Yay for snow day! Not only did I get to take a break from classes and take a breather, but I finally got a chance to call my chef from Taiwan and catch up with him. (yay for cheap Skype calls!) He had tried calling me before, but because of the 13-hr time difference, he always ended up calling while I was in class.
Although class was superrrr fun and exciting when I first started, this past weeks' classes have been a lot tougher. Maybe it's because God really is trying to humble me, maybe it's because we move at a much faster pace now, or maybe it's because the "honeymoon" feeling of culinary school has worn off and I now realize that this is still school with grades, pressure, deadlines, etc. In any case, it's been a rough start to the week.
Talking to my chef was really good. He told me, "It's okay if you don't always do well all the time. Just take things slow. Make sure you have a plan of what you have to do before you actually start anything, otherwise you won't succeed. Remember to keep a happy attitude at class or work. Be more joyful. This way, your work won't feel like such a burden. And as for the hours you have to put in every day and the strain that it might put on your friends and family -- you get used to it. You and your family. It'll all be okay in the end. Don't worry so much! Don't be so nervous. Just stay happy and remember to take things slow. You're in no rush for anything. Put your mind to it, and I know you'll succeed.
"Also, most importantly, don't be afraid of suffering or hardships."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Just don't be afraid of it!"
And finally, it made sense to me. Why should I be so afraid of going through hardships? As I think about class, work, life..., I guess I realize that hardships are and will be part of the whole package. God tells us to endure hardship, to rejoice in suffering (Heb 12:7, Rom 5:3), and for a good reason. It does build discipline, character, perseverance -- all things that are good to have. So for me, the (constructive) criticism I receive or mistakes I make will only help me learn what it takes and how to get to that point where I can be a better chef, student, person... Without making those mistakes, how would I ever learn and improve?
He ended the conversation wishing me a happy new year and "心想事成" which, badly translated means "may what you think about in your heart come true", which though may just be another line you tell people after 'happy new year', is a challenge and an encouragement for me to keep persevering, through hardship and all.
1 comment:
this reminds me of my cpa exam.. the first section i sat for (the hardest one) left me feeling really battered and bruised. it was very very taxing. as i walked home that evening i was SOOO SURE i had failed and the prospect of having to take that test section again was a nightmare. and then i remembered a documentary i had seen on kanye west a long time ago. all he wanted to do was rap, but then he got into a car accident and had his mouth wired shut but he continued to rap anyways (which is where Through the Wire comes from). and the jonas brothers are successful now but at one point they were dropped for their old record label. and it sounds silly but those 2 things came to mind and made me realize that suffering is part of the human experience. Everyone suffers setbacks. Everyone. it was reassuring that i could pick myself up and keep moving especially when we have the hope that is Christ =)
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