“Cooking is my peace of mind.” Jerry was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. His passion for being in the kitchen started at an early age. Growing up, he spent time with his mom and grandma in the kitchen and always enjoyed watching them cook. “Cooking is my peace of mind. It gives me patience.” Jerry says his favorite part about cooking is seeing people’s reactions when they taste his food. He enjoys knowing that people like what he’s created. Jerry has had some hiccups through the years, but he doesn’t let that stop him. “I don’t let my background hinder me. I believe that I can do anything I set my mind to. There’s plenty of jobs out there for felons, you just have to look.” His passion for cooking brought him to the hospitality industry, but the job opportunities have kept him here. When Jerry first came across CCSC, he said he thought it was too good to be true. “When they told me there was no cost to attend, I couldn’t believe it. Then I came here to see, and I saw it was real. I had to take advantage of the opportunity.” Jerry’s end goal is to be a chef. “I am trying to level up. I’m trying to elevate myself.” After graduation, he is looking forward to taking his newfound skillset and applying it to his job in the industry.