Dutchess BOCES

The first student is Jack Murphy, a junior in the culinary arts and restaurant management program from Wappingers Central School District. 

Why did you choose to attend the CTI culinary program? 

I really haven't been this focused my whole life. I just couldn't hold focus in the big classes. I wasn't going to be able to go to BOCES unless I went to my new school, which is Orchard View. When I went there, I really turned my grades around, and l got the chance to attend this school. 
I really wanted to go to BOCES because I love food and the science behind it. 
I wanted culinary because I work in a kitchen right now and there’s just something about food that makes people happy. It makes me happy being able to cook the food that makes them happy. I also cook for my family every day. It's going to be my career and I'm going to go far with it.
I just love it. It's my passion. It's what I was put on the earth to do.

What have you learned so far? 
I've learned so much already in these couple months of being here. A lot of my learning is through my own reading outside of class, but I really like coming here because I get to do the stuff I do at home and then I come here and get to do it here as well. I'm gaining all that knowledge from so many places. I've learned so much about pastas, sauces, and when I came here, I had no idea how to bake. Now I love to bake. 

What’s your favorite part of the program? 
I really like the fact that I get to go to school with people who have the same passion as me. It's nice to know that if some of the kids go to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), I've been with them since high school and we’ll continue our journeys and our careers together. 

What are your aspirations or plans after you complete the program? 
I'm going to the CIA. After that, I plan to travel to as many countries as possible - anywhere in the world that has a cuisine I want to learn, and soak up as much knowledge as possible. 
I want to work at Michelin star level and after all that I plan on getting a food truck and traveling and making people happy with the food I cook.

 

Stay tuned for another profile later this week as we continue to celebrate CTE month