Elevate: Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos

Timothy Webb: Thank you all for joining us today here on Elevate, broadcasting from the Razorback Camper Sales Studio. This National Park College podcast highlights a different Nighthawk with each episode. We'll talk about their journey, challenges, key moments of success, their moments of elevation, leveling up and overcoming. I'm Timothy Webb, your host, and I'd like to welcome to the program. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos, thanks so much for joining me today. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Thank you. I appreciate it. Timothy Webb: So, Katelynn, tell us a little bit about yourself. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So I am 29 years old. I'm a mom. I'm a wife. I'm a full-time college student and I'm a food bank president. Timothy Webb: Food bank president here at National Park? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, Helping Hawks Food Pantry. I also do a lot of things as well. I'm an SGA representative at large. I'm the vice president of the Sustainability Club. I am the VP of the American Chemistry Society on campus. Timothy Webb: That's a lot of hats. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes. Timothy Webb: So what field are you studying, Katelynn? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Dietetics. Timothy Webb: Dietetics. That's interesting. What is that? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So it is the study of nutrition in the diet, and it's applied using therapy. So dietetic therapy would be therapy using foods that we eat to treat illnesses and mental illnesses. Timothy Webb: That's interesting. Yeah, because food kind of is our first medicine, if you will. How long have you been here at National Park College? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So I've technically been here for a very long time. My mom actually came here to get her two-year degree whenever I was younger, about five is when it started. She graduated when I was seven. Her name's Renee Westfall. So I've been on this campus since I was a little kid. And then whenever I graduated high school, I decided to get my first degree here. So I spent two years learning the arts of English. I graduated in 2014. I joined the workforce and some life happened and I decided to come back and changed my major. Timothy Webb: Okay. Yeah, we're glad you came back. Your story sounds a lot like mine. I came out of high school, went here, stopped, came back. Stopped. Came back. Came back. Changed my major, came back. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Mm-hmm. Yes. Timothy Webb: It's just National Park's so fun to be at. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, it is. Timothy Webb: So you're the president of the Helping Hawks Pantry. What all does that position entail? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So it's a lot of networking, a lot of drives. Currently, we just ended a toiletry drive and I'm already starting plans for a new one. I haven't even put it in external affairs yet. But it's a car wash that maybe I can get the soccer coach to help me out with. But the idea is that we either need to be always raising money, getting donations because we have really high need on campus. It's one of the hardest things for people to budget whenever they leave their safe environment at home and start out on their own in college. Food's getting really expensive, yes, so. Timothy Webb: So with all those aspects to being the president of the Helping Hawks Pantry, what are some of the challenges that you face? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Multitasking. Sometimes I'll have to just make sure that I leave my schedule open for my personal life. That's one thing that I do see myself doing a little bit too much, is that I don't give myself enough time to relax. I also tutor people in English in my free time in the pantry. I do a whole bunch of different stuff. I feel like a combination of all the things that I end up doing is what makes it so great over there. With those struggles, it's very rewarding whenever I overcome them. Timothy Webb: Yes, yes. So you like to stay busy, I guess then? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, I'm naturally a busy body. I always have to have even a pen in my hand because it gives me something to do whenever there's nothing to do. Timothy Webb: Right. So are there any common myths that you want to clear up for audience about being the president of a food pantry? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So a lot of people believe that you have to be so poorly off in order to be able to use the pantry. A lot of people think that people take advantage of it when really there's not really a way to take advantage of it, especially if you need the things. We have parents on campus that need diapers. We have college students that just need an extra meal until they get paid. One of the things that I wish to express to the student base here is that the first time I went through college, we didn't have this, and this is something that they should take advantage of because if you volunteer, for example, you're ending up making that extra meal or that extra couple of meals till paycheck for the next person. It'll keep it going and we'll have a stronger community in the long run. Timothy Webb: Right. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So I love it. So it is what it is, I guess. Timothy Webb: Well, that's a good point. That's that pay it forward kind of attitude. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Mm-hmm. Yes, sir. Timothy Webb: I like that. So what are some of the biggest obstacles you've had to face and overcome to get to where you are today? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So I just started a new job. I had had a baby, it was May of 2022. I broke my leg trying to relocate from a tornado. It was a weird happenstance/circumstance that no one expected. Ended up having to equip my job. I was bedridden for three months. While I was bedridden, I didn't have the opportunity to be the busy body I was supposed to be so I put my mind towards something and I chose to go back to school. During that time, I ended up nursing an infant with my leg broken. I healed. I joined Career Pathways. I got to tell you, joining that particular group of people has definitely put my life in motion. If I hadn't have been accepted into that program, I don't know where I would've been at today. But with that, I had just the ambition to be a full-time student and then say, "Hey, here's our work-based learning. I want you to do work-based learning" and I was like, "Okay, I could do it at this pantry." Or they really suggested it to me and I was like, "Okay." I started doing my homework in there. I started getting a study group together. Then people started asking me to be a part of clubs, and I was like, "Yeah, I really like this. I can't say no."So that's how I overcame. Probably the worst period of my life was when I broke my leg. Timothy Webb: Yeah. Well, for our listeners that don't know, Career Pathways is a program that helps parents with the extra costs of going to college. