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Ashley Elpers
Mrs. Rowe
English 12A
4 December 2014
Getting Ready for the Future
When youre a little kid you always have dreams about what you want to be when you grow up.
Some want to be firefighters or even famous basketball stars but me, Ive always wanted to be a chef.
Cooking is something Ive always loved doing since a young age. I watched my uncle when he cooked,
and he taught me a lot of things. To be successful at this, you must have some type of passion for
cooking and you have measuring skills and the ability to follow directions closely. Once I started my
junior year I was able to take a Culinary Arts class at SICTC. That whole year taught me a lot. My dream
job is to do Culinary Arts, so Ill attend either Sullivan University or Ivy Tech Institute.
Ivy Tech Institute has been around since 1968 as Tippewa Technical Institute. At the beginning
they only had seventeen students studying health careers. Years later they had a land swap and ended
up with a 50-arced campus (History). They offered accessible and affordable education with seamless
transition from 2-year to a 4-year degree. Ivy Tech serves over 8,000 students enrolled in programs in
Applied Science and Engineering Technology, Business education, Health science, Liberal Arts, and Public
and Social Services. They also offer specialized training services for business and industry classes for
adults. The college employees over 500 full and part time staff members.
Ivy Tech has many courses you can take for Culinary Arts. Some of these classes can certificate
you in beverage management, dietary management, and hospitality management. The degrees your
able to get are Associate of Applied Science for baking. Youd have to have 60 credit hours which would
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equal up 4 semesters. Then theres Applied Science in Culinary Arts and Associate in Science. I hope to
major in the Applied Science for Culinary Arts. Courses Ill take for that class will consist of English,
Sanitation and First Aid, basic food theory, intro into baking, stocks and soups, nutrition, Meats and
seafood, Menu design, specialized cuisine, and many more!
Sullivan University has been around for a bit longer than Ivy Tech. Mr. Sullivan and his son open
this school in 1962 when they felt the need for an institution of higher education devoted to the highest
ideas and preparing people for a successful long term career (About). Then they started Sullivan it was
a one year business school. Ten years later Sullivan merged with Bryant and Stration colleges (whose
history goes back to 1864). In 1982, Sullivan University opens its first extension campus on the military
and civilian population area. Then in 1985, expanded with the opening of campus in Lexington,
Kentucky. Later on the multi-million dollar Sullivan University Library and Learning Resource Center
opens. Sullivan also establishes an online international presence. When they opened the campus in
Louisville, Kentucky in 2013 they were named Top Travel Destination by The Lonely Planet and was
ranked #3 on the list for Top 30 cities for Young Entrepreneurs (About).
A degree from Sullivan University can offer a lot. It entails 66 credit hours over a 12 month
period. Id be taking many courses and learning about basic culinary theories, food service sanitation,
basic nutrition, arts in dining services, baking science, principles in mathematics, and much more. They
hold a lot of great opportunities there and Im hoping to join this or at least become an online student
(Professional).
No matter what you want to do when you grow up, chances are youll have to go to college to
get any higher rank in that profession. Going to school for two years, I could get my associates degree
(Cooking). These years would provide me with education in math, writing, English, and
communications. If I went for three years means I could get my Bachelors degree. This puts me in entry
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level hospitality management jobs like a manager in a hotel or restaurant. Last but not least the
Masters degree. Id have to go four years for this degree. It would put me as a kitchen pro. Id have
focused training with upper tier chefs. These things would teach me how to move in a fast paced
environment which would also help give me a higher chance on responsibility. Id also study in business
management. This would be good in case I were to ever open up my own restaurant (Cooking)
Chefs wages can range many of ways. Some depend on location, the type of organization, and
the experience I have. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a sous chef,
in other words, the head chef, is around $38, 770 a year (Culinary Arts Salary). If I was a cooking
assistant I could make around $25, 661 a year. A restaurant manager makes around $48,533. Even a
sous chef makes 40 thousand a year. Low paying food jobs would consist of fast food, cafeteria workers,
and cruise ship works. Higher paying jobs would be working in a hotel or resort or even someones
private chef.
Both colleges have wonderful things to offer. The real question Im looking for is what college
can get me the farthest in my career? Ivy Tech may be just want I need to help me out financially with it
also being right down the down from me. They offer great classes and could get me far if I put my all
into it. Sullivan University is basically a dream college. Id have to travel hours away from home to live a
dream as a Culinary Arts chef. Ive heard a lot of great chefs came from Sullivan. Hopefully by the end of
my senior year Ill have the perfect college selected. My dream is to be a Culinary Arts chef so Ill attend
either Sullivan University or Ivy Tech Institute.
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Works Cited
"About Us." Sullivan University. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"Cooking School Degrees and Choosing a Program." Types of Culinary Degrees Find Masters,
Bachelors, Associates and Diploma Programs. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"Culinary Arts Salary Information." Culinary Arts Salary. Salary.com, Jan. 2014. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"History and the Future." Ivy Tech Community College. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"Professional Cook Career Diploma." Sullivan University. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
