Olivia Olmstead

What inspired or interested you about your field of study? And why did you choose Oregon State University? 

I have always been interested in learning about health and food security, especially in rural areas, since I grew up in a small coastal town. Learning about the public health degree and all the different avenues one can take really interested me, especially those centered on community, food insecurity and education.  

I chose Oregon State University because they have a great nutrition program, but after a while, I decided to declare my degree in public health because it allowed me to combine all of my fields of interest into one major. 

What are you doing in your internship? 

I have been distributing nutrition education curriculum to elementary schools across Lane County, as well as fresh produce from local farmers' markets. I have also been helping teach small cooking and nutritional education classes at elementary schools for both students and their families/guardians. 

What do you see as the greatest value of your internship?  

Going outside of my comfort zone and discovering the things that I excel in without previously knowing has been a greatly valuable aspect of my internship. On the other hand, learning skills that I could improve before I enter the professional workforce is also another valuable aspect to me.  

What do you think of your experience at OSU/in the college so far? Any stand-out experiences? 

I graduated from high school during COVID-19 and completed my Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree (AAOT) online, so going to an actual in-person class after two years of being all online was daunting for me.  

But as soon as I got to OSU, I felt welcomed by everyone on campus. It was still hard to connect with my peers during this time, but it also made me get out of my comfort zone and try to interact more with those in my classes. 

Overall, I think my experience at OSU was great, if not a little rushed, since I was only here for two school years before graduating.  

What I would say to someone who is considering the College of Health at OSU is how welcoming and helpful the professors and students are in this college. The COH also has some amazing classes that expand your understanding of public health and its importance. 

Have you received a scholarship? If so, how has it affected your life and your studies? 

I have received multiple scholarships while pursuing my AAOT and BS degrees. OSU itself rewarded me with scholarships that amazingly affected my life and studies. This was the first time I was living on my own with bills and other payments, while also learning how to provide and feed myself. It was definitely a journey, but with the help of scholarships, I thankfully wasn’t too stressed with paying for school. 

What are your post-college dreams/plans? 

After my internship and receiving my diploma, I want to travel for a bit and experience new things in different countries. I would also love to study abroad for my master's degree, such as in Ireland, because I have family I have never met before who live there, and it would be such an amazing opportunity. After I receive my master's degree, I would love to work more in nutritional education that focuses on food insecurity in rural populations.