nearly a decade. I know the path ahead will come with its own challenges, but I also know why I chose it. I want to help create a different model of nutrition care. One that is evidence-based, culturally appropriate, hands-on, and realistic enough to fit into people’s actual lives. Olivia Rodrigo’s music has reminded me that evolving as an imperfect human is not about having everything figured out. It is about being honest with yourself, learning from your choices, and having the courage to keep becoming the person you want to be. Sometimes, taking ownership of your life means making the bed, and then choosing where to go next.

I want to help build a different model of nutrition care that helps people prevent illness before it becomes the defining part of their lives. More than that, I want to build a way of practicing nutrition that is evidence-based, culturally appropriate, hands-on, and realistic enough to fit into people’s actual lives. My background in public health, community nutrition, and social work has shown me how important it is to meet people where they are. As a future dietitian and bilingual Spanish speaker, I hope to make nutrition care more accessible to Spanish-speaking communities and others who may face barriers to care. I want to build relationships based on trust, compassion, encouragement, and genuine human connection. I am also particularly interested in women’s health and the gaps that remain in our understanding of women’s nutrition and health. I want to continue learning, asking meaningful questions, and contributing to care and research that better reflects women’s experiences and biology. One day, I hope to build a teaching kitchen where my patients can experience nutrition rather than simply hear about it. This vision comes from experience. In my previous role running the health education program at a community health clinic, I taught cooking classes for low-income patients using our clinic breakroom as our makeshift kitchen. Over the weeks, I watched my patients become more comfortable and confident in the kitchen. They were not simply learning about nutrition; they were developing skills, trying new foods, sharing experiences, and discovering that healthy cooking could be enjoyable, attainable, and affordable. I often thought about how much more we could accomplish if we had a dedicated teaching space where we could serve more people. Ultimately, my goal is not simply to build a career, but to build a place where people can gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for themselves. I envision a teaching kitchen filled with practical learning, culturally meaningful food, science-based education, and, perhaps most importantly, a fun, supportive, and encouraging environment. I want people to leave feeling not judged or overwhelmed, but supported, capable, and hopeful. If my education allows me to build that kind of space and impact, I will consider it one of the most meaningful things I could accomplish. Thank you for your time and consideration! Warmly, Lauren Head

Dear Women in STEM Scholarship Committee, I chose to pursue nutrition because I believe some of the most important advances in healthcare begin with understanding the science of what we eat. Nutrition is much more than food and wellness; it is a field grounded in biochemistry, physiology, metabolism, epidemiology, and evidence-based research. I am pursuing nutrition and dietetics because I want to use that science to help prevent disease, improve health outcomes, and contribute to a healthcare system that is more focused on prevention. My path to this field has not been linear. I earned a master’s degree in nutrition and have worked in health education, public health, and community settings, while also gaining experience as a chef and women's strength-training instructor. These experiences taught me that scientific knowledge only creates meaningful change when people can realistically apply it to their lives. They also strengthened my desire to bridge the gap between research and the people who need that knowledge most. One area I am particularly interested in is women’s health. I am fascinated by the complex relationships among nutrition, hormones, metabolism, cardiovascular health, reproductive health, and chronic disease. I also recognize the importance of continuing to strengthen research focused specifically on women. Women have historically been underrepresented in important areas of medical research, and gaps in knowledge can ultimately affect the quality of care women receive. I want to be part of a generation of scientists and healthcare professionals who ask better questions about women’s health and ensure that research reflects the people it is intended to serve. As I continue my education in dietetics, I hope to develop the skills to critically evaluate research and translate scientific findings into practical, compassionate care. I am particularly interested in prevention and the role nutrition can play throughout a woman’s life. Whether studying metabolic conditions such as PCOS, cardiovascular disease, or the relationship between nutrition and cancer, I want to understand not only what the research tells us, but also where the evidence is still incomplete and what questions need to be asked next. As a woman pursuing STEM, I see representation as an opportunity and a responsibility. I want to bring my own perspective and experiences to scientific and healthcare settings while remaining curious, questioning assumptions, and advocating for rigorous evidence. I hope to contribute to research and clinical practice that recognizes women as more than a demographic category, but as individuals whose biology, experiences, and health needs deserve thoughtful investigation. Ultimately, I want to work at the intersection of nutrition science, women’s health, and prevention. My goal is to help expand our understanding of how nutrition affects health while making that knowledge accessible and useful to the people who depend on it. There are still so many unanswered questions about women’s health, and I want to use science to fill some of those gaps and turn what we learn into better, more meaningful care for people. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Lauren Head

