Hello, my name is Niyah-Li Webb, and I am currently a baking and pastry student at Kendall College at National Louis University. I am pursuing a career in culinary arts because I have loved creating things with my hands since I was a child. Growing up, I spent many summers watching my grandmother work in her hair salon. She had a special talent for transforming her clients' looks, which boosted their confidence and brought joy to their lives. This experience inspired me to be creative and motivated me to make people feel good about themselves. Now, I want to turn that inspiration into a career by studying culinary arts. One of the reasons I chose this path is that I genuinely enjoy baking. When my papa gifted me a decorating kit, I discovered my love for making cakes and cookies. It was thrilling to see the happiness on my family and friends' faces during special events as they enjoyed the treats I made. Their joy motivated me to consider baking as a profession. I believe that getting an education in culinary arts will help me develop the skills I need to succeed in my aspirations. In addition to my passion for baking, I am deeply motivated by the desire to honor my grandmother. She is currently facing frontotemporal dementia, which prevents her from creating the ‘magic’ that once inspired me. Baking has allowed me to celebrate her legacy, and persue each dessert I create reflects the joy she brought to others throughout her life. When I bake, I feel a connection to her and the happiness she shared with those around her. Receiving a scholarship would significantly ease the financial burden of tuition, supplies, and other expenses. I grew up in a financially unstable home, and my mother worked tirelessly to provide for me. She has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, but the costs of my education is very overwhelming. A scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies and dedicate more time to perfecting my skills instead of worrying about how to pay for tuition, ingredients, chef uniforms, and a culinary kit. Moreover, winning a scholarship will open doors to more opportunities for me to grow in the culinary industry. Building connections is essential for stages and job opportunities in this field. I understand that success isn't only about skills but also about the relationships you build along the way. Having access to expert professionals and potential chefs could help me direct my path in the food industry. I am very determined to study culinary arts to pursue my love for baking, honor my grandmother’s legacy, and make a positive impact on others. Baking has the power to bring people together and create lasting memories, and I aspire to bring that joy. This scholarship would not only ease my financial worries but also empower me to follow my dreams and achieve my goals. With the right mindset, I am committed to turning my aspirations into my dream career, and I look forward to making my mark in the culinary world by starting my own business one day.

I've always loved being in the kitchen. Ever since I was a little girl, I've watched countless YouTube videos of baking and cake decorating. As a result, I’ve learned a lot by cooking at home and trying new recipes I find online. Over the years, I made desserts for friends' and families' birthdays, reunions, and social events as a side hustle. This passion for baking not only helped me enhance my decorating skills but also made me realize how much I enjoy seeing people happy with the things I create and receiving compliments on my decorated pastries. This unwavering love for baking ultimately led me to pursue culinary school. Throughout my educational journey, I have worked many part-time jobs as a bakery team member. These experiences opened my eyes to the intensity and fast-paced nature of a kitchen, as well as the challenges of satisfying every customer. However, I know there is still so much more to learn about the food industry. As a current baking and pastry student, culinary school has helped me improve my skills in the basic fundamentals of cooking, knife techniques, and overall cooking methods. It has also taught me about different kinds of food that have shaped and influenced the culinary world today. In the near future, I aspire to become a baking and pastry chef and earn my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration to start my own business. I envision my café featuring homemade, from-scratch recipes, innovative and creative desserts, and locally sourced ingredients, all within a cozy, coffee-style aesthetic vibe, so that people feel right at home and comfortable. My experience as a baking and pastry student has shown me that this journey is more challenging rather than easy. Being in a hot, busy kitchen, working long hours, and meticulously following recipes can be tough. But I am confident that in the long run, it will all be worth it. Cooking truly defines who I am, as part of my identity, and I want to turn this lifelong passion into a career. Attending culinary school to become a chef is an essential first step toward making my dream a reality. I am eager to keep learning and improving my baking skills so that one day, my perfected desserts not only taste amazing but also continue to bring joy to others, inspiring them to follow their own dreams and pursue what makes them happy.

