Speaking from experience, there isn't much time or energy, but there are many opportunities. Last week, I was asked to help out at school. They had an event and needed some more hands. I had caught up on most of my homework, so I thought "why not?" I thought I would be coming in at nine, working for maybe three hours, then heading home. Pretty easy day and I would take some stress off my instructors.
When Saturday came, I was placed in charge of about eight other students and we had four hours to produce over a dozen dishes for sixty plus people. Upon arrival I was handed the menu and my chefs left to conduct demos for our guests. I was told, "see you at one thirty," and off they went. Talk about stressful. What I thought would be a three hour day turned into a six hour day very quickly.
The kitchen was crazy. Organized chaos is the broadest of terms. After having one of my team almost faint (good reminder, always eat a good breakfast before going to work), becoming frustrated with lack of time and oven space, and having the plating times changed three times, we fed everyone and had begun clean up, when my chefs called all of the students into the banquet room. We were met with thunderous applause. Every single person in the room was cheering us on as we entered. Suddenly six hours of work was made completely worth it. Most of my team started to tear up. We were thanked for our work and our chef made it very clear to our guests that none of this would have been possible without the students' hard work. High praise from that particular chef.
We all went home that day feeling incredibly proud of ourselves and each other. None of us got paid, but the smiles and praise from our guests and chefs is worth so much more.
So regardless of your schedule here at Sullivan, make time to give back. It's worth more than you know.
Lauren S.
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