So how does an Auditor decide to suddenly switch to become a Pastry Chef? I'll try and keep it brief...ish! I always said if I was going to study again, after doing my first audit qualification, it'd be something I enjoyed and could give 100% to. I'm at the stage in my audit career where I'm being encouraged to think about doing the next qualification to progress further, trouble is I'm not overly excited by the thought. I've enjoyed my job (most of the time!) so far and am content with the level I've reached, however do I want to be an Auditor for my whole career - not really no, but doing the next qualification all but ties me into it for the foreseeable future at least. The crossroads started looming Autumn last year.
Why patisserie? Over the last few years I've developed a huge passion for baking. I applied for the Great British Bake Off three years in a row and each time progressed further through the audition stages, I could have kept trying and hoped it happened one day, but there was no guarantee. I'd also entered a local charity baking competition in 2013 and won, being crowned Oxfordshire Star Baker! A few cooking experience days and lots of practicing really reinforced that this was something I thoroughly enjoyed and wanted to pursue further, hopefully eventually earning a living from it. I should also say here that a trip to the Dancing Trousers Cookery School (which I won for winning my category in the charity bake off!), run by the brilliant Alexis Thompson, really helped get me thinking. After appearing on Masterchef she followed her heart and pursued a career in food - her story really inspired me and I owe her huge thanks...maybe I could take a different path and follow my passion as well.
How did I settle on Le Cordon Bleu? It started as a pipe dream, a quick look on the internet for ideas and possible routes to pursue. But the more I looked at their website the more I fell in love with it. I looked through all the courses and got really excited. I slowly started looking into the various options; part time hours at work, different courses, asking questions about what the courses involved etc. and after a visit to the school in September last year I fell in love and was completely sold, and I knew then I wanted to do the full Patisserie Diploma. I talked it through with work and they were extremely accommodating and let me adopt part time hours temporarily to allow me to do the course. Once everything was in place I submitted my application and it was accepted! When I was accepted I also downloaded a countdown app to my phone - Only 173 days to start!
I need to say a huge thank you to family, friends and colleagues, all who have helped support me and encouraged me to follow my passion and heart and do this, it's enormously appreciated. I'm not sure I'd have the confidence to do it without them all supporting me and believing in me. I'm also indebted to work for allowing me to reduce my hours temporarily! That debt should be paid through a continual supply of baked goods though! With the crossroads ahead of me its time to forge a new path - you only get one shot at life, might as well enjoy the journey!
I've been reading other students blogs that have already been through the journey and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bricking it a bit - can I really do this!? But equally I'm really excited for the challenge ahead, and for the skills I'll hopefully develop along the way. Keeping my eyes on the prize and going to work really hard to make sure I'm standing at the graduation ceremony with a hard earned certificate and medal at Christmas - only two days to go until day one when writing this...BRING IT ON!!
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