I have always had an affinity for making abstract art from my crochet methods of cakes, people, or hats. I’ve always been drawn to making ‘things’ pretty with my hands. I believe I got that talent from my grandmother. I didn’t grow up in a financially stable home. My mom had me in her early 20s as an adult. It was just me and Mom for a while. My mom is doing everything in her power to provide for me. From the clothes on my back, a roof over my head, and even starving herself just to make sure her baby was fed. So, I've spent a tremendous amount of time with my papa and grandma taking care of me. My grandma owned a hair salon. I spent many summers watching her create masterpieces on other people’s heads. They would show up for their appointments with disheveled ponytails and hats hiding their hair and leave walking, talking, and acting like a new person. During those summers, I believe my desire to be an artist was cemented. I wanted to create ‘magic’ with my hands, or at the very least, make people feel good about what they see. Although I had goals, determination, and ambition, I never considered the realistic nature of how to achieve these desires. I’ve grown a lot since those summers in my grandma’s hair salon. I now create whimsical cupcakes, cakes, brownies, and purses, a business endeavor. This lifelong passion has always been my dream to one day have my own little bakery, as my favorite thing to bake is cakes and decorate them. As a side hustle in high school, I really started to utilize my baking skills to the test by making cakes and cookies with the decorating kit my papa gave me for family events, birthdays, etc. In the fall of 2021, my grandmother was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. She was forced to close down her beauty salon and has now become a shell of herself. I think back on all the missed symptoms of forgetfulness, clumsiness, and personality shifts that were summed up as tiredness. Although it saddens me, I believe that my work (with my hands) is a tribute to her and all the people she made happy…I spent my last two summers caring for her, and even now, sometimes when we make eye contact, I see that young, vibrant, and skillful woman I aspired to be in my youth. I applied to National Louis University to apply for their culinary programs and decided that I wanted to get an associate's degree in A.A.S Baking and Pastry Arts to gain some experience, acquire knowledge, and utilize in my everyday life from my baking skills. I plan on getting a bachelor's degree in business administration and obtaining the funds needed for my bakery. I hope to bring my cooking magic to the world to enjoy and inspire others with their own stories for joining the industry, just like my grandma gifted me her hands.

I have always had an affinity for making abstract art from my crochet methods of cakes, people, or hats. I’ve always been drawn to making ‘things’ pretty with my hands. I believe I got that talent from my grandmother. I didn’t grow up in a financially stable home. My mom had me in her early 20s as an adult. It was just me and Mom for a while. My mom is doing everything in her power to provide for me. From the clothes on my back, a roof over my head, and even starving herself just to make sure her baby was fed. So, I've spent a tremendous amount of time with my papa and grandma taking care of me. My grandma owned a hair salon. I spent many summers watching her create masterpieces on other people’s heads. They would show up for their appointments with disheveled ponytails and hats hiding their hair and leave walking, talking, and acting like a new person. During those summers, I believe my desire to be an artist was cemented. I wanted to create ‘magic’ with my hands, or at the very least, make people feel good about what they see. Although I had goals, determination, and ambition, I never considered the realistic nature of how to achieve these desires. I’ve grown a lot since those summers in my grandma’s hair salon. I now create whimsical cupcakes, cakes, and I have even made my hobby of crocheting dolls, hats, and purses a business endeavor. This lifelong passion has always been my dream to one day have my own little bakery. As a side hustle in high school, I really started to utilize my baking skills to the test by making cakes and cookies with the decorating kit my papa gave me for family events, birthdays, etc. In the fall of 2021, my grandmother was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. She was forced to close down her beauty salon and has now become a shell of herself. I think back on all the missed symptoms of forgetfulness, clumsiness, and personality shifts that were summed up as tiredness. Although it saddens me, I believe that my work (with my hands) is a tribute to her and all the people she made happy…I spent my last two summers caring for her, and even now, sometimes when we make eye contact, I see that young, vibrant, and skillful woman I aspired to be in my youth. I applied to National Louis University to apply for their culinary programs and decided that I wanted to get an associate's degree in A.A.S Baking and Pastry Arts to gain some experience, acquire knowledge, and utilize in my everyday life from my baking skills. I plan on getting a bachelor's degree in business administration and obtaining the funds needed for my bakery. I hope to bring my cooking magic to the world to enjoy and inspire others with their own stories for joining the industry, just like my grandma gifted me her hands.

From my reading of the article by Stephen Ornes, titled "Here's why mathematicians are so interested in cake cutting". I believe my affinity for math corresponds directly to my career interest along with real world examples. Because most real-world implications and human knowledge can be applied to the cake cutting method. As In human sciences we tend to think the way a cake is cut is unequal or unfair, so no one is happy with the method of cake cutting making some become envious and human preferences of which method gives a level of fair division. Throughout centuries, many methods and recipes have been divided and shaped as a result of creating an equal alignment of centering a cake in equal proportions. But the art surrounding the cakes dimensions, shape, texture, size is also a determining factor of its placement of why things are the way they are can be manipulated. In relation to my aspirations, I want to become a baking and pastry chef, which I would have to use math physically, mentally but also spiritually. As most elements taken and applied to revolved around the philosophy of mathematics that we sense into our own alternative purposes of why its importance shaped our understanding, beliefs and values, and knowledge progression overtime.

