Self-Expression
Self-Expression – Voices 60
In the 7th grade, I was either 12 or 13 years old, I declared that I wanted to be a big shot surgeon. My family was proud of my decision to go into the medical field, and that fueled my decision for many years- that and many seasons of Grey’s Anatomy.
Fast forward to junior year, I discovered my passion for baking and cake decorating. I quickly got my first job at the local bakery and I felt like the stars had aligned.
My years at the bakery were incredible! My job was to create edible art, and it seemed like it was a ‘too good to be true’ type of job- to wake up every day and bake cake. The cakes I decorated were a representation of myself and my skill, and I took great pride in my work.
No matter how hard the day was, or how many things went wrong, seeing the excitement on the customers face when they saw the art that I created with my own hands is a wonderful feeling.
I never considered myself as ‘artistic’ or ‘creative’ because those weren’t the qualities of a surgeon. I was meant to be critical and analytical, but at the bakery I discovered talents that I never thought I had in me.
Besides decorating cakes, coming up with new flavors was an expression of myself. Coming up with flavor combinations and recipes isn’t as easy as one might think.
It takes a lot of planning, research, and trial and error. But when you get it right, the satisfaction is worth all the trouble.
My edible art is a reflection of myself, of my passion, and of my creativity. I can express myself however I want through my decorations, colors, and techniques.
I can bake something safe and traditional. Or if I’m feeling daring, I can create something new and out of the box. I can experiment with different ingredients or techniques, and use those new skills to broaden my range of expression.
When baking, the possibilities are endless as long as you are willing to just go for it.