My name is Elle DiCamillo, I come from an Italian family from my dads side and grew up alongside cooking with my grandparents which make me a 2nd generation Italian. I grew up learning and experiencing the culture of Italy with my grandparents which led to my development of live towards the hospitality industry. My goal is to experience and expand my knowledge through my youth of culinary and travel abroad to learn the different cuisines and cultures of my heritage. I strive to prove my family’s wisdom in creating incredible types of cuisines and fusions of different styles and cultures. I hope to inspire people to be driven to learning more. Throughout my time in highschool, I participated in a program called CCAP which helps students in need to reach their future goals and aspirations. This program had me practicing knife skills, many different cooking techniques, and patience in many different forms it can be taken in. I believe my true aspiration for culinary arts came from my Culinary instructor/ mentor from highschool, Chef Kriston Poe. My teacher Chef poe did not only teach me the science and education behind cooking but she led me to my passion of cooking. Which has inevitably led me to the development of pursuing an education in this field. During my senior year of high school chef Poe was our instructor for CCAP, a national scholarship program for students in need. During this time she was diagnosed with cancer which led all of her participants of CCAP to get together and teach eachother how to navigate without an instructor. Through this time each of us learned we can support ourselves through this program through little guidance of our mentor. During this time I would practice about 20 hours a week, and worked 2 jobs which would come up to 40 hours a week. All while I was still going through my senior year of highschool. I truly believe this experience brought me to a near experience of what it was like becoming a grownup. I discovered my drive and passion for this field through this experience of driven work. My dedication to my work was un replaceable by anything. I allowed my career to consume me during this period of my life and learned that this is what I strive to do in my future. I am beyond grateful to have discovered this skill and talent throughout this early in my life and I hope to create a memorable experience in my pwn restaurant on other people some day. Thank you so much for taking the time of reading my response, It is heavily appreciated, and I more than happy to be considered for this scholarship. Thank you, Elle DiCamillo