Health and Human Services Professional Development

Asking for Letters of Recommendation by   Jill Bowers   on   December 27, 2014   Dear Professor, I am applying for graduate school. The online application system requested that I put in 3 individuals who might be willing to write me a letter of recommendation. I listed your name, so you can expect to receive an email from them soon. If you cannot do this, I understand. But, hopefully you can. It will only take like 5 minutes because it’s an online form. Oh and, it is due in two days. No, no and no. Your letters of recommendation are critical as they could play a significant role in your acceptance into graduate school or success on the job market. As such, you should approach professors or others who you are asking to write you a letter with thoughtfulness, organization, and gratitude. A few tips…. Carefully choose your letter writers.  Individuals who know you well and care about your future will likely write the best letters for you. Asking a me...

3 Diet Resolutions for the New Year by   Natasha Chong Cole, MPH, RD   on   January 19, 2015   With the start of 2015, many of you might have made New Year’s resolutions. Many times these resolutions involve getting into shape or cleaning up your diet. Unfortunately, most steps taken to achieve these goals only work as a quick-fix but don’t provide lasting results. Here are 3 resolutions you can start this year that are more likely to help you achieve your goals in the long run. 1) Eat More Fiber According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines, the Adequate Intake for fiber is 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams per day for men. While that number may not sound like a lot, keep in mind that this is tough task (even for dietitians!). Fiber is important for heart and digestive health, but it can also help with weight loss by helping you feel full. Here are some great resources:  7 Foods That Will Make You Poop  and  16 Great High-Fiber Foods 2) ...

                                                                    Omnipresence of Sugar By Shaun Hurdelbrink and Natasha Cole, MPH, RD on April 28, 2015 Are you aware of sugar’s omnipresence in your life or how much you truly consume? Added sugar is found in many foods: breakfast cereals, fruit juices, granola bars, ketchup, BBQ sauce, soymilk, energy drinks, protein bars, etc. You get the idea. Unsurprisingly, Americans consume “an average of more than 500 calories per day from added sugar alone.” 1  Not only do added sugars themselves contribute several hundred calories daily, but sugar’s low nutritional value makes people “continue to feel hungry” after consuming them. 2  Sugar not only contributes to obesity around the world, but it is also linked to other health problems such as: hypertension...

Privileged College Student, Are You Grateful? By Shaun Hurdelbrink and Jill Bowers, PhD  on   April 28, 2015   Many view a higher education as the ultimate gateway to success, but seemingly few students express the gratitude tertiary education deserves. Unfortunately, the opportunities and privileges of being a college student may easily be overlooked or taken for granted. As a university student, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a fellow student complain about the amount work that needs to be done for a class, or how much someone is dreading the next difficult section. I’ve also been asked many times, “what’s the easiest class to take?” If anything, students should be excited to take on academic challenges instead of avoiding or dreading them. Understandably, this is not the view of every student, but my experience has demonstrated that many students may be in a counterproductive mindset. Throughout my life, higher education was viewed as an expectat...

Expectations vs Reality of Social Media Experiences by   Jill Bowers   on   March 23, 2014 I saw this YouTube video last year, and I thought it was brilliantly done and wanted to share. The video depicts the expectations and realities of meeting, or rather, reconnecting with a romantic interest via Facebook. Social networking use has been associated with lower levels of social well-being; for example, more social media and smart phone usage has been linked to higher levels of loneliness, social anxiety, and other areas of social-emotional wellness (see examples of research in this area below).Perhaps, having realistic expectations about your social media experiences could prevent feelings of loneliness or social anxiety?! A few examples of research findings surrounding social media, psychology, and human behavior include: Appelbaum, P., & Kopelman, A. (2014). Social media’s challenges for psychiatry.  World Psychiatry, 13,   21-23. Caplan, S. E. (2007)...

Teaching FCS, A Fulfilling Career by   Kathleen Clark   on   May 12, 2015   Would you like a career that is rewarding, challenging, and no two days are ever the same? Have you ever thought about becoming a family and consumer sciences teacher? Experience and training in culinary arts and nutrition, child development and care, family relationships, consumerism, and fashion merchandising are just some of the areas you could possibly teach. Currently, there is a shortage of highly qualified family and consumer sciences teachers in half of the states across America (see AAFCS –  Werhan’s article on continued demand for FCS teachers ). This is a great opportunity to get certified and make a difference in the lives of young students, their families and the surrounding communities. You will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences education, student teach, and get a state certification or license. You can teach the youth of today how to...

Connect with Yourself and Others to Cope with Distress by   Jill Bowers   on   June 20, 2015   Feel overwhelmed with career decisions, your academics, relationship issues, and or family stress? Know that you are not alone. In fact, research has shown that during the transition to adulthood individuals report experiencing increased anxiety and stressful life events, including relationship issues, financial struggles, or other challenges. 1, 2, 3  The majority of college students report feeling overwhelmed (87%), exhausted (82%), and over half (54%) have said they feel overwhelmed with anxiety.3 We are constantly told how stress is bad for us. It is true that stress hormones affect the brain, memory in particular. 4,5  If we allow it, distress, or negative stress, can lead to poor mental and physical health outcomes, such as sleep quality, decreased decision-making abilities, and increased anxiety or depression. In these ways, stress can influence you...

The morning of your job interview…just eat it. by   Natasha Chong Cole, MPH, RD   on   August 26, 2015   There are many ways that you can prepare for your job interview (see  here ), but one method of preparation that you may not have thought about involves nutrition. Here are 4 dietary tips to help you perform your best during your job interview: 1)       To Clear Your Mind Eat omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain health and  antioxidants  can enhance cognitive function. Excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and fatty fish (like salmon and tuna). Foods high in antioxidants include grapes, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, green tea, and red beans. 2)       To Give You Energy Eat lean protein and complex carbohydrates. These nutrients will help you stay full for longer and help regulat...