“Something has to change.” Princess was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and has been in the food service industry since her first job at 17. Once she graduated high school, her family said it was time for her to move out and provide for herself. Once on her own, she continued working in the food service industry because it was easy and familiar to her, but she stayed because she knew she would be fed during her shifts. “I at least knew where my food was coming from. I knew I would be fed.” Princess got her first felony when she was 21. Her felony record has hindered her for a long time; she says the barriers just continued to pile up. “Work was all I knew. I just wanted someone to give me a chance outside of my background.” Princess is a single mom to 4 kids and says her biggest struggle in life has always been her living situation. “Something has to change. My goal is to become a homeowner. I want my kids to have a place they know they can come back to.” In 2024, Princess first heard about CCSC, but the timing wasn’t right. At the time, she was working full-time and had a stable income. However, she was focused on getting a job that she was passionate about. She kept checking the School’s website to see when the next class was and decided to make the leap. After signing up for Class 79, Princess left her full-time job to pursue her culinary passion and make time for school. “CCSC is helping me to become more stable in life and it’s giving me the ability to be able to provide for my family.” After graduation, Princess is excited to re-enter the food service industry and obtain a job with career potential.