Stay in CIA. Your buddy may think the learning stopped because he could possibly already know how to do what theyre doing in class, but maybe you wont. If you already have restaurant experience then you are already gonna know a third of the stuff theyre gonna teach you how to do. Stick it out. Soak up all you can. Ive never personally been to culinary school but a lot of coworkers are cia grads and they teach me something new everyday. If i could afford it i would be there with you.