Hi!

      My name is Jessica Ilsley and I am currently a freshman at Paul Smith’s College and a former ProStart student. I wanted to share with you how ProStart helped make my dream come true. I had already been accepted into Paul Smith’s college, but it was terribly expensive- there was no way I could pay for it out-of-pocket. Flash forward to September 1, 2007, and I am unpacking my bags in my new dorm room and meeting my roommates at Paul Smith’s! ProStart competition scholarships helped make that happen. Right now, I am majoring in Hotel/Restaurant Management. 

 

     So how did I get here? My second and last year in the program, I joined the ProStart Culinary Management knowledge and quiz bowl competition team.  I was on a team with three other competitors and one chef instructor.  Besides attending to all regular class work, we studied long and hard from October 2006 to January 2007 when we went to State competition.  Our team held the first place title three years in a row, and we were there to defend our title!  And defend it we did!  Upon taking first place at states, we went on to compete at a National level in April 2007.  We studied even longer and harder than ever before.  Arriving in North Carolina, I will never forget looking around at the other 37 states that had sent representatives. I didn’t know if we had a chance.  These people went to specialized schools for this and had studied for four years to get here!  We only had 7 months on them!  At the awards ceremony, we sat back not expecting much of anything. We smiled and applauded for the other teams.  When our name was called for Fourth Place, we were ecstatic!  Especially me.  This competition decided whether I went on to my dream college or I stayed home at the local community college.  They handed out thousands and thousands of dollars at these competitions.  So getting a good chunk of that change in my pocket guaranteed me a shot at my ultimate dream. 

     Not only did I learn a ton from the ProStart competition and the course itself, but at this competition, I met the Dean of my dream college and she walked right up to me and handed me her business card, telling me to call her so I can come up sometime and eat lunch and talk about my future!  There were also several CMC (Certified Master Chefs) in attendance, judging.  But when we weren’t in competition mode, we were free to roam and meet these chefs and get to know them on a personal and professional basis.  The connections made, and the relationships that were formed through this experience are priceless.  It’s something that you can’t get anywhere else.

     ProStart is not only a program for learning,  it’s about growing as a professional, becoming who you want to be, challenging yourself, getting a head-start, and making those much-needed connections early on.  I wouldn’t ever think of trading my ProStart experience for anything.  I have excelled so much more than I ever thought imaginable.  It pushed me beyond my limits and forced me to keep going and not give up.  Now that I’ve been through the program and know what it’s all about, I can honestly see clearly where I am going and how I’m going to be able to get there without hindrances.  It put me on the path were I want and need to be.  I have examined myself and I know that ProStart helped me to be assured that I am headed in the right direction now and I am ahead of the game.  I definitely recommend the ProStart curriculum and program to anyone thinking of going into hospitality/culinary arts.  It’s the best decision I’ve ever made and I don’t know anyone who’s gone through it that has regretted it!

                                                                                                          Jessica                       

  

Jessica with the ProStart Culinary Management Team