Emari joined the Sprouts Chef Training Program with a clear goal: to gain more confidence in the kitchen and learn how to share his love of food with others. He’s always enjoyed cooking—especially steak, burgers, and breakfast—but wanted to grow his technical skills and build experience in a real kitchen. Inspired by his grandma, his friends, and the anime chef Sanji from One Piece, Emari dreams of becoming a chef who can brighten people’s day with a good meal.During his internship at Snail Bar, Emari worked under Chef Andres and the sous chefs Steven and Irvan, helping with prep work like mirepoix, frying croquettes, chopping vegetables, and even cleaning and skewering squid. He found joy in pushing past his fears—like cracking eggs without getting shells in the bowl, picking out squid eyeballs, or working at a fast pace. At first, he was scared of messing up, but the supportive kitchen environment helped him feel safe and confident enough to experiment and grow. Emari especially appreciated how honest and constructive the feedback from Chef Andres was.Emari’s growth has been steady and meaningful. He now brings a notebook to track details, which has helped with memory challenges and staying organized. His knife skills have improved significantly, and he's become much more efficient in the kitchen. Most importantly, he’s learned to embrace mistakes as part of the process. He’s proud of how far he’s come—from being intimidated by kitchen temperatures and spices to developing his own style and understanding of flavor.Sprouts has given Emari a place where he feels like part of a family. He said that during shared meals, it felt like sitting down with people who genuinely care, not just coworkers. The program gave him a safe space to escape, focus, and grow—not only as a cook, but as a person. Although his ultimate dream is to become a YouTuber, Emari now sees culinary work as a sustainable path that he’s excited to continue exploring. He’s even considering taking on a cooking job in the future to support himself and keep learning. Through it all, he remains passionate about creating food that brings people together.