From the grocery down the road to the high end restaurants that utilize vocabulary too complex for a plate, my fascination with food– how it is prepared and how it impacts people – has driven my ambitions. My curiosity sought more than understanding, but to make the same impact a simple grocery run and 5A steak could make. From a young age, watching my grandmother honor the dishes she loved at home prior to Katrina, food was something that I was passionate about. While at the time, I admittedly was more passionate about eating rather than cooking-I was always in the kitchen. I remember the joy of being able to lick the spatula or finally be trusted to remove things from the oven. Somewhere between my hair being full of brownie batter and learning to help my grandmother, my passion developed. I believe my mission in life is to serve others with the skills that I’ve been blessed with; I plan to serve with the gift of a meal. During high school I often cooked for many classes, both big and small. Bringing things such as bacon wrapped tenderloin to birthday cakes, my classmates only limits were my old oven and shabby paraphernalia. Despite this, the satisfaction on my classmates faces made all the struggle and DIY tools worth it. Infatuated with this feeling I took to the kitchen every day curating something new for classes and sports teams. This was when I decided what to do with my life; I had found a way to serve others that I was passionate about. From then on, I decided to aspire to open a bakery. Inspired by the ones I had visited in Rome and Paris, I can clearly see the interior of my shop. While menu classics dance in my head- more so does the environment. Providing patrons with a sense of peace upon arrival. A place to sit still, not to eat- but taste. I aspire to provide for others what their satisfaction provides me- a moment of peace. My curious yearning for the kitchen allowed me to dream big, knowing that I too could make an impact in a persons day just like a flavorful dish.

When you eat, do you taste love? Serving at the Houston Food Bank for many years has allowed me to see firsthand the significant influence food has on my community. Working devotedly with innumerable people over the years allowed me to recognize my ability to make a positive change. Wanting to make a difference every day, my passion became my way of giving. Whether it be making birthday cakes, meals for games, or school lunches, over the past six years, my love for giving has only grown. As I prepare to continue my studies at the Culinary Institute of America, I’m already apprehensive to return home and continue giving. My goal in life is to devote myself to making sure that each table is richly set with food and love. The best reward I could ask for is knowing that people who eat my food know that it’s made with love. Giving is the greatest thing someone can do, and maintaining a full stomach is my life’s calling. After culinary school I plan to open a bakery whose mission statement is rooted in giving. Providing low cost meals at every opportunity. I will make a difference.

Certainly! Here's your essay with the revised sentences integrated: Since middle school, I have been uniting people through a common love - food. Throughout my time at Cypress Christian School and Tomball High School, I've dedicated myself to preparing meals for fellow students, ensuring that everyone around me has access to food. Bringing joy to those around me through food has been my mission throughout high school. Every summer, I dedicate my time to the Houston Food Bank, witnessing the profound impact of food on my community during the Summer Service program. Hundreds of people gather each week with a shared purpose, and it's a truly beautiful sight. Over the years, my passion for food has only deepened as I've recognized its vital role in our community. While my service work primarily occurs during the summer months, I extend my mission throughout the school year. It all began in 6th grade when I started cooking for fellow students, from pots of gumbo and jambalaya to pans of fried chicken and fresh pasta dishes. As I progressed through my education, the groups of people I fed expanded from a single class in middle school to include sports teams and multiple classes in my senior year. There's nothing I'd rather do than devote my time to providing for others. As I prepare to graduate from high school, I eagerly anticipate my journey at The Culinary Institute of America, where my passion for food will only flourish further. Although opening a restaurant is a future goal, my commitment to giving back will never falter. Being surrounded by Christ-loving individuals both at school and work continuously motivates me to make a difference through the power of food. As I aspire to reach more hearts with my food, this message will remain with me. In Luke 9:13, Jesus says to the disciples, “You give them something to eat”. Christ sought to teach the disciples the importance of feeding the body and soul in the story of feeding the five-thousand. This is a lesson that I’ve been action-taught in my service work. I could not be more indebted to the Houston Food Bank for the lessons it has taught me over my 5 years of serving. They so perfectly embody the importance of joy while giving to others. By teaching me to honor my community, they have inspired me with their message of “creating a world where we don’t need food banks”. As I aspire to reach more hearts with my food, this message will remain with me. I want nothing more than to assure we feed everyone, body and soul.

Having grown up working for Chick-Fil-A, I have learned the value of good hospitality, because it is truly “Our pleasure” to have a patron with us each and every time. As I embark on a journey at the Culinary Institute of America, I cannot begin to express my excitement for the education I am soon to be exposed to. Thinking of my impending future, all I can see clearly is my restaurant. After years of honing my culinary skills, the prospect of my own storefront draws nearer. Ensuring that every patron feels valued during each visit isn't just a goal; it's my purpose. My kitchen will be home to a family and my seats, filled with family returning for the flavors of home. Seeking to enchant everyone who enters with scents of rich food and ambiance that captures every eye, I am fueled beyond my understanding to put love on the table. With warm smiles and eager anticipation, our staff awaits the opportunity to serve those who hunger for more than just food. As patrons peruse the menu, they'll not just make choices but fall in love with them. Each one of us has a favorite restaurant. Whether it be because of the food, the connections, or the value, there is something special that sets them apart from the ones around it. Having traveled all over the world and eaten at restaurants that I will never see again has taught me the meaning of hospitality. Hospitality is not a job, and it’s not something you can pay for. Hospitality is a person. It’s someone who can show love through their actions at the table or in a home. During a trip to Belize, I encountered a true embodiment of hospitality. David Brown, an older man working at a small restaurant, was the man who solidified the definition of hospitality. Driving down a dirt road, eventually hitting a dead end, my family and I were preparing to turn around our golf cart as Mr. David Brown approached. Out of a restaurant with no walls he offered us a table and drinks with the kindest smile I had ever seen. “Come join my family,” he said as he walked towards us. Due to the state of the establishment, my family turned the cart around as we were aware of much nicer places in the area. But, as we drove away, a small sign was nailed to a palm tree and with weathered paint “come as friends, leave as family” was written upon it. Turning around to see Mr. Brown, we got our drinks and became his family. That's the essence of hospitality, and it's what I aspire to embody. I want to make everyone family as we sit under one roof enjoying food. I want to build a family and bring people together in the name of a good meal—one day I will. And when that day comes, sit with me and become family.