Walking into class, not having done my field experience yet, I did not have the slightest clue as to what "community nutrition" was. School systems, nursing homes, even recreational centers came to mind when I was pondering on what the class could possibly involve. Aspects of community, encompassing people from a wide range of life stages, would indeed include such operations as mentioned previously. In the broad scope of things they all relate to one another and function as a unit: the youth, middle-age, and elderly all flow together in the cycle of life and make up what a community is. Within each category there are unique needs and circumstances amongst individuals, which form subcategories of the community. Community nutrition takes into account the needs and circumstances of people and produces interventions in order to improve the group as a whole.
It is my hope that I learn not only the individual factors which effect the community altogether, but also strategies and the ability to apply an empathetic approach to a varying group of people. I want to understand the way a community functions and the factors which play a powerful role in daily life: government, education, finance, disease, location, etc. I believe strongly it is the capability to look at the details meanwhile paying attention to overall key points which makes a great dietitian: I hope to enhance this ability as I continue on my educational path.
