My Purpose

Just wanted to share with you my statement of purpose for graduate school. It's not fabulous but it will do. My professors love the fact that I have a background in agriculture so they are giving me an early admission into graduate school. I thought I should share my passion with all of you. 


From a very young age I was interested in the field of agriculture. I grew up a farm girl, riding horses and always looked forward to family vacations in Missouri in the middle of nowhere. Being around animals and plants is where I belong. Everyday I stare at plants walking to and from classes going over in my head the physiological processes each plant is most likely undergoing. I sometimes even stop and smell the roses, literally. I identify plant parts such as petals, anthers, and stigmas. I wonder about the nutrient deficiencies that some of the plants I encounter might have. My favorite classes I took in college were plant and animal related. I learned throughout my time at Truman State University that nutrition is important, not only for plants, but for humans as well. My curiosity and fascination of plants makes me want to continuously learn more. It is not just plants that I would like to work with, but children, as well. A Master in Public Health can help me achieve exactly what I believe God has planned for me: being a pediatric nutritionist and registered dietitian. I want to bring healing to hurting children through better nutrition and education of agriculture. My degree will allow me to pass my agricultural and nutrition knowledge to the children in our schools and community. I can implement small scale gardens in these schools in hopes of connecting children to agriculture and nutrition. Younger generations have lost touch with agricultural processes and might not be educated about where our food comes from. My duty as an agriculturalist and as a future health care professional is to bring these two fields together to promote healthier lives among the children of our nation. I have to take the opportunity California Baptist University and God are giving me to be able to live my purpose and fulfill my life goals in the agriculture and nutrition field. 

From internships and jobs that I have had, I have found that I enjoy working with children. Unfortunately, I have learned that most children in many areas across the country are not exposed to much, if any, agricultural practices, such as, gardening or farming at all. A child in middle school asked me, “Is that a tomato or an onion?” It was neither. It was an eggplant. As someone who is educated in the agriculture industry, I cannot allow questions like this to discourage me. It encourages me to work harder and continue what I am doing because I can make a difference. It is important to be educated in areas such as agriculture, because I am convinced that bridging the “knowledge-gap” between farm and table may help children of all ages make better, healthier food choices. If a child does not know what something is, they will most likely not consume it. A Master in Public Health will allow me to work with children and possibly start gardens in many schools. School gardens offer children opportunities to explore, exercise, try new foods, and express their artistic abilities.

We all have a purpose in life. I thought mine was to work on a farm and bring my hard work to the plates of people. God had a different plan for me, however. After all, God knows the plans that he has for me, plans to prosper me, not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). I believe that He opens doors for me that lead me to where I am supposed to be. California Baptist University tells each of its students to live your purpose. Some students are still figuring out what their purpose is, and that is okay because I was once unaware of what my purpose in life was. I know that I have figured out the purpose that God has for me in this world. He’s showed me through networking and connections I have made with people in the agricultural industry, and through my last trip to Haiti that I can do great things within that country with an MPH and as a registered dietitian. 

A gift I received from God is my passion for agriculture. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  I can use my passion to bring about healthier lives in children, as well as, anyone I encounter. My passion motivates me to continue my work and to share it with others. Through my agricultural endeavors, I have learned a great deal about myself and even more about the food I consume. I have started becoming more concerned about where my food comes from and what went into producing that particular food item. From working on farms, I have felt the satisfaction of growing my own food and have even had the chance to see it on plates in local restaurants. Children who are not exposed to gardening or farming should have an opportunity to experience a freshly grown tomato or fresh-cut lettuce. Farmers take pride in their hard work and I believe every child should have that chance. I am an advocate for locally grown and sustainable farming and I have firm beliefs that most would not agree with. My love and passion for agriculture is stronger than ever and it is my goal to bring healthier food options in our schools.  

Being a farmer and working in the agriculture industry, I have become someone with an open mind. I believe that there are always two or more sides to any and every story, so why not know and understand all of them? Will that not make you stronger in whatever it is you are an advocate for? Being close-minded will not get you very far in an industry like agriculture. There is no room for ignorance either. I, like most people, need evidence, concrete proof that something I believe whole-heartedly in is true or not true. I love hearing the different sides of issues pertaining to genetically modified organisms or the organic versus conventional farming debate. It makes for a great conversation. Agriculture is a topic I can talk about all day if given the chance.

What makes this opportunity even more exciting is the fact that I have support from family, friends, and my professors. I’m excited to challenge myself and use the skills I will gain from the MPH program to pursue my goals in the health field.