Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Martinez.
Can you briefly walk us through your story, how you started and where you got to where you are today?
I guess you can say it all started when I was a child. I’d say I was about four or five years old, the age when images and experiences start to imprint as memories. I didn’t have any siblings at the time. My Mom was a single mother working two jobs, which left me in the care of my elders – mainly my Grandmother and Aunts. We rarely ate out. Meals were home cooked using fresh ingredients from the garden.
I always looked forward to family gatherings as I knew that something amazing was guaranteed to come out of that kitchen. Being Filipino, traditional dishes were prepared. I was so intrigued by the different aromas and fragrances stemming from the kitchen, constantly observing everyone’s role, listening to the sizzle of the pan, the sound of knives hitting the cutting board, the opening and shutting of the fridge and oven door, even the side conversations and laughter as my family rabbled on about a certain topic. It was like music to my ears. I meticulously watched and soaked everything in. It was a happy time, and it still is. Ultimately, in the end, I enjoyed the togetherness that the food brought. I would say the root of my love for food comes from my elders, which in turn led me to be the foodie that I am today.
Has it been a smooth road?
I really can’t complain. It’s just been a long road, to say the least. I’ve had my social media account since 2012. When I started my account, I never intended it to get the amount of attention it’s gotten to this day. My original intent in starting my account was to utilize it as my own personal food diary, documenting some of the best and most memorable foods I’ve enjoyed. People gradually followed along the way and liked what they saw, I guess. I’m more active and involved in my account and the foodie community than I ever was let’s say three years ago. Being fairly private and somewhat of an introvert, I’ve forced myself to get out there, visit new places, meet new people and try new things. When it comes down to it, I’m just a woman who happens to be infatuated with everything that has to do with food. I just love it!
My message for fledgling female foodies is a bit cliché, but everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re serious about what you want to do, then you have to give it your all. Get out there – get out of your comfort zone. Meet with local bloggers who share the same passion as you, and more importantly, support each other while doing so. There’s no room for being catty. At some point, you may come to realize that there are some nasty and cruel people out there; especially when you display aspects of your life on social media for all to see and communication between you and your followers is so direct. Remember to steer away from unconstructive negativity and focus on your goals. Life’s way too short.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a registered nurse with ten years of experience in progressive care (ICU step-down) where I took care of severely ill patients with a variety of diseases who required constant cardiac monitoring. Now, I’m going on my third year specializing in neonate and women’s health. Nursing is a passion of mine, and to think of it, I did not choose this as my first-choice career. Out of high school, I actually took classes geared towards criminal justice with the ultimate goal of becoming a homicide detective. That didn’t fly too well with my Grandmother, whose opinions I highly respected. I’m her favorite grandchild – but don’t tell any of my cousins that. Anyways, she gave me the idea to consider taking nursing classes. If I didn’t like it… fine; she just wanted me to give it a try, and I thank her for that. I absolutely fell in love with nursing. The idea of saving people’s lives and helping care for those who need it is so rewarding to me. I couldn’t ask for a better job.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
My advice for young women starting their careers is to never underestimate themselves. They shouldn’t feel like a lack of experience will hinder their performance. Just dedicate yourself to your career and success will follow in time.
Contact Info:
- Email: thatfoodienursemelski@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/that_foodie_nurse_melski/
Image Credit:
AJ Aguilar IG: _artbyaj, Chris Martinez IG: @propel_your_palate
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