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes. Timothy Webb: It's a wonderful program and it really helps out a lot of parents that are trying to get higher education. Yeah, it's hard to turn down those clubs because you're meeting new people, you're making new friends. That's really what going to college is kind of all about. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, it is. I didn't take the opportunity to do it nearly as much as I did the last time so I said, "I'm not making this mistake again." Timothy Webb: Yeah. You walked into my office. How does it feel now that you have your leg back healed and you've overcame that big obstacle? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: It feels like I can do anything. And every opportunity that I passed up because I thought I couldn't do it, it gave me ambition because if I can overcome this, what's stopping me from doing anything else? Timothy Webb: Yeah, that makes sense. Sometimes the hard times give us confidence after we overcome them. I like that. That's good. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yeah, I definitely didn't have it before. I wouldn't say that I'm a different person. I love the same things, but I was a very quiet, reserved individual. My experiences have definitely changed me to be a little bit more personable. Timothy Webb: Yeah. Your mentality has changed, huh? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Mm-hmm. Yes, sir. Timothy Webb: Yeah. So what is it about being the president of the food pantry that rewards you? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: At the end of the day, whenever I see someone that comes in and they're in worse positions or similar situations that I've been in my life and my ability to be able to make sure that their family eats or I'm here and I see that that person that couldn't afford to eat and had to go to college because college is expensive, is able to go to that class that they would've had to cancel in order to be able to pick up an extra job just to be able to support themselves makes it to where I can be the person I wish I had. And it just makes me really happy with it. Timothy Webb: Yeah, helping people makes you feel good, doesn't it? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: It does make me feel good, but one of the things that I've noticed in my life is that people will help people to feel good. I feel more like it's my purpose to help people. Timothy Webb: I see. So Katelynn, what are some of the achievements you're most proud of? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So I've rebuilt my GPA. Timothy Webb: Oh. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Right now it's almost a 3.0. My goal is to make it at least a 3.5. People don't know it yet, but I'm going to be in the Honors Society and I'm probably going to be in PTK if I can help it. I got the Dean's Award last time and I'm going to get it again. Timothy Webb: There you go. I like that. That's a good mentality to have there. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes sir. Timothy Webb: Nothing's going to stop you. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Uh-uh. Nothing. Timothy Webb: So Katelynn, where did you grow up and what was it like there? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: I'm a Hot Springs native. A lot of people, I feel like they undermine Hot Springs, but I like to look at the benefits of what we have. We have a great national park. We have some pretty good state jobs here. We have National Park. What's not to like about National Park, in my opinion? Timothy Webb: Right. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: And on top of that, I feel like it's a good community looking back to have my family in. Timothy Webb: Yeah. No, it is a great family-oriented community here. It's just big enough, but it's not too big. And then we're still very rural, so there's lots of nature to look around and enjoy. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes. Also, if you look at the city parks, they have public exercise equipment. They're doing a lot of stuff. Even like Velocity Park we were going by, I can't wait until it opens because I'm going to take my kid. It's so exciting. Timothy Webb: Yeah. So what was it like growing up here for you? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: I feel like my childhood was a little bit hard. It was dated compared to what people experience now. Schools were a different environment. I kind of got to go to two of the biggest ones. It was Lake Hamilton and Lakeside. I also went to Jessieville. I feel like I blossomed into the person I am now definitely. It started in college. It's not necessarily a negative thing towards the schools or anything. Timothy Webb: Sure. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: It's just my own personal struggles with it were a little bit hard to deal with. I can say it's definitely part of the things that have made me stronger. Timothy Webb: Yes. Yeah, we all have to overcome ourselves in our own pace. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, sir. Timothy Webb: And I definitely can relate to you. I grew up kind of shy. Through athletics, it gave me the confidence to shake it. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: And also for people that are shy out here, there's nothing wrong with being shy. The only thing you need to be not shy about is you need to be an advocate for yourself because nobody else is going to be an advocate for you just like you are going to be for yourself. Timothy Webb: That's right. So can you tell us about an influential person in your life and how they impacted you? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: I have so many. Is there any way I could talk about two of them? Timothy Webb: Sure, sure. Yeah, go ahead. