Amberlynn came into the Sprouts Chef Training program with a quiet determination and a strong love for cooking. A student at John O’Connell High School in the culinary pathway, Amberlynn is no stranger to the kitchen—she cooks regularly at school and at home for her family, often experimenting with soups and testing out new recipes just for fun. Cooking brings her happiness, and she’s eager to grow her skills so she can one day become a chef or a personal chef working directly with clients. To be able to further her culinary skills Amberlynn joined Sprouts and was able to expand her knowledge at Nopa with chef Sean Eastwood. During her internship, Amberlynn immersed herself in the fast-paced rhythm of a professional kitchen. She helped with prepping latkes, cutting citrus, and working with herbs and fruits. While long hours on her feet were a challenge at times, Amberlynn stayed committed and made big strides in her knife skills—one of her main goals. Cracking and separating eggs for pasta was especially tough at first, but she improved with every shift. Over time, she got more comfortable with professional kitchen equipment and developed faster, more confident techniques.Amberlynn built strong connections with the kitchen staff, particularly with Maria, one of the sous chefs. With few women in the kitchen, it meant a lot to her to have someone she could relate to. She also formed great relationships with the cooks, who shared her love for wrestling and other interests. Their encouragement and camaraderie helped her feel at home. Amberlynn especially valued the chance to try new foods—like fresh pasta and latkes—for the first time, and she looked forward to exploring the bakery station as her internship progressed.Sprouts gave Amberlynn the opportunity to not only learn from professionals but to challenge herself and push through moments of self-doubt. At first, she joined simply to see how restaurant kitchens worked. Now, she’s thinking even more about the creative, energetic "party side" of the culinary world and how she can be part of it. With her mom as her inspiration and motivation, Amberlynn leaves the program more confident in her skills and excited to keep cooking and helping others through food.