School daze!

SCHOOL DAZE!

I went to college at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio and was planning on going into Education. I struggled with the academics and focusing and it was not until 3rd year of college that I was officially diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. I had struggled to get my grades up to a 2.5 and actually got kicked out of Kent State University my Christmas break of my 2nd year of college after being on probation for more than a year. I had a certified letter come to my house and it said I was not able to return to the program or the school.

My dad and I went to Kent state on my winter break in a snowstorm and I had to meet with the Dean of Education and convince him to let me back in. I have no idea what I said, but I knew I was not giving up and I was going to graduate college. I was able to go back to school, but not able to return to education. I ended up getting a degree in “Individual Family & Consumer Studies and Gerontology” with a child care emphasis. To this day, I have no clue what that means, although I am pretty sure that it was a kind of “General Studies” degree. I loved working with children and it took me an extra year to graduate, but I did it. I graduated in 2000 and had no idea what was going to be next. The degree was hard to figure out and I could not go into education so my dad suggested I get a job at “the county”. I worked at a Head Start while at Kent State and had 1 Social Work class, but no degree in Social work.

I began training as a Social Worker on September 25, 2000 for the Department of Children & Family Services in Cleveland, Ohio. I implemented services for families who were at risk for abuse and neglect. I removed children from their homes, I placed them in foster care, managed about 20 cases at a time that could involve any amount of kids on each case, I enrolled them in school, testified in court, tried to keep families together and had to document everything. It was A LOT. I loved working with the kids and some families were great, but it was not my passion. Baking was my passion and I was baking all the time. I left in July 2006 to pursue my passion for baking.

Pastry School was challenging in its own way. I had initially planned to go to a school in San Diego where my friends were moving and they had a Certificate program at a school in San Diego. I applied and got in, but ultimately chose to go to Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina and entered their “Garnish your degree program”. I was able to get an Associates degree in Baking and Pastry Arts in 1 year since I had already had a Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University.

I had never worked with yeast, made a pie, or done anything out of my comfort zone. I was 29 and starting my 2nd career. On my 3rd day of Pastry School, my teacher told me that I was in the wrong field and I needed to do something else. I pushed through again and graduated with an associates degree a year later.

A passion can push you in the right direction, but no matter what it is that drives you, you will always be faced with obstacles. I often have to remind myself how these feelings of uncertainty as a business owner who is learning as I go how to run a business without a business background that I can and will overcome them.

I am beyond grateful to have a business and to have survived the entire first year of the pandemic, but it is not to say that it is easy or that it is always fun (not a fan of the non-baking stuff). I enjoy soooo much about what I get to do for a living and have no plans to do anything else. I truly appreciate you and your constant support through all the stuff you don’t always see.

I get overwhelmed, I have a hard time shutting off from my business, I get exhausted, I also get to meet amazing people from all over the world who are the best students and teachers. I have learned soooo much from all of you. I am always anxiously waiting to see you show up in the classroom at the Hildebrandt or on Zoom and once I see your faces, my face lights up, my energy is revived and I am doing my best to be in the moments, listening, teaching and learning from all of you.

I have no idea what will happen in the next year, 5 years, or week, but I am so excited to have you here. I hope to see you in a class soon! Keep up to date with my classes by signing up for my newsletter on my website. Have an amazing day!! thanks for your continued support.

xoxo

Annie