Eager to embrace new opportunities, 21-year-old Juliana Ksander made a life-changing move from her home in Colorado, USA, to the vibrant city of Edinburgh to pursue the BSc (Hons) Nutrition course at ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ.
Keen to one day work in the world of elite sport, Juliana wanted to better understand how improved health and wellbeing and a healthy diet and lifestyle could increase athlete performance and outcomes.
Home to the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation, ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ’s rich history and expertise in health and food sciences were key selling points for Juliana who made the exciting decision to relocate to the other side of the world.
Now in her 3rd year, Juliana discusses the big move and how ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ’s exceptional student support and strong sense of community have been key factors in her easy transition.
Why did you choose to study at ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ?
Quite simply, I had the urge to travel and was keen to live and study abroad! As I’m from a very small village in Colorado and wanted to attend a university that wasn't a huge jump from small town living to a big city university, ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ seemed like the perfect move.
I had heard that ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ was excellent both for student support and creating a sense of community, so I knew it would eventually come to feel like a home from home. This was definitely my motivation in choosing Scotland and ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ specifically, as coming from so far away and having no friends or relatives in the UK, I wanted to feel like I had a family in university – which is something I feel like I’ve achieved!
How did you find the transition moving from America to Edinburgh?
Coming from such a small village, I never really had many friends, especially those with similar interests to mine. As well as this, where I am from can generally be considered quite a rough part of the US, so coming to Edinburgh and ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ was such a great opportunity for me to finally experience a safe and welcoming environment. Moving to the UK and studying at ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ has enabled me to meet and thrive with like-minded people, and absolutely helped me find a family at university. I have made some of my closest friendships I have ever had at ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ, especially in my class cohort, with similar interests and aspirations.
In my first year, I was a class representative and also part of the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ women's football club. I think taking on these extracurriculars helped me situate myself in the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ community and helped me develop a foundational identity for the start of my academic journey.
What interests you about nutrition?
Nutrition is always something I have been very interested in. When I saw that ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ offered it as a course, I felt it would be an exceptional opportunity for me to develop my understanding of nutrition and enhance my career goals, which was to work in elite sport, helping athletes enhance their performance.
What do you most enjoy about the BSc (Hons) Nutrition?
I love learning about the most recent findings and research publications, and then getting to discuss these in depth with my class cohort and lecturers, putting this latest research into practice. I feel that the course has allowed me to explore and reflect on new areas of nutrition that I never would have thought could be so interesting!
My favourite module so far has definitely been Nutrient Metabolism. I have always had a keen eye for science, and this module really allowed us to explore the important physiological processes of nutrition and diet, and how our bodies respond to the foods we eat. This module in particular has undoubtedly been the most influential on my motivations to go into postgraduate studies after graduating.
How do your lecturers support your learning?
My lecturers have been so supportive and have significantly enhanced my university experience. They are always seeking ways to improve my understanding of topics and enjoyment of material. They have also been tremendously helpful in assisting me to explore postgraduate options, volunteering opportunities, and jobs after graduating.
What do you hope to do with your degree upon graduating?
I hope to pursue a Master's degree in sports nutrition and work as a sports nutritionist. Recently, I have also been keenly interested in pursuing a PhD in nutrition.
What advice do you have for any potential students looking to complete the course?
My biggest piece of advice is to be proactive with your learning and goals. Whilst we are given a wonderful learning environment, I believe I have had such a positive experience from university because I took opportunities to be keep up to date with current research, look up new information, and find opportunities to gain experience through volunteering, internships, etc. Also, do not be afraid to ask your lecturers questions! They are there to help and will make the learning process so much easier and rewarding.
Find out more about Nutrition and our other Health Science courses.
