“I’m going to be the next Gordon Ramsay.” TT has lived in Cherryville, NC since she was 3 years old. She grew up in the kitchen, cooking dinners for her family since she was 9 years old, because she thought it was fun. “My favorite movie is the Princess and the Frog. Seeing Princess Tiana open her own restaurant with her own recipes gave me the push to want to do it myself.” While she loves to cook, TT says her favorite thing to do in the kitchen is bake, even though she only started baking a little over a year ago. During her senior year in high school, she started to bake mini cakes for the students and teachers at school, and they loved them. The positive feedback she was receiving pushed her to keep going. After graduating from high school in May of 2024, TT applied for a few different culinary programs in the area but was ultimately drawn to CCSC due to the hands-on nature and tuition-free program. She started Class 78 in September of 2024. “I’m really grateful for CCSC. It’s never too early or too late to get started, and the answer doesn’t always have to be college like people tell you.” TT says she is enjoying the techniques she’s learning in class each day and is especially grateful for Chef Sharon’s knowledge and skillset in baking. After she graduates from CCSC, TT is going to continue pursuing education in the culinary industry.