Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle student wins award for endeavour
Olive’on Joslyn has graduated from the University of Wales Trinity Saint (ϳԹ) with a BSc in Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle and has also been awarded the J.E.Mock award for endeavour.
Olive’on is one of 37 students from St Vincent and the Grenadines who have been studying a range of programmes identified by their government as beneficial to the islands.
Olive’on developed a passion early in her life for helping others as well as an interest in the human body and how it functions. She excelled in biology and chemistry and when the opportunity arose for her to study at ϳԹ she choose Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle.
Olive’on says: “I selected this course because it corresponds with my future aspirations of becoming a nutritionist while acquiring knowledge about the human body, its nutritional functions, and everyday lifestyle. Enrolling in this course has equipped me with the confidence and skills necessary to effect a positive change, not only in my own life but also in the lives of others.”
“My main aim and ambition is to motivate people to live a healthy lifestyle by consuming more nutritious foods and being more active, as these healthy habits reduce the risks of chronic diseases and improve overall health and wellbeing. I have learned to conduct dietary assessments, understand what constitutes a balanced diet, and create nutritious meal plans to help my future clients achieve their goals. This knowledge is helping me become the best nutritionist I can be.
Olive’on particularly enjoyed taking part in health promotion events, participating in exercise physiology courses, socialising with new people at the university as well as learning about different types of food and its effects on the body. She also took part in large-scale events. She continues:
“During my studies, I completed a research project focusing on the impacts of outdoor physical activity on physical and mental well-being. Additionally, I volunteered at the British Para and Iron Man triathlon and shadowed a physiotherapist at a local leisure centre which was a very motivational experience”.
Olive’on overcame many challenges to succeed in her studies, including time management and acclimatisation. She found that keeping a detailed timetable of her commitments helped her achieve her goals, along with talking to friends and family. She says: “This approach helps ensure a balanced approach that reduces stress.
“When it came to understanding and applying scientific concepts and nutritional theories, I engaged in active learning techniques such as summarising information and creating mind maps to understand and retain complex material. I utilised additional resources from the library like anatomy atlas, textbooks, online articles and videos to gain different perspectives and explanations on difficult topics”.
“Throughout the course, there was a quote that kept me motivated and focused, especially during challenging modules: “Grow through what you go through.” To maintain motivation, I created solutions and made sacrifices. Setting short-term and long-term goals helped me stay focused, and celebrating small victories along the way kept me motivated. I also established a support system that involved engaging with a study group and seeking support from lecturers, family, and friends for encouragement and accountability
Dr Dylan Blain, Academic Director of Sport and Healthy Living said: “It is wonderful to congratulate Olive’on on this award for endeavour. She has worked exceptionally hard during her studies and is fully deserving of this award. It’s also fantastic to hear of the significant impact studying with us has had on her personal and professional development within the fields of health and nutrition and in promoting healthy lifestyles.”
Olive’on would recommend this course to anyone looking into health, nutrition, and lifestyle for several reasons.
She says, “Understanding the principles of health, nutrition, and lifestyle can lead to healthier food choices and habits, which can significantly enhance physical and mental health, reducing the number of social issues. With the vast amount of accurate and inaccurate information available about diets and health trends, a structured course provides scientifically-backed knowledge. Learning about nutrition and lifestyle plays a crucial role in preventive health care, helping reduce the risk of conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers through informed dietary and lifestyle choices and their prevalence is increasing.
The course has already impacted on Olive’on in many positive ways:
She continues: “Professionally it has enhanced my expertise in the course which has deepened my understanding of nutritional science and health principles, making me more knowledgeable and confident in my professional interactions, giving nutritional advice and carrying out research.’
“Health Nutrition and lifestyle demonstrates a commitment to continued learning. Applying the principles learned in the course has improved my health, leading to better health choices. I have adopted a more balanced diet, regular exercise routines, and healthier lifestyle habits such as reading food labels and reducing sugar and saturated fat intake, which resulted in increased energy and overall well-being. I can now offer reliable advice to family and friends, helping them improve their health and wellness based on sound scientific principles. I have obtained mental clarity and knowledge about the relationship between diet, lifestyle and mental health enabling me to optimise my diet and habits for better cognitive function and emotional balance”.
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
Principal PR and Communications Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467076