Dolls in the past were toys, normally women, who appeal to little girls to take up female duties: cooking, fashion, raising kids etc. But what happens when your doll comes to life and retaliates on said duties? In A Doll’s House, Ibsen introduces the doll motif throughout his play to showcase the development through the eyes of the main character Nora and the setting. The time period of the play is during the Victorian era, where women were housewives and dependent on their husbands for everything. A woman's sole purpose in life was to get married, be a housewife, and bear children. As in society, it was sadly frowned upon to be a widow and also receive no benefits from that said society. Ibsen establishing the connection between the setting and the doll motif shows how Nora challenges societal norms and stereotypical expectations placed upon women to be “perfect” by higher authority specifically, men. The “perfect” doll The scene takes place in Helmer’s house during Christmas Eve, throughout the play, the idea of doors comes into contrast, as dolls living in the house never leave the dollhouse confines. As every character enters and exits the house, only one person alludes to this. Nora is a married, young mother that is dazzling up the house to prepare for Christmas for her three children and her husband, until her dearest longtime friend Ms. Linde (also known as Christine) comes back into town. Who recently became a widow and had to learn to strive through life on her own. The two are chatting to get to know each other more, when Nora mentions the secret money, she used to save her husband's life during the Italy trip, Christine remarks to Nora if she will ever tell him the truth about the money. Nora responds, “when Torvald is no longer as devoted to me as he is now” (12). The word devoted ties the cycle of a doll. Dolls are used for playing, dressing up, and being loved until, once the doll becomes old and unwanted, dolls get replaced for the next best thing. This also transpires the doubled standard difference between a man's devotion and a woman's devotion: once a man loses interests they move on, while a woman would still love them unconditionally through their sorrow. Nora reassures Christine that she will not spill the beans on the hush money as: “for Torvald must have a good table. I couldn’t let my children be shabbily dressed” (12). The key words good table: shabbily dressed are significant as in Victorian era, they were obsessed with proper etiquette so much so that if a table wasn’t fully covered or if you weren’t dressed over the knees, it was the biggest sin and disgrace of them all. Which contrasts with the characteristics of a doll: No child wants a doll that is dirty, poorly dressed, and ugly. They want a doll that is perfect and fits into their standards. Later on in the scene, Torvald, Doc Rank, and Christine leave the house to take Christine home. Nora having the house all to herself and goes upstairs to play with her three children, Nora calls her children in various nicknames: darings, sweet blessings, and even refers to them as: “little dolly children” (18). This use of the word doll throughout the set is the foreshadowing of Nora turning her own kids into dolls just as Torvald is turning Nora into a doll. Torvald repeatedly calls Nora by many childish nicknames: skylark, little, daring, doll etc. Torvald’s treatment of dehumanizing Nora: by babying her, her lack of education, and beliefs of being a trophy wife so that everyone is pleased and happy. Nora thrives into this idea of perfection and purity, as she is trapped in this facade illusion of her own naiveness and ignorance that this is the dream life. I'm not your toy! Throughout the same scene Torvald is constantly silencing Nora of her opinions as Nora tries to save her husband and children from the danger that she got into by committing fraud and stopping Krogstad from showing the truth. Nora puts on numerous acts of weaponizing her incompetence to get her husband to reprimand her outlandish behavior. Later on, when Nora and Torvald get back the house from the tarantella dance, Nora wishes Torvald to not look at her like that, Torvald demands why can't he see her for: “at all the beauty that is mine, all my very own?” (57). Torvald is such a beta male instead of caring of his wife’s feelings or what she has to say, his ego allows him to only see Nora’s beauty as an object, much like a doll. As we dressed, act, and make the doll do as we say and please but never ask how the doll feels because its mute. Just as the current state Nora is in. This idea that women are objects connects to the past and present of society as the quote by Zsa Zsa Gaber: “men fall in love with their eyes, while women fall in love with their ears.” Because some men’s entitlement of respect, they believe they have a right over a women’s bodies, beliefs, and values to be given, while women’s respect wants to be treated, seen, and heard like a human being to be earned. When Doctor Rank comes into the set unexpectedly and Torvald asks Doctor Rank what Nora should wear, Doctor Rank contradicts Torvald’s statement by rebutting: “Let your wife go dressed just as she is in everyday life” (59). Doctor Rank is a foil of Torvald in the sense that he respects and cares more than Torvald has ever done for Nora’s sake as Doctor Rank listened to what she had to say, while Torvald dismissed her. Men always had a say in what women should do or say but, never how women do. As a result of the events of Torvald finding out about Nora’s fraud, Torvald belittles and shames her for the