I wasn't born to become a chef

No one in my extended family, both father's side and mother's side, is a professional chef. They're all engineers, IT professionals and teachers. The aunties (and a few uncles) can cook well though, haha! Nobody inspired me to cook, so where did I get my inspiration from?

It all started during my turbulant poly days. Quite often, I had to settle my own dinners once school ends because my mum and sister had plans for the night. Bored of eating out all the time, I flipped through my mum's recipe books and started experimenting. Slowly, I "upgraded" to cooking for the family, mum gave me some tips along the way. Eventually, mum noticed that I have some "standard", so she roped me in to help in events like Christmas and other family & friends gatherings. For some reason, everyone commented on how good my food was, in jest they even suggested that I open my own restaurant! Even my mum who has exceptionally high standards says I cook some dishes better than her. They say I have the hands of a chef, and encouraged me to further my skills. To them, a young man with good cooking skills is a rarity, and I'm a diamond in the rough. Back then, I just took their compliments with a pinch of salt. I had never thought of myself becoming a chef, just an Average Joe who cooks for a hobby. Of course it fills me with great satisfaction to see them enjoy the food I prepare for them.

As mentioned in the previous post, I was considering career options after less than a year left in NS (this goes out to all NSFs ORDing soon, better know what you want to achieve after NS, don't get stuck by not knowing what you want to do in life). I didn't want a deadend 9-5 job, more importantly I want to enjoy what I'm working for, the money can come later. Job satisfaction is very important. It was at this moment that I decided to turn a hobby into a career. Thankfully, I had the support of family and friends.

Sure, the chef's life is tough. Long hours, irregular rest days, no social life etc. The list goes on. Well other jobs have their difficulties too. But the moment when your guest puts the food you painstakingly prepared into his/her mouth and you see a big wide smile on his/her face, you know you have achieved your goal, and that satisfaction is wow! This is the path I've chosen, it is a long road, but with God's grace, I'll succeed.

After 'O' Levels, I thought I'll be a biotechnologist. Now after NS, I'm training to be a professional chef. Life has it's twists and turns, but God always guides you to somewhere better. Just go with the flow and trust in God's divine providence. It works for me, it'll work for you too.

=)