Growth: The process of forming or developing.
Many kinds of personal growth exist: growth in stature, growth in mindset, even growth in the skill of seeking opportunities. Yet during the college years, students often experience a distinctive kind of growth that results from the combination of a new, challenging environment with a supportive community that offers the potential for endless possibilities. This type of growth may be nerve-racking. After all, too many possibilities can be stressful. But part of experiencing growth is pushing past the discomfort to discover a path that’s uniquely yours.
Welcome to our fourth 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 Katelyn Zick, a graduate of the nutritional sciences program in the UF/FSHN Department. Katelyn 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, Katelyn addresses first-year students as she describes how she experienced personal and professional growth while studying at UF.
Dear First Years,
Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has changed since I first arrived at UF.
I grew up in a suburban town in Minnesota. My childhood was pretty normal until I was about sixteen, when I began dealing with some health challenges. During that time, exercise became an outlet that helped me feel better, and I became curious about nutrition and how it could affect health.
At UF, one of the first things I learned is that you never know who you’ll meet. In my first chemistry lecture, I sat next to a stranger who is now one of my closest friends. He was actually the one who introduced me to the nutritional sciences major–at the time I was a biology major. College taught me that there isn’t one “right way” to get where you want to go. Some of the best decisions I made were the ones based on what genuinely interested me rather than what I thought I was supposed to do.
My time at UF was full of opportunities and growth
As an out-of-state student, I chose UF because of the opportunities available to students interested in healthcare. Between research, UF Health, student organizations, and everything happening on campus, there was always something new to try. I had no idea how many doors UF would open for me. Right now, I work for UF Health in outpatient oncology, and later this month I’ll transition into a clinical research role with the UF College of Medicine. Outside of work, I teach group fitness classes at YogaPod and recently became certified in hot yoga. During this year away from school, I’ve had more time to learn about movement, anatomy, and different forms of exercise, and I’ve loved having the chance to explore those interests.
One of my favorite memories was celebrating the 2025 basketball national championship. The excitement in Gainesville was something I’ll never forget. I had never experienced school spirit like that before. It felt like the entire community was celebrating together, and it reminded me how lucky I was to be a Florida Gator.
Advice to my first-year self
If I could give my first-year self a few pieces of advice, I would start with this: do things that make you nervous. Some of my best friendships, experiences, and opportunities started because I decided to show up even when I wasn’t completely comfortable. Try things without feeling like you have to commit to them forever. Join the club. Apply for the position. Go to the meeting. If it isn’t for you, that’s okay. You’ll learn just as much from figuring out what you don’t enjoy as you will from finding what you love.
And when you’re tired or wondering whether all the work is worth it, remember to slow down. College goes by quickly. Work hard, but don’t rush through it. Pay attention to the ordinary moments too. This is your first time living on your own, making your own decisions, and figuring out who you are. Let yourself enjoy it.
If there’s one thing I hope you remember, it’s this: remember to breathe. The moments that feel overwhelming will eventually pass. You can’t do much of anything while holding your breath. Move your body. Feed yourself well. Spend time with people who care about you. The simple things will carry you through more than you realize.
Go Gators forever!
Katelyn
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.). Growth. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 15, 2026, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/growth]
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
1
