How I Took Culinary

When I was in high school, one of my classes my first year was culinary that showed us how to make special foods for what could be served to family, friends or just to treat ourselves with something nice. The foods were either to make for ourselves or were given out by my classmates were very delicious and some of it we even got to bring home with us. 

There was also a career and tech program which allowed students to choose a special course that could help us with skills in a special academic field to gain enough knowledge and learn how it could used in a situation that might require professional knowledge which in turn could make the person think of what they could do for a career following graduation.

I was given two choices: computers or culinary. Initially I was leaning towards the computer program due to my interest in the technology and wanted to learn how video games were developed. But my parents encouraged me to instead sign up for culinary as they felt the former choice would probably be too difficult. Also they felt this would be beneficial to me as I got older and would be able to cook for myself.  Quickly I realized that perhaps they were right and decided to go along with the culinary option. 

I officially started culinary as my school career during my second year. We all got to wear special chef uniforms as we participated in not only learning how to cook and prepare certain foods but also how to handle them, properly set up a kitchen to make sure the food isn't in an environment that could render it unhealthy, the right cooking temperature (especially the temperature danger zone) and where to set kitchen chemicals so they’re far enough away from the food.

I managed to pass the class very easily and got to cook many delicious foods that I got to eat either in class or brought home so I could eat it with my family.

For my third year culinary took up the remainder of my day after lunch and I also learned of a certain night happening once a month where a special dinner in the culinary’s diner room would have guests arrive and be served food we made. I found out I would be able to invite my family and other close loved ones over and I’d serve them dinner. 

Of course since it was at night that meant I had to go straight to culinary to get ready as opposed to going out to the school bus to go home and wouldn’t get to do my personal activities like I made myself comfortable with in my own routine. But this night was something that I wanted to try out and see how I’d like it. 

As I waited I got to help everyone prepare for the night and was even allowed to eat some of the food that got cooked which I participated in making. Once I received the news that my family arrived I came out to take their orders and they were all very proud of me.

I took all their orders and gave it to the chefs. After orders was finished I brought them what they asked for and they enjoyed it very much. Then once they were ready to leave I got to come home with them.

That was a very nice night for me as I was willing to try something new, grownup and mature. It was also a good night for my family too not only because they got to have nice food served to them but because I volunteered to do it and got out of my comfort zone to make it happen.

I also enlisted in the other nights to continue serving my family, including extended family members and even some of my old teachers from before. I also tried to continue this into my last year of high school but only got to do it once as the staff running the nights stopped upon not receiving their pay, much to my disappointment.

But I’m still thankful that I got the opportunity to take part in those nights as it helped me try more memorable experiences after school that took place there and allowed me to socialize with other kids outside of typical school settings. 

This was admittedly a little hard for me at times because I was used to leaving school at two o’clock and being able to go home to do my own thing. It was around five o’clock when dinner was finally served and was a little grouchy at times from being tired and out of my routine. But I still think it was worth it. 

My brother and I on the first night I served him and the rest of my family dinner.