Starting over isn’t easy, but sometimes it’s necessary. Jean left his home country of Haiti to escape political violence and seek stability and opportunity in the United States. Arriving here, he felt like he was beginning again at zero. It was a hard truth to accept but rather than let it discourage him, he saw it as a chance to build something better.
“Full of opportunity ahead of me, I chose to learn,” Jean said.
Choosing a mindset for seeking learning opportunities shaped his goal to improve each day and leave a legacy his children could be proud of.
Jean first learned about Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program from a friend who had completed it. At the time, Jean was working as a security officer at a local hotel. But he was ready for more than just a paycheck, he wanted a career he could feel passionate about.
At home, Jean was already stepping into the kitchen, often calling his sister for help on recipes while taking over cooking duties so his wife could focus on caring for their kids. With encouragement from his friend, Jean took the leap and applied.
In the program, he learned that there is a difference in how you cook at home for your family versus how you cook professionally for large groups of people.
“There are rules to cooking,” Jean says. “You can’t just go by instinct; there’s a method to everything.”
Jean learned not only how to prepare food but how to work in a professional kitchen. From discovering why different vegetables need to be roasted separately to understanding the names and uses of commercial kitchen tools, Jean is building a solid foundation for his future as a chef.
Today, it is Jean who is giving cooking tips to his sister. He is also building a career he is passionate about with a new job at a local theme park restaurant, one that will provide lasting stability for his family.
Jean has one piece of advice, “It’s okay to fail, but give yourself a chance. Create a legacy for yourself.”
