I
worked with Simon Au Yeung and we were allocated to interview Associate
professor Karen Walker. We conducted this interview over email since Professor
Walker was overseas on study leave and it was easier for her to answer the
questions in written form. Nonetheless, we were able to see her personality
shine through her emails as she wrote with such a story-like tone. It was very
humbling to read.
I
discovered that a career in dietetics does not necessarily mean you are working
9-5 in a clinic. I’ve realised that there is so much variety to this career
which I definitely did not think there was before I started watching all the
other presentations. In particular, Professor Walker was not only teaching, but
she was able to publish journals, mentor graduates and participate in research
all at the same time. The fact that she was able to practice and study
nutrition overseas as well was extremely inviting to both Simon and I as
travelling the world was an aspiration we both had.
It was inspiring to hear
how she had gotten into dietetics as this was not the path she had originally
taken to begin with, but it made us realise that so many opportunities arise
throughout your life and that it’s never too late to undertake something that
you are passionate about. It also highlighted that I probably would not
undertake teaching in the future as her descriptions of her average day in
Notting Hill was not too exciting. On the other hand, she inspired me to
consider public health or research in my future career. I feel now that I’ve
listened to all of the presentations, I realised that even if I do decide to
pursue a career in clinical dietetics, I can always do multiple things at once.
I
would’ve loved to have met the Professor although I understand that the
circumstances were too difficult to do so, she was nonetheless inspiring. Next
time I would like to ask her more about her publications. Especially since she
did so much work in Type 2 diabetes which I think will definitely be something
I will come across as a dietician in the future.