selfish actions she had partaken to save his life. Nora snaps at Torvald, coldly: “You have only thought it was pleasant to be in love with me” (66). Nora defying back against her husband shows that she is not only an alive doll but, won't be under the control of the puppeteer anymore. The broken doll They say the key to a healthy relationship is communication, which Nora realizes after eight years of living with Torvald, they never had a serious conversation, Nora proclaims how she measured to him: “according to your own taste, and so I got the same taste as you–or else I pretended to” (66). Also followed up with Nora explaining why she has decided to leave: “I was Papa’s doll child; and the children have been my dolls” (67). In the past, when a woman becomes married, she begins to lose herself of rights: her identity, values, and also integrity. By Nora, acknowledging that she was living as a doll and not for herself, she stops the repeating cycle she’s placed onto her children’s minds and does not endure the same pain as her. Torvald confounded that Nora is acting irrationally and brings up law and religion to bring Nora to her senses, Nora announces that “I don’t love you any more” Anymore is typically one word meaning any longer while any more means no longer. By Nora leaving, she sets up herself to live vicariously for herself, not for other’s enjoyment, not allow her three children to follow the same fate as of being a doll, and gains her long-awaiting freedom for independence to leave the doors of the dollhouse in a grand slam. In conclusion, Ibsen’s purpose of the doll motif is to convey the agenda of breaking stereotypical societal norms and expectations of women and their “duties” fitting into their role in society. In some places and religions, women don’t have rights and or if they were to speak out, would face consequences. Dolls not being able to speak and yet still held up a smile, describes the state of some women being stuck in a repeating cycle of physical, mental, or emotional abuse. Dolls in the past were always so clean, fashionable, and perfect but yet: “it was so brittle and fragile” (70). Women in the media and in toys (Barbie), were always perceived as damsels in distress who must be saved by a big, strong man, always stay pure, and innocent but, deep down women had to learn to have tough skin, confidence, and resilience to not allow a man to push you around. Through movements like Women’s suffrage and Women rights, they were able to spread awareness, provide a safe haven for women, bring change in societies’ sexist, misogynistic, inhumane policies. Ibsen portraying women like, Nora and Christine gaining their independence and free will to do as they please they can be anything, no matter what others say, and inspire other little girls and women to speak up for themselves.

I have always had an affinity for making abstract art from my crochet methods of cakes, people, or hats. I’ve always been drawn to making ‘things’ pretty with my hands. I believe I got that talent from my grandmother. Growing up I spent a tremendous amount of time with my papa and grandma. My grandma owned a hair salon. I spent many summers watching her create masterpieces on other people’s heads. They would show up for their appointments with disheveled ponytails and hats hiding their hair and leave walking, talking and acting like a new person. During those summers I believe my desire to be an artist was cemented. I wanted to make ‘magic’ with my hands or if not, at least make people feel good about what they see. Although I had the goals, determination, and ambition, I never thought about the realistic nature of how to obtain these desires. I didn’t grow up in a financially stable home. My mom had me in her early 20's. It was just me and mom for the first few years of my life. My mom had to drop out of school, and work numerous jobs to do everything in her power to provide for me. From the clothes on my back, a roof over my head, even starving herself just to make sure her baby was fed. I’ve grown a lot since those summers in my grandma’s hair salon. I now create whimsical cupcakes, cakes, and I even made my hobby of crocheting dolls, hats and purses a business endeavor. This passion has always been my dream to one day have my own bakery. When I became a teenager, I really started to utilize my baking skills to the test by making cakes and cookies with the decorating kit my papa gave me for family events, birthday. Even as a side hustle in high school, I would make desserts, set up prices, have a cake carrier, make posters advertising my product. In the fall of 2021 my grandmother was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. She was forced to close down her beauty salon and now has become a shell of herself. I think back on all the missed symptoms of forgetfulness, clumsiness and personality shifts that were summed up as tiredness. My grandma is no longer able to create the ‘magic’ that inspired me. But despite all of my efforts I put in school for good grades, leadership roles, and volunteering experience. I wasn’t given any sort of scholarship or financial expenses to help me pay for my tuition and books for college. I was just about ready to drop out of school. But my parents encouraged me to keep trying and pursue further education. Although it saddens me, I believe that my work (with my hands) is a tribute to her and all the people she made happy…I spent my last two summers caring for her and even now sometimes when we make eye contact I see that young, vibrant and skillful women I aspired to be in my youth.

