Meet Asiyah
Where are you from and what high school did you attend?
I’m from Jamaica Plain/Roxbury. Our house is right on the border. I've lived in the same house all my life. I’ve also been homeschooled for most of my life. This fall I'll be attending Simmons University.
Besides cooking, what other passions and interests do you have and how do you fulfill them?
I love videography, writing, and social justice. I write all the time, whenever inspiration hits. A lot of my recent work has been poetry, which touches on topics of social justice. Recently, using the money I earned from FC I was able to buy a laptop (which has yet to arrive) and I plan on using it to edit the novels I’ve written of the past few years. I also bought a camera last summer and I’ve been using it to document my life for fun and also just so I can watch it back later.
What would you tell other young people about Future Chefs who are interested in joining our program?
FC is a little different for each cohort, but there's always a lot to learn, and even though you may feel a little lost at the beginning of the FC Delivers program, you’ll make some great friends! Jordan will always check on you if you’ve had a bad day, or play a quick game of chess or cards. You’ll find your place, and get to learn lots of really valuable cooking skills along the way. Because FC is a family, we cook together and we eat together. Though I’m graduating I know I’ll always be welcome back to the table!
What are your school, career, and life goals over the next 3-5 years?
I want to get my bachelors degree and work at a nonprofit like Future Chefs. I haven’t decided yet exactly what I want to get my degree in, right now I’m an English major but I’m super interested in social work and psychology. There are plenty of opportunities for minors and even switching my major.
FC helped me discover my love for connecting with my community and giving back. I’m also excited for little things like, getting my first apartment or car. And learning how to live on my own.
Did you have an interest in food before joining Future Chefs?
Definitely I love food, and I’ve actually been cooking for a long time. But I still learned new things while at FC. Like how to break down a whole chicken. I would’ve never had the opportunity to learn to do that elsewhere.
How has Future Chefs activities expanded your confidence?
Definitely, it hasn’t just been FC, but it’s played a role in my growth over the past year. I learned a lot on networking and just getting out of my comfort zone in general. Attitude - Gratitude helped me speak up and be comfortable with sharing, and shout in - shout out helped me recognize my hard work and the work and support of others.