Encourage: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.

College graduates can feel like they’ve experienced a lifetime of learning and growing in a few short years. While this collegiate journey is often exciting, it can also evoke feelings of stress and uncertainty. For many, college is the first time they take a heavy hand in managing decisions about their futures. Confronting unfamiliar emotions and pressures is normal. During these moments, taking the time to encourage others in their academic and professional journeys can make all the difference.

Welcome to another edition of Letters to Myself: Words of Advice and Encouragement. In this series, recent graduates of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida reflect on their early experiences in the department and share what they’ve learned, what they might have done differently, and their dreams for the years ahead. Our hope is that these letters offer reassurance and guidance for those beginning their college journeys.

Today’s letter-writer is Julia Charske, a graduate of the nutritional sciences program in the UF/FSHN Department. Julia is also the winner of the FSHN Department Senior Distinction Scholarship this past April, a prize awarded to the outstanding senior in each of the department’s three majors. In this letter, Julia speaks to first-year students as she recounts the lessons she learned and the unexpected decisions she made while studying at UF.

Dear First Years,

Hello! My name is Julia Charske. I recently graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Nutritional Sciences and a BA in Spanish. Right now, I am applying to medical school while working as a Patient Care Assistant (PCA) at UF Health Shands. I also recently got engaged, so wedding planning keeps me busy! Life is exciting and full of change, but I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my undergraduate journey.

I wasn’t always a Gator fan. Growing up in Ohio, I was indoctrinated to cheer for the Buckeyes. But when my family moved to Florida and I was accepted to UF, I knew that was where I should go. I began college on a pre-nursing track, but after taking Fundamentals of Nutrition with Dr. Stacy Mobley, I fell in love with the subject and changed my major to nutritional sciences. Around the same time, a close family friend inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. Those decisions changed my college trajectory.

To the Freshmen: Here’s What I’ve Learned

It’s okay to change your mind.

Switching majors seemed scary at the time, but it was one of the best decisions I made. Majoring in nutrition allowed me to continue learning about a topic I am passionate about and gain knowledge I’ll integrate into my future practice as a physician. College isn’t about following a cookie-cutter plan, it’s about finding the path that is best for you. If you have to make some U-turns along the way, it’s okay!

Give yourself grace.

The first year of college is hard. Moving away from home, making new friends, figuring out parking (you may never figure this out), and understanding how college classes work can be overwhelming. Many people told me that “college is the best time of your life.” While my first year of college was fun, it was also lonely. Take freshman year to join clubs, start new friendships, and explore Gainesville. The friends that you make in your dorm or your first classes may be some of your best friends by graduation. Having a community of people around you makes a huge difference.

Don’t forget to enjoy the ride!

Yes, college can be stressful, but remember to live in the moment. If you are at UF, you are probably an overachiever. I encourage you to take a step back and enjoy life. Do things you love, whether that’s dancing salsa at Gator Salsa, climbing rocks at The Knot, or joining a social advocacy club. Those are the moments you will carry with you. UF has so many opportunities to prepare you for your future, and you will end up where you need to be. Take the time to figure out who you are and enjoy college life. It will be over before you know it!

As a freshman, I never thought I’d be graduating college with two majors, applying for medical school, and marrying the love of my life, but here I am. I couldn’t be more grateful to UF and the nutritional sciences department for developing me into the person I am today. So, to the freshmen, figure out who you are, change your minds, grow through adversity, and most importantly, enjoy the ride!

Best wishes,

Julia

Letters to Myself is a sub-series of our innovative UF/FSHN Careers Advancement Project (CAP), which captures what it’s really like to earn degrees in food science, nutritional sciences, and dietetics.

[Reference: Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Encourage. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encourage]

Interested in learning more about studies and careers in Food Science and Human Nutrition? Check out our UF/FSHN CAP series:

(1) What Can I Do with My Degree?

(2) Day in the Life

(3) Letters to Myself: Words of Advice and Encouragement

Learn more about FSHN’s renowned programs below!

Undergraduate Programs:
Dietetics
Food Science
Nutritional Sciences

Graduate Programs:
M.S. Dietetic Internship Program
M.S. Food Science and Human Nutrition
Ph.D. Food Science
Ph.D. Nutritional Sciences

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