Highlighting the Spotlight: Rich Clay '23 - Pursuing the A.A.S. in Culinary Professionals
Rich's passion for cooking ignited at an early age, influenced by the diverse foods he experienced through his missionary parents' work. In Cameroon, he started washing dishes at a mom-and-pop restaurant, quickly transitioning to food preparation, and soaking up culinary techniques from the local cuisine.
Feeling uncertain about a career in music, Rich pursued vocal performance in college. However, he soon found the competitive atmosphere uninspiring and left school. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Rich grappled with feelings of despair but found solace in the kitchen. His love for cooking, originally kindled as a six-year-old, rekindled.
Armed with a newfound determination, Rich scored a job at Chipotle in Gastonia, NC. Finding out about their partnership with Guild Education offering educational benefits, he seized the opportunity to return to school. Rich enrolled in Johnson & Wales Online's culinary studies degree program, eager to further hone his skills and fulfill his dreams in the culinary world.
Balancing work and school wasn't easy, but Rich persevered, combining time management and self-discipline to juggle multiple assignments each week. The culinary faculty provided steady support, quickly responding to queries and offering invaluable feedback through detailed videos. Rich's hard work paid off, as he excelled in the online program and graduated with a degree in culinary arts.
Since his promotion to Assistant Manager at Gastonia Chipotle, Rich has used his newfound culinary knowledge to improve the quality of food they prepare. He continues to explore international cuisine, grand plans of starting a community-focused food venture in the future. Rich's story demonstrates the transformative power of passion, determination, and a good helping of good food.
- Rich's career evolution led him to the culinary industry, turning his passion for food into a potential path for business and lifestyle transformation.
- During his time at Chipotle, Rich discovered the advantages of online education, using the Guild Education partnership to enroll in a food-and-drink focused degree program at Johnson & Wales Online.
- Pursuing education-and-self-development and career-development, Rich learned practical skills, recipes from around the world, and adopted a broader understanding of the food-and-drink industry.
- In addition to honing his culinary skills, online learning provided Rich with the essential skills-training necessary to manage operations efficiently, both in his career at Chipotle and in his future business endeavors.
- Rich's online education fostered a love for the culinary lifestyle, as he embraced the diversity of food-and-drink, confident in his ability to adapt and improve as a chef and entrepreneur.
- Leveraging his self-developed skills, Rich aspires to open a community-focused food venture, aiming to share his culinary knowledge and contribute to the growth of food-and-drink culture in the region.
