Letters from Bruges – Part 2

This chapter has officially come to a close: Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts. Here is my graduation speech.

I’ve learned so much—about cooking, bookkeeping, running a business, and managing people. About people in general and myself in particular. I still remember the 2023 summer school as if it were yesterday. From spending entire days studying nothing but math, I suddenly found myself in the kitchen all day long. What will always stay with me is the chef who said that without passion, it would be impossible to stick with a job in the hospitality industry.

The past three years have been a very intense experience for me. I attended classes every Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. and every Friday evening until 6:00 p.m. Competitions and study trips have given me a more nuanced view of the world. And as a student-entrepreneur, I ran a catering business and built a food blog that today inspires many people with seasonal dishes that are easy to prepare at home.

I met some amazing people who believed in me, gave me opportunities, and were happy to share their knowledge. I also met people who thought a restaurant wasn’t the right place for someone who had spent years studying nothing but math and science. And people who believed that shouting back louder was the best way to change the course of a discussion. Fortunately, my passion was strong enough that every day I found myself thinking, “I’m looking forward to this.”

The fact that I was ultimately able to wrap up my final year with an internship where I could ask as many questions as I wanted, learned so much, and witnessed such a high level of culinary artistry—all without anyone ever making me feel like I had to change who I was to fit into the team—is worth its weight in gold to me. I wrote my thesis on how lesser-known vegetables can be featured more prominently on menus in fine dining—a topic very close to my heart. This earned me the highest honor. I won awards and now have the opportunity to actually develop this business plan.

I think the boss was right after all with his speech about why a job in this industry is unsustainable. I also think that all this experience has taught me that I possess something no one will ever be able to take away from me: an unquenchable passion, curiosity, and the enthusiasm to bring out the best in myself and others.

Here's to everything that's yet to come!