Susana has always been fascinated by the intersection of science, art, and human connection—and for her, cooking ties it all together. Her love for cooking started at a very young age. She grew up helping her mom in the kitchen, watching cooking shows, and baking cakes from her collection of recipe books. Wanting to expand her skill she looked into a culinary internship which is how she found Sprouts. After having an amazing interview Susana was placed at Burdell kitchen with chef Geoff Davis. During her internship, Susana worked mostly in prep and gained experience in fast-paced kitchen environments. She sharpened her knife skills, learned how to stay organized under pressure, and became more confident asking questions and speaking up—a challenge she worked hard to overcome with the help of her mentors. She especially enjoyed working with chef Erin and chef Robert, who supported her growth and independence while helping her refine her technical skills. A highlight of her time in the kitchen was making okra stew and chicken parmesan, and getting back into baking—something she hopes to pursue further.One of Susana’s biggest accomplishments was learning to advocate for herself. Early on, she struggled to navigate the fast pace environment of the kitchen and felt overwhelmed by the unfamiliar environment. But instead of backing away, she leaned in—asking for help, learning from mistakes, and pushing through moments of anxiety. This allowed her to be fully present in this experience and really absorb everything. Over time, she went from quietly observing to confidently taking initiative and communicating with her team. That personal growth, she says, has impacted her both inside and outside the kitchen. Being in the Sprouts program not only helped Susana build her culinary skillset, but also gave her tools to manage anxiety, grow her confidence, and build community. She’s found joy in cooking again and is excited to explore the world through food. Though she once dreamed of opening her own restaurant or becoming a food and travel journalist, she’s now leaning more toward the journalism path—with plans to travel to places like Morocco, France, and Italy for the cuisine. Now that the internship has come to a close (and before she can jet around the world) Susana is excited to continue practicing her other hobbies such as watercolor, playing guitar, running, playing volleyball, and writing. Wherever she ends up, Susana hopes to keep sharing stories and meals that bring people together.