Dear Champions of a New Path Scholarship Committee, I believe I deserve the Champions of a New Path Scholarship because I have spent much of my life choosing paths that allow me to serve others, and I am now pursuing the education necessary to make that impact on an even greater scale. My path to becoming a dietitian has not been linear. I have worked in community health, managed health education programs serving low-income populations, volunteered at food banks, taught movement and wellness, and served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. Each experience has reinforced the same belief: good health should not be a privilege reserved for people with abundant resources, and food can be one of our most powerful tools for prevention. I already hold a master's degree in nutrition, but I returned to school because I recognized that I needed the specialized education and supervised clinical experience required to become a registered dietitian. Pursuing this goal has required significant personal and financial sacrifice. I work while completing my coursework and have taken on additional responsibilities to make my education possible. I could have chosen a simpler or more financially convenient path, but I have continued because I believe this work is worth the investment. What gives me an advantage over other applicants is not that I have had an easier journey, but it is that I have consistently turned challenges into motivation. I bring experience from both sides of health care. I understand the science of nutrition, but I also understand the social and practical barriers that determine whether someone can actually implement nutrition recommendations. My goal is to bridge that gap. As a future dietitian, I hope to work in health care with a strong emphasis on prevention and a “food first” approach. I am particularly interested in helping people use nutrition to reduce chronic disease risk and improve quality of life, while making evidence-based nutrition accessible to communities that have historically been underserved. I want my career to extend beyond individual counseling into community education and public health. The Champions of a New Path Scholarship would help reduce the financial burden of completing my education and allow me to continue moving toward a career built around service, prevention, and meaningful change. I am not simply pursuing a degree; I am building on years of experience and education to create a career through which I can help others live healthier lives. My path may not have been conventional, but every step has prepared me for the next one. I am driven by the belief that education is most valuable when it can be used to improve the lives of others, and I intend to make that the foundation of my career. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Lauren Head

Before I begin my essay, I want to express my sincere condolences for the loss of Amber, who was clearly a deeply loved daughter. Stories like Amber’s highlight something that comes up far too often in healthcare. Many people don’t learn how powerful nutrition can be until they are already in the middle of a serious illness. By that point, families are overwhelmed, searching for answers, and trying to do the best they can with limited guidance. That knowledge gap is not just unfortunate, it is preventable, and it is what motivates the work I hope to do as a future Registered Dietitian. During my time working as a health educator at a low-income community health center, I saw firsthand how many patients fell through the cracks of our current healthcare system. Many were managing multiple chronic conditions, yet had never received meaningful nutrition guidance or support. Often, they did not lack motivation; they lacked access, time, and clear, culturally relevant education. Watching patients come in at later stages of disease, when interventions felt more limited, deeply impacted me. It strengthened my motivation to pursue a degree in dietetics so I can reach people sooner, before conditions progress, and help them build the health literacy and confidence needed to take an active role in their care. I am especially interested in working in prevention-focused care and also plan to complete an oncology rotation during my dietetic internship. Nutrition plays a critical role not only in reducing the risk of chronic disease, but also in supporting the body during treatment and recovery. In cancer care, nutrition is not just about nutrients; it is about maintaining strength, managing symptoms, and preserving quality of life during an incredibly difficult time. I want to be someone who can help patients and their families navigate that experience with clear, compassionate, and evidence-based guidance. I am also deeply committed to working with underserved communities, where access to nutrition care and education is often limited. These populations experience higher rates of chronic disease, yet are less likely to receive support that is culturally relevant or practical within their daily lives. As someone who is bilingual in Spanish and has experience in community health settings, I have seen how important it is to meet people where they are. I hope to provide education that respects cultural food traditions while offering realistic, sustainable strategies My approach to nutrition education will always be grounded in both evidence and empathy. I want to translate research into simple, meaningful actions, creating small shifts that can have a significant impact over time. In addition to individual counseling, I plan to incorporate experiential learning opportunities such as cooking classes, gardening programs, and stress-reduction practices like yoga and mindful eating, many of which I have facilitated in the past. I have seen the impact hands-on approaches can have on patients and families, helping them build practical skills, strengthen their confidence, and create meaningful, lasting changes in their daily lives. Ultimately, I hope to help ensure that fewer families are left searching for answers too late, and that more individuals have access to the knowledge, support, and care that can truly make a difference in both the quality and quantity of their lives. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Lauren Head (future RDN)