Schooling

I am an 18 year old Culinary Student that has been enrolled at the CIA in two weeks. I am geatly looking forward to it and Im counting the days. The chef at where I am working is trying to get me to back down to work for him so he can teach me. There is no way at all I am passing up this opportunity to do this. I feel schooling is very important now adays. Please respond to this and tell me your input.

School is great, if you keep it in perspective. You will be exposed to alot in school and learn the why's of things you do. Such as why you heat the pan first, why you need to temper the eggs,etc. Just remember that school won't teach you everything. It won't teach you how to run a line on Saturday with 200 on the books and a cook calls in sick. Working in the field teaches you that. Keep working while you are in school. As far as your chef wanting you to not go, I think he doesn't want to lose a cook.

I must agree with Andrew, a formal education is essential in today's "show me a diploma" market. But school will teach you the basic's and from there it's on your shoulder's to add that distinctive "signature" to a product. Be it an intricate ribbon sponge toa simple cream dessert or whatever. Coming from the CIA will open many doors but don't expect to walk out and make 50,000 dollars a year. Even though the schooling will prepare you well, you have to pay your due's on the line, many times working for pompus, egotistical $%^holes. But you will survive and learn volumes of information. My best advice is to invest in VERY comfortable shoes and buy a couple pair.