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By Thaddeus Meyers

Graduating high school and attending the Community College of Philadelphia was a decision I made when I was 17. If you were to ask me if I wanted to be a chef when I was that age, I probably would have laughed in your face. One year into college, I knew I needed a change, so I began to research culinary colleges in our area. Walnut Hill College was the first one that I researched, and I immediately was interested and scheduled a visit. I transferred a week later and began my journey in February 2014.

I will never forget my first day, which started with me walking into the Purchasing Department thinking it was the door to class and ended with a chef instructor telling me to small dice a carrot. I looked at him as if he had four heads. I had no idea how to hold a knife, nor did I have a clue how to small dice anything. I quickly realized that I really needed to learn a lot if I was going to make it in this industry. Classes were extremely difficult at first for me, but I eventually got the hang of it and found an even bigger love for cooking than I thought I would ever have. The chefs and professors we have at our College have taught me so much along the way, and I hope to one day be able to mentor people the way that they have mentored me over the last three years.

The knowledge that I have gained from Walnut Hill College is incredible, and I do not regret a single thing about attending our wonderful College. I have met so many good people along the way, and it is an honor to call myself an alumnus now. Staying for my bachelor’s degree and being a part of the Student Leadership Development Institute has been an honor and one that I will never forget.

Thaddeus Meyers, Student Leader
Culinary Arts, Class of March 2017

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