As a high school student coming into the professional, working world of clinical work, labs, and office meetings, I will admit that there were times that I felt completely lost during my first few weeks in the program. However, after settling into the lab, I soon felt at home as I tackled great projects, received sound advice, and faced real world experiences. Though I was not immediately thrown into the most important research roles, I found that even the small tasks—like stapling—flow up the chain in an effort to mend disordered eating.

This lab is fast-paced, filled with highly efficient people that I watch with a barely closed mouth, seeing their tenacity and dedication. I have gained a lot more than a research paper or a padded resume in this internship; I have gained experience, information, life skills, and a lot more. I feel so much more equipped to go off to college, walk into any building, and ask for a position because this lab has prepared me for any future job or internship by cultivating both my practicality and imagination.

The truth about the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders is that it’s one big family of people working as hard as they possibly can to create and nurture. The women (and an occasional man!) create new programs, conduct clinical trials, generate hypotheses, tailor techniques for each patient, write journal articles, and discover new angles to spread accurate awareness about eating disorders. They are dedicated to the well being of their current patients while constantly looking for new and better ways to treat patients of the future.

The UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders helps students, parents, patients, and the general public to understand eating disorders, in regards to symptoms, treatments, recovery, and prevention. They are definitely a secret agent of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, one that should take its place as Carolina’s crowning jewel. I am beyond fortunate for this experience because through it, I found the true beauty of science: perseverance.

By: Allison Pfotzer