By: Regina Fong, MBA
You know that song by Mariah Carey called “Make It Happen”—the one with the lyrics that go “If you believe in yourself enough and know what you want, you're gonna make it happen. And if you get down on your knees at night and pray to the Lord, He's gonna make it happen”? That chorus is the perfect illustration of Jasmina Klisch’s journey in becoming a dietitian. Prior to settling down in Germany, Jasmina had the privilege of traveling and living all around the globe. I was blessed with the opportunity to have a virtual chat with this fiercely independent dietitian. She recounts her incredible experiences of living abroad, stepping out her comfort zone, and meeting every challenge with a positive attitude and unwavering faith in God to lead her to the right path.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Macedonia, which was formerly part of Yugoslavia. My family later moved to Serbia, and that was where I spent most of my life. I moved to the United States for higher education when I was 19 years old since there were more opportunities in the U.S. than there were in Serbia. I started with a semester of ESL (English as a Second Language), then I started taking general education classes and prerequisites for dietetics.
That was quite courageous of you to move to another country by yourself at a young age. How was the transition?
At that time, I was so excited about it. Prior to that, I didn’t have many opportunities to travel, so I wanted to study abroad. I also have two older brothers that had already moved to the states by that time. Growing up, we would see and hear a lot about the United States, so in our minds, U.S. was such an amazing place, like a land of opportunities! I was excited at first, but I think when we first start something, we don’t fully understand all the challenges we will have to face along the way. It’s naturally scary to step out of our comfort zone, but whatever pushes our limits forces us to grow, and that was exactly what my journey was like. Looking back, I am very grateful for that, and I would not have chosen for it to play out another way. I believe that every experience prepares us for the next step, and as it builds up, we look back and realize why we went through certain experiences.
Where in the U.S. did you attend college at? I took my prerequisites at Southwestern Adventist University in Texas. When I completed those, I transferred to Andrews University in Michigan.
Did you plan on studying nutrition when you applied to college?
No, it actually never crossed my mind at that time. I had other interests, particularly in social studies. I knew I wanted something that was people oriented. I actually wanted to study archaeology, but when I spoke to a career counselor about it and took a personality test, I realized it wasn’t something I wanted as a career. I was also interested in anthropology and tourismology, but these were also not very practical. I looked into what programs Andrews University offered to see if anything appealed to me. There was also a speaker that came to our school that talked about life experiences. He offered a really good advice about not taking a big bite you can’t chew on. Basically, it’s better to choose something practical, and if you choose to, go back to school later to study something else you desire. No one knows what will happen in life, so it’s best to acquire skills in a field that is practical. I didn’t grow up knowing too much about the field of nutrition as it’s not a very developed profession in Serbia and some other parts of the world. I was also studying the Bible and came across the original diet that God had designed for mankind, which would both add years to our lives on earth as well as give us a clear mind to listen to the Holy Spirit. As I read through this, I thought “This is something I might be able to do.” I prayed about it and asked God to help me with this path so I can dedicate my work to Him. I was considering between Andrews University and Loma Linda University. I wanted to be in a safe and nurturing environment, and after considering many things, I ended up applying to Andrews University.
Would you share your experience of going through your nutrition program?
After I transferred, it took about five years of studies and one year of internship before I was able to take my RD exam. I took my exam about two months after my internship, and I couldn’t wait any longer since I had to leave the states shortly after finishing school, but I think it’s better to take the exam while everything is still fresh anyway. You’ll never truly be ready. There will always be doubts about knowing everything, but there’s so much information and you just have to take it at some point, so taking it sooner rather than later is much better. The program was stressful but well-designed since it really prepared us for the real world. The internship also really prepared us for the test since it was so intense. Our preceptors really drilled us on the information and gave us lots of projects. We also had to take an exam at the end of the internship year, and those that didn’t pass this had to take a review course before the school would release their names to sit for boards. After my internship, I basically made a bunch of index cards and reviewed the information over and over. I couldn’t risk not passing and having to wait two months to retake the exam, so I put all my eggs in one basket and just took it. It’s definitely not the easiest exam but thank God I passed the first time!
After gaining experience in each of the domains [community, clinical, and food service], which one piqued your interest the most?
Well, our internship had a focus on clinical nutrition, but I found community nutrition to be the most interesting. I did my clinical internship at a hospital in Florida—they prioritized those with spouses and families to remain in Michigan—but I didn’t see myself doing clinical nutrition as my career. We were required to see a minimum of 12 patients a day, and anyone that has done that knows it’s a lot. We had to basically do the work of an actual dietitian while having someone oversee all our work. We also had to be extra careful in the clinical setting, especially when treating critical care patients, doing tube feeding, formulas, etc. I liked community nutrition because I really enjoyed the health prevention programs, community education, and inspiring people to make lifestyle changes. It was good to experience all of them, though. We were also required to accumulate 120 hours of volunteer work within the dietetics field. I acquired some of those hours at Wildwood Lifestyle Center in Georgia. I observed their 10-day program, which focuses on lifestyle medicine. I really enjoyed my time there and witnessed firsthand how lifestyle changes were able to reverse certain chronic diseases. I wanted my first job to be something like that. I also wanted something that would have room for growth by offering lots of flexibility and responsibility.
Wow, it sounds like you went all over to complete your program! What did you end up doing for your first job as an RDN?
I was fortunate to be able to graduate with no debt, so it definitely opened up some options for me. I looked up places similar to Wildwood Lifestyle Center and sent out my resume and application to jobs everywhere, until I finally heard from a wellness center out in Australia. I was eager to apply everything I had learned. They applied for a working visa for me, and I moved out to Australia within a few months. I was glad it was an Adventist-based institution. It kind of felt like family, and I knew I’d be in a safe place with like-minded people. I wasn’t familiar with the place, and it’s different from the U.S., so I had to learn and adjust all over again.
Are you working on anything at the moment?
Currently, I’m working on developing a website, especially with our situation now. I’d like to eventually offer my services in Germany and online so I can reach people around the world. I also have an interest in corporate wellness and am thinking of offering different programs to insurance companies since I’m very familiar with this field. I’m also working on a lifestyle medicine certification. It was put on hold for a little bit as I was taking German courses. There’s a big need for lifestyle medicine here, so I want to offer these services, such as helping people stop smoking.
It sounds like you really did your research. It’s great that you looked into what the needs are in Germany. What would you say is the most rewarding thing about being a dietitian?
Playing a little role in someone’s life to help them make a change that impacts their life and happiness. It’s really rewarding to be able to help someone to live life to the fullest and to avoid pain and suffering. It’s not an overnight destination but rather a journey.
Do you have any takeaways or tips for future dietitians?
1. Follow your passion and try to develop a niche.
2. Learn everything you can, even if it’s not your favorite part of the field, as it will prepare you for the future.
3. Don’t give up easily when faced with challenges.
4. Kindness and sympathy open many doors and breaks down prejudices.
5. Pray before the RD exam; it takes away your anxiety! When my sister-in-law was driving me to the exam, I was singing hymns in the car and it helped wash away my anxiety. I really like “When Peace Like a River”.
Jasmina currently resides in Germany, continuing her mission of helping people adopt healthier lifestyles.
Jasmina's favorite Bible verse:
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusts in him."
- Psalm 34:8
Connect with Jasmina:
Jasmina Klisch, RDN
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