Scholarship Essay Entry – Orysia A.

Recently while going through childhood memorabilia I found a kindergarten cookbook where each student wrote their favourite recipes and how they would cook that recipe. I wrote mine on chocolate chip cookies. I can’t help but laugh and think “I guess I have always had the baking gene in me.” Ever since junior high my life has revolved around working towards one day owning my own bakery. After graduating high school I decided it would be best to attend business school followed by pastry arts school, combining both degrees to open my very own little bakery.

High school wasn’t all about me opening a bakery though. I have always had a passion for helping others, trying to mold my life around the words “there is no such thing as small change.” Whether I’m holding the door for someone else, building houses in Mexico or buying my sister a coffee on her lunch break, any little thing you do to make someone else smile can change their world, even if it doesn’t take a huge effort on your part. Combining my drive to help others with my skills in business and pastry arts I hope to open a bakery that is not only as friendly to the environment as possible, but also to the surrounding community and its people.

After successfully opening a bakery I would love to give back whether its donating cupcakes for a bake sale, donating baking lessons or hosting a fundraiser to raise money. Other goals include one day having a scholarship available to those students in need who, just like me, are paying their own way through school. Working full time while going to school is hard and I want to be able to help others to allow them to focus more on school, not work. Being able to provide mentorship for someone else as passionate about baking as me is also a goal of mine. I feel like everyone should have a mentor in their lives and I would be honored to one day have someone choose me as their mentor.

No one can change the whole world by themselves. However, each of us can do our parts, no matter how big or how small to change someones world. I only can hope that one day I can help to change someones world for them, one cookie at a time.