As someone passionate about the food service industry and driven to become an entrepreneur, I strongly desire to graduate college debt-free. This is because financial stability and independence are crucial to the success of any business venture. By eliminating the burden of student debt, I will be free to pursue my entrepreneurial goals and create a successful food service business that provides high-quality products with a significant focus on the inclusivity of diners with food allergies and sensitivities with attention to equality in customer service. Working towards this goal requires hard work, wise decision-making, and creative problem-solving. I have already taken steps to minimize college expenses, such as applying for scholarships, living frugally, and working my entire school career to be admitted to the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration, which allows me a partial parental tuition discount. I also have part-time and summer jobs as a sous chef in a local food truck and donut maker at a local destination to help cover my expenses and gain valuable work experience in the food service industry. In addition to these practical steps, I am actively seeking opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the field. For example, I am a Teaching Assitant for HADM 1361 Principles of Food and Beverage Operations Management this semester, last semester HADM 2360 Food Service Management, Theory, and Practice, and also HADM 1102 Entrepreneurship and Concept Development in the Food and Beverage Industry this past summer, where I have the chance to learn about different aspects of the food service industry, such as menu development, customer service, and food preparation. I am also networking with industry professionals and seeking internships that can provide me with additional experience and knowledge. My ultimate goal is to start a food service business that is innovative, sustainable, and provides customers with an unforgettable dining experience. By graduating college debt-free, I will have the financial stability and independence necessary to make this dream a reality. With determination, hard work, and a passion for the food service industry, I am confident that I will achieve my goal and become a successful entrepreneur.

When I first started reading, I didn't enjoy it. My elementary school friends then talked about The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. My mom would read it to me at bedtime. When The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan was released, I read that entire series myself. Now, I was hooked. Reading went from a relaxing bedtime routine to an all-encompassing part of my life. After reading multiple genres, classics, and literary favorites, I would choose "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. One of the reasons why "To Kill a Mockingbird" is such a powerful book is that it deals with themes relevant to people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. The novel explores racial inequality, prejudice, and injustice, and it does so in an eye-opening way. It tells the story of a young girl growing up in the American South during the 1930s who witnesses the trials and tribulations of her father, a lawyer who defends a black man who has been wrongly accused of raping a white woman. The novel is a powerful reminder of the dangers of racial prejudice and the importance of fairness and justice in the criminal justice system. This is especially relevant in today's society, where the Innocence Project works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals and has shed light on the disturbing fact that wrongful convictions are a significant issue. It is estimated that thousands of people are still wrongfully incarcerated. Many of these wrongful convictions were due to eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, and ineffective counsel. Through Scout's eyes, readers can see the world differently and understand the importance of empathy, fairness, and justice. Another reason why "To Kill a Mockingbird" is an excellent book for everyone to read is that it is written in a style that is both accessible and engaging. She creates memorable characters, and the plot is both suspenseful and thought-provoking. In conclusion, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is the book I would choose for everyone in the world to read because it addresses universal themes that are relevant to us all, whether you are a young person just discovering the world or an older person looking for a fresh perspective, this book has something to offer. Its message of hope, empathy, and justice is one that we can all benefit from hearing, and its impact on the world would be immeasurable if everyone read it.

From a young age, I was encouraged to be creative, whether through art, science, photography, and especially food. I often played "restaurant" with my family using my plastic toy food, alternating between being the waitress, cook, and cashier. When I spent time with either of my Grandmas, the activities were always focused on preparing food and dining on family favorites. My engagement started when my Grandma Yvonne would pull a chair to the stove and let me cook scrambled eggs for my grandpa. This opportunity to share the interactiveness of food with others began when I was three. I also helped her with Thanksgiving from that time, adding more dishes to my repertoire each year. My Grandma Betty was a first-generation from Hungary. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to eat much of my grandma Betty's food because of the 80 years between our ages. However, luckily for me, my parents were reminiscing about grandma Betty's traditional dishes one day when they realized how many of her dishes I had never experienced. At that point, my mother realized that those dishes they all loved would be gone from the family's history if she didn't pass them on to me. So one of the first items my mom taught me to make was fresh noodles, like my grandma's. I love making pasta in many different styles, such as egg noodles, spaetzle, and ravioli. Pasta allows me a base to be creative with the fillings or sauces. After that, my parents brainstormed all the other dishes Grandma Betty made. My mom wrote down the recipes the best that she could remember. My mom had watched Grandma Betty make these dishes because these were dishes that grandma didn't get from a cookbook, there were handed down from my great-grandma. Then, mom and I set out to ensure the recipes were correct. We cooked each item, checking the recipe and quality as we went along. When the dish was finished, we took photographs. Mom took the recipes and pictures and created a book through Shutterfly so that I could keep the recipes for the rest of my life and have the opportunity to pass them on. This experience of learning about my heritage through food sparked an interest in me to learn about many cultures' food. With my parents, I have had the opportunity to travel to South Africa, Mexico, and New Zealand. On each of these trips, we dined on traditional food, giving me new techniques and unique ingredients to add to my repertoire. My mother and Grandmas have been the most influential in my passion for cooking. It brings me great joy to share my love for cooking, sharing and feeling the enjoyment of others when dining on the fruits of my labor. Therefore, I have chosen to attend Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration to concentrate on culinary arts and entrepreneurship.