Ever since I was a little black girl, I’ve always been passionate about baking. From playing computer games on my moms computer to watching endless cake compilations on YouTube. This has always been my dream to one day have my own bakery and have people enjoy the pastries I make. When I became a teenager, I really started to utilize my baking skills to the test by making cakes and cookies with the decorating kit my papa gave me for family events, birthday. Even as a side hustle in high school, I would make desserts, set up prices, have a cake carrier, make posters advertising my product ect. Although I had my goals and ambition, I never thought about the realistic nature of how to obtain these desires. Originally, I wanted to take a gap year to go work out of the fear of being in debt and feeling bad that I didn't have the money to pay it off. Despite my efforts I put in school for good grades, leadership roles, volunteering experience. I also graduated high school with a rank 2 of a class of 111, 3.8 GPA, A’s & B’s, and a full IB student. As I was a high achieving, hardworking, smart girl and shouldn’t have to live a life of fear. But after finding the culinary school that I was really passionate about. It made me excited about chasing a career in the field that belongs to me. I felt more confident in myself to keep going to school. Along with the encouragement around me with their advice and motivation to pursue higher levels of education. Which can help me reach closer to my associate's degree in baking and pastry arts, transfer schools to get my bachelor's degree in business administration. Further pushing into my dream goal of owning a bakery one day. Everyone has dreams too. That can either help people or even themselves boost self-confidence and determination to keep trying. If given the chance and resources provided to set them on the right path. As I want to set a standard for my people, of what it means to be educated and not become another statistic that marginalizes a special few. But evoke, express, and inspire others to make a difference and change the world in the fields they love too. Without the harsh reality of their dreams denied for being unrealistic or not achievable.

Ever since I was a little black girl, I’ve always been passionate about baking. From playing computer games on my mom's computer to watching endless cake compilations on YouTube. This has always been my dream to one day have my own bakery and have people enjoy the pastries I make. When I became a teenager, I really started to utilize my baking skills to the test by making cakes and cookies with the decorating kit my papa gave me for family events, birthday. Even as a side hustle in high school, I would make desserts, set up prices, have a cake carrier, make posters advertising my product ect. Although I had my goals and ambition, I never thought about the realistic nature of how to obtain these desires. I didn’t grow up in a financially stable home. My mom had me in her early 20's as an adult. It was just me and mom for the first few years. My mom is doing everything in her power to provide for me. From the clothes on my back, a roof over my head, even starving herself just to make sure her baby was fed. My mom did it all. When my sister was born in 2009, my mom went back to school and got her masters degree. My mother told me how important it was for me and my sister to do well in school. So I wouldn't have to succumb to the same fate and preserve. But it came at the cost of a lot of tears, struggle, and self doubt, as my mother knew better for me .In the end, I triumphed and graduated high school with a rank 2 of a class of 111, 3.8 GPA, A’s & B’s, and a full IB student. This was an honorary achievement of Black excellence! Not only did I make my parents proud, it set me up as an example for my little sister as well. But despite all of my efforts I put in school for good grades, leadership roles, and volunteering experience. I wasn’t given any sort of scholarship or financial expenses to help me pay for my tuition and books for college. Feeling discouraged, I decided that I would take a gap year to go work out of the fear of being in debt, and feeling bad that I didn't have the money to pay it off. But that idea was short lived and unrealistic in the eyes of my parents. They encouraged me to keep trying and motivated me to apply for scholarships and pursue schools that I’m actually interested in and are affordable. Everyone has dreams too. That can either help people or even themselves boost self confidence and determination to keep trying. If given the chance and resources provided to set them on the right path. This scholarship will empower me to become a better person not only, for myself but for my community as well. As I want to set a standard for my people, of what it means to be educated and not become another statistic that marginalizes a special few. But evoke, express, and inspire others to make a difference and change the world.