Hi captmorgan50! I did not decide to become a RD until I was 25! I studied religion and communication in undergrad and then worked for 5 years (in the beverage industry and finance), before returning to school. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease (an autoimmune condition in which gluten causes your body to destroy the lining of your small intestine) when I was 23! After that, I had to start reading labels and understanding ingredients, changing my diet, etc. I have always been interested in diet, nutrition, and wellness, but it was not until I learned I had Celiac that I developed a deeper interest and passion in nutrition. Most of my friends from the nutrition program were also there as a "second career" (they had gone back to school for it). What about your wife?