Student Showcase: Beatriz Ramirez [William Penn HS]
Our first Student Showcase comes from William Penn High School graduate Beatriz Ramirez, telling us her experience with the Culinary Arts Pathway and how it changed everything.
“When my family first moved here, I was 11, and didn’t speak English. I was shy and had an accent for a long time, so making friends was hard.
Some kids were not that nice and I just didn’t have the confidence to talk. But once I started doing the culinary program at William Penn, my chefs told me, ‘to be the best chef, you have to open up. You have to talk.’ Communicating with others is so important in this profession.
Now I know what I want to do with my life, thanks to the focus on careers at William Penn. At first, I picked culinary arts because I didn’t know what else to do. But I fell in love with it. And now I’m going to the Culinary Institute of America in the fall.
[Working at] the restaurant at Constitution Yards, we learn everything—from inventory to taking orders to creating daily specials. It’s kind of like our own little restaurant, and it gives us an idea of what’s in store for us in the future.”
Beatriz is undoubtedly on a Pathway to Prosperity. We know she has a bright future ahead and wish her good luck on her Pathway!
Are you or someone you know interested in a culinary career? Click here to find out more about the Culinary & Hospitality Management pathway. Recent statistics indicate that median salaries for head chefs with an associate degree can range from $42,000 to $64,000 depending upon location, according to Payscale.com. Salaries for Executive Chefs reach to $100,000 or more at fine dining establishments, according to CulinarySchools.org.
Student Showcase: Beatriz Ramirez
