To Your Health
April, 2011 (Vol. 05, Issue 04) |
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"Chandra stands out, she is always eager to go above and beyond of what is required," said Dr. Terry Erickson, associate professor and chair, department of business and professional foundations, at the College of Chiropractic, Northwestern Health Sciences University.
"It's not very common for a student to do that in a pretty intense program like this, especially at the same time as a pageant. Her persistence and work ethic is pretty impressive."
Dr. Erickson said Chandra has taken the initiative to promote the chiropractic profession at numerous campus speaking engagements, which has served as good practice for the upcoming Miss USA pageant, where she will have to speak in front of thousands.
In the Spotlight
As she prepares for her moment at the Miss USA pageant, Chandra is busy focusing on her health and fitness. At the Miss USA pageant, she will be judged in categories such as swimsuit, gown, and how well she does in the interview in hopes of making it to the semi-finalists round (the runners-up and winner are announced at the end of the telecast).
Her preparation includes being a regular at the gym, lifting weights three times a week and doing cardio exercise six times a week. She also leads a healthy lifestyle that involves a clean diet.
Chandra's 5 Tips for Staying Healthy
1. It's important to start out slow and make gradual changes.
2. Stick with it. It takes 40 days for a habit to kick in, so stick to it and it will be beneficial in the end.
3. Get motivated. If the motivation is not there, nothing is going to change. You have to want it bad enough.
4. Surround yourself with the right people. Stick with the kind of people who will encourage you.
5. Lift weights. Even for women, it's important to build lean muscle.
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As Miss South Dakota 2011, Chandra Burnham has an ideal platform to share her vision of health and wellness - a vision that puts chiropractic care front and center.
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"I try to eat well. I don't really cut calories. I eat a healthy, balanced diet with appropriate calories for my build and stature," she said. "I try not to eat out; I don't buy junk food so that it's not in my house. I grab that apple instead of a bag of chips."
When it comes to her spine, Chandra is also practicing what she preaches through routine chiropractic care. "It's such a good immune booster, and there are so many injuries that can be prevented by regular chiropractic care as opposed to waiting for something major to happen and then trying to fix it," she said. These types of benefits are the ones she is eager to talk about at the Miss USA pageant, she said.
Even if she doesn't win the top prize – the Miss USA crown – Chandra said the best part for her will be promoting the benefits of chiropractic care as her main platform and knowing that when she becomes a doctor of chiropractic, she will always be a winner in the eyes of her patients.
"People love their chiropractor and what they can do for them. That's what made me want a job like that. I mean, how rewarding is that?"
Interested in Becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic? The First Steps to Take
Talk to your chiropractor. Your DC can tell you how they pursued their career and give you advice on where to start.
Do the research. Just like any career, you need to research it – what it's all about, the educational requirements and licensing process, your college choices, etc. Know what you're getting into.
Get experience. There are various opportunities throughout the year for prospective chiropractic students to learn more about the profession, from events such as Parker Seminars Las Vegas to the National Chiropractic Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
