Student Corner Interview

Patrick Wilson
Family Consumer Science-Dietetics student
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN

Tell us yourself, education, your background, and your current interests.

I am from Chisholm, MN, a small town in northern Minnesota. I completed my general education courses at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and then decided I wanted to study nutrition. Because nutrition was not offered as a degree at that institution, I looked for nutrition programs at other schools in the state. I transferred to Minnesota State University, Mankato, where I am a Family Consumer Science-Dietetics student. I also have a minor in Corporate and Community Fitness. I am in the third year of the program and plan to graduate next spring. In addition to education, I love running and have completed several races. Last fall I participated in the Des Moines Half-Marathon, finishing in 1:30. This summer I plan to run in several races and look forward to improving my times.

How did you become interested in nutrition?

Originally, I wasn’t even interested in nutrition. Throughout high school, I was the kid who could eat anything he wanted and get away with it. I enjoyed participating in cross country, basketball, and track. My family was probably my biggest influence in becoming interested in nutrition. I have a sister-in-law who is also a dietetics student. I remember conversations about topics such as the glycemic index. From those experiences, I became intrigued to learn more. My specific interest in sports nutrition developed from the fact that I had such an active background growing up.

Do you have an interest in research? Tell us about your plans.

Although I have not completed any research yet, I plan with my advisor, Susan Fredstrom, PhD, RD, Professor, Family Consumer Science, to do some interesting research this fall. The topic is the effect resistance training has on basal metabolic rate (BMR) in individuals who are losing weight---those who resistance train versus those who do not resistance train. This information has implications for individuals looking for more effective ways to lose weight and maintain their weight loss. People who struggle with their weight often find that maintaining weight loss is one of the most challenging aspects. Resistance training to maintain BMR, though, may be one way to help successfully maintain weight loss. I am really excited about getting my feet wet in nutrition research, as I could see myself doing more of it in the future.

What experiences have you had in sports nutrition?

Currently, I am interning at our fitness and nutrition assessment office at the Fitness & Wellness program (https://www.mnsu.edu/campusrec/fitness/). I work with many different individuals who have a wide variety of goals. Their goals or interests include the following: weight loss, weight gain, training performance, and improving overall diet. This experience has reinforced my desire to work in field of sports nutrition. I have learned a lot about dealing with clients on a one-on-one basis, an invaluable skill. As I have learned, not everyone you work with will be as interested or as enthusiastic about nutrition as you are. The key, though, is to stay positive. By being positive, you may break down some of the initial barriers towards nutrition that clients may have.

What are your professional goals? Once you become a registered dietitian, what kind of work do you want to do?

After I complete my undergraduate dietetics degree, I plan to do a dietetic internship and become a registered dietitian. After that, I would like to attend graduate school for sports nutrition or a related field—hopefully away from the cold and snow of Minnesota. Although I enjoy nutrition in general, my passion is sports nutrition. I would like to work with athletes because they are some of the most focused individuals I have ever met. In order to enhance my opportunities in this field, I also plan to become a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). Before I found out about the CSSD, I wondered how I would get involved in sports nutrition. The CSSD, however, provides direction and a goal for those interested in the field. It really brings a sense of professionalism to an area of nutrition that has been marred by individuals claiming to be sports nutrition “experts”. Finally, we have the credential needed to show we are the experts in sports nutrition. In addition to becoming a CSSD, I would also like to become a Certified Personal Trainer or a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the NSCA. To be a successful professional in sports nutrition, I feel that one needs an understanding not only of nutrition but also exercise.

Is there anything else you would like to share with other students?

I would advise other students to make sure they do several things. Firstly, be relentless in your pursuit of knowledge in nutrition. Things change every day, and it is imperative to your success to be able to answer clients’ tough questions as thoroughly and intelligently as possible. Secondly, get involved as much as you can. You may be one of the most knowledgeable people in the field, but if you do not have the connections and resources you obtain from being involved, you will not reach your potential. Finally, be passionate about your field. If you are truly passionate about what you are doing, there is no limit to what you can do.

5/28/07