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Oh man, I have so many. If you're not listed, just know that I do appreciate you. But right now there are two people that have helped me in so many ways. They've given me recommendation letters. So Dr. Burke has been the best boss I could ever imagine. He has helped me. He has given me free reign. He has given me constructive criticism that I couldn't have gotten from anyone else. I couldn't imagine having a better boss. And then Dr. Carter has been the most caring professor that I've ever had for anatomy and physiology. I can tell you when I started this, I was like, I am terrified of A&P. I'm going to cry when I take this class. I ended up getting A in her class. I'm working on my A right now for her A&P II. So I like her teaching methods. They're memory-based because she has a degree in neurobiology. So those two people have definitely helped me a lot and they're very influential. Timothy Webb: It's so awesome when you connect to an instructor like that and you like the way they teach and you like the way they set up their class. I've experienced that myself a few times and it's just the best. It actually feels easy, but you're learning a lot. So any favorite childhood memory you'd like to share with our audience? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: One of the things that drove me to dietetics was my love of cooking. I knew I wanted to go into the medical field. But that love of cooking started with my grandmother who taught me how to start cooking when I was eight years old. She said, "I'm going to have to teach you how to keep a husband, Katie." And I was like, "Okay." I probably could cook a full breakfast by nine, but it was specifically her kitchen table. I ended up cutting up a few tablecloths because I was an eight-year old with a pairing knife. Looking back, it might not have been safe, but it is what it is. You can't tell 102 year old people how to do things. Timothy Webb: They already know. They've been there. That's funny stuff. So if you could give your younger self any piece of advice, what would it be? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: To be your advocate for yourself. Sit in the front of the class, show up every day. Even if you're two minutes late, it doesn't matter, show up. Be the person that you want to be and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Don't let people get you down because if somebody has something negative to say, it doesn't really say anything about you. It says more about them. Timothy Webb: I like all that. That's good stuff. Good advice. So you kind of touched on this already, but what is it about NPC that brought you here? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Well, I've been meant to be here my whole life. I remember the old buildings, but I don't remember them as vividly. I remember the amphitheater whenever it was accessible. And my dad also went to school out here three years after it started. Timothy Webb: Oh, okay. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: So everyone in my family that had the opportunity to go here has been here. I was always meant to go to college and I might as well start where I know. Timothy Webb: Yeah. Yeah. It starts at home, right? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, sir. Timothy Webb: Other than National Park College and all those other hats you wear, what are some of your interests? What are some of your hobbies? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: I love to read. I love to write. I like to draw. I'm naturally artistic. I love to cook. I will make... On my day off that I allow for myself, I'll go to the grocery store and I will spend all day cooking. I might come out with five or six baked goods for the week and probably two pots of soup or something like that. Timothy Webb: So what is it about cooking that drew you to it other than your grandma? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: I like to eat. Eating is fun, I guess. But I've always watched or looked at magazines and watched shows and there was something that was so appealing about plating and the colors being mixed and matched. It just always was something that drew me to it. Also, I liked cutting up vegetables with the paring knife. Timothy Webb: Oh, yeah. Satisfying. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, very satisfying. Timothy Webb: So if you could talk to anyone from the past, present, or future, who would it be and why? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: My grandma. Timothy Webb: Your grandma? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yeah. She's gone now, but I would like for her to see who I've become. And so none of my parents got to meet my daughter, and that would be another thing I would do. Timothy Webb: So Katelynn, what are your future plans? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Oh, I'm definitely going to get a bachelor's degree at UCA and I'm going to get a master's degree in dietetics. In order for you to get a license to practice dietetic therapy, you have to have a RDN certification, which is a registered dietician's license. So that's required as of 2024 in order for you to be able to take the exam. It's a lot of chemistry, a lot of organic chemistry, and a lot of psychology and of course science behind it as well. Timothy Webb: That sounds pretty tough, but I know you're up for the challenge. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes, sir. Timothy Webb: So is there any advice or quotes or mottos you live by that you'd like to leave our listeners with? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: I think this is going to be the third time I said it. You have to be an advocate for yourself. It takes a little bit of practice. You're not going to get it right the first time, but definitely be that person to say, "Hey, I'm just as good as the person next to me. I'm qualified for this position. I'm qualified to do a good job at this position and there's nothing that can hold me back." Timothy Webb: Right. Ladies and gentlemen, advocate for yourselves. That is so important. If you don't step up and speak up for yourself, nobody will, right? Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Mm-hmm. Yes, sir. Timothy Webb: Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos, I want to thank you so much for joining me today on Elevate. I really appreciate it. Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos: Yes. Thank you so much. I appreciate being here. Timothy Webb: And thanks to all of you for listening to Elevate today from the Razorback Camper Sales Studio. New episodes are released each Thursday. Special thanks to National Park College and The Sentinel-Record for making this podcast possible. Until next time, this is Timothy Webb reminding you that every day is a chance to elevate.