Naima's journey through the Sprouts Chef Training program has been an exciting and enriching experience. Naima's passion for cooking started with teaching herself through cooking shows, inspired by her cousin, a chef in Atlanta. Excited to further her skills she signed up for Sprouts where she was placed at Society Cafe with Chef Nicholas McCann.

The program allowed her to break out of her initial shyness and embrace cooking as a creative outlet. During her time in the program, she discovered a love for making diverse dishes like salads, soups, tacos, and chicken and waffles. Her trips to the farmers market with Chef Nick taught her how to pick the best fruits and vegetables, and she particularly enjoyed experimenting with creating new flavors and making strawberry jam. Although standing for long hours and dealing with her first kitchen burn were challenges, they were reminders that she was taking on more responsibilities and growing more confident in the kitchen. Her relationship with Chef Nick was one of the highlights of the program. She appreciated his encouragement to ask questions, which made her feel more comfortable as she learned new techniques, like using a mixer and sharpening knives.

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Naima also bonded with Christian, another intern, and the sous chef during her time in the kitchen. The most valuable skills she gained were in labeling, organizing, and learning to work efficiently in the kitchen. Her favorite accomplishment was mastering cookie-making and even printing on them, a skill she perfected over time.With plans to attend the University of Rochester to double major in psychology and ASL, she is excited to continue using her new culinary skills to cook for herself and her friends in college. Grateful for the experience, Naima feels better prepared to take care of herself and plans to recreate the recipes she learned over the summer.