Kendall’s favorite quote, “iron sharpens iron,” really hit home and touched my heart. To me, it means that people make each other better when they push, challenge, and support one another. Growth doesn’t happen when everything is easy. It happens when you’re surrounded by people who want to improve just as badly as you do, and you rise to meet them. I learned that in a very real way after I got hit by a car. I ended up with a hematoma in my right leg, a torn plantaris tendon, and a fractured tibial plateau. Before the accident, I was always on my feet, always moving, always chasing my passion. Suddenly I couldn’t even walk normally. It felt like my whole life got paused, but my dreams didn’t. Recovering from that wasn’t some dramatic movie moment. It was slow, frustrating, and honestly painful. But it forced me to build a different kind of strength and brought me closer to god. When you have to relearn simple things, you start to understand what “sharpening” really means. During recovery, I realized that you don’t get better by avoiding struggle. You get better by going through it. That idea changed how I see my future in the culinary world. Kitchens are full of pressure, expectations, and people who want to master their craft. That’s exactly the type of environment where “iron sharpens iron.” When I’m around people who are passionate and hungry to learn, it pushes me to work harder and focus more. I’ve always loved cooking, but now I appreciate the process of getting better at it. I want to be in a place where everyone is pushing each other to grow, not with competition, but with respect, passion, and shared goals. My injury also taught me patience and humility. When you’re forced to slow down, you start paying attention to what truly matters and why you started. I didn’t give up on culinary because I physically couldn’t do it for a while. That actually made me want it more. It proved to me that this isn’t just something I enjoy; it’s the path I’m committed to. And if I’m going to be in this industry, I want to be the kind of chef who not only sharpens my own skills, but helps sharpen the people around me too. “Iron sharpens iron” represents how I want to approach my career, by working hard, staying teachable, and surrounding myself with people who make me want to level up. I know the culinary world can be intense, but I’ve already learned how to get back up after being knocked down, literally. I know how to keep moving when it hurts. And I know how to stay focused on the bigger picture. If anything, the accident didn’t slow me down. It gave me a reason to push forward with even more intention. It lead me to following my dream to become a chef. That’s what the quote means to me: challenges shape you, the people around you shape you, and if you let all of that sharpen you, you come out stronger in the kitchen and in life.