Taylor Hamilton

After Returning From The Appalachian Trail I applied to Dots when I saw that they were hiring for a pastry chef position. Dots is a gourmet quality market that produces fresh pastries, sandwiches and entrees and will cater to anything from small parties to entire large weddings. My job requires me to be at work every morning by at least 3am (it depends on my work load each day) and I make all of the pastries we sell each morning, some mornings I will also prepare some things our fresh breads, quiches/ frittatas and breakfast sandwiches. By the time we open in the morning I move on to prepping things for myself and the rest of my team if needed for the next day or later in the week.

I have worked as a part-time PA in my spare time for multiple families since June of 2020 and I have assisted them with anything they need. I have done everything from cleaning and organizing their homes, to running errands and making appointments. I have gardened and aided in the marketing of their personal art and apparel, as well as assisted in the organization of and making advertisements for the small wildlife conservation group that they were a part of and other small charity events that they co-ran.

In my time at French & Brawn I was able to learn in full capacity and run every department the store had (with the exception of the butchery). The owner Sarah did this so that she had someone who could switch between any department that needed it that day, but my main position was in the deli. Everyday I prepared hundreds of items including various entrees, sandwiches, salads, baked goods and more. I came in most days at 5am and for the last couple months of being there I worked 10-12 hour days, 4-5 days per week. I knew the opening and closing protocols, I could run the registers and assist with vendor pay outs, checking inventory trucks in and putting it all away. I took large orders from customers and helped make packages for delivery to older people in our area that needed a little extra help. I restocked produce and created advertisements for the store, pretty much anything Sarah asked me to learn or help her with I was happy and able to accomplish. I left this job simply because I went to start the Appalachian Trail but the weather took an unexpected turn.

I was a fill in Mess Mate on the American Eagle for the owner and Captain, Tyler King. I came aboard the schooner anytime Tyler needed my help, as a Mess Mate my responsibility was to aid the head chef (Marty) in whatever he needed as well as getting up every morning at 4am to bake all of the morning pastries myself for the guests. They allowed me to be creative and I introduced the crew and guests to some of my old creations as well as took some risks and tried creating new things that I came up with there. I would say one of my proudest accomplishments was receiving a complement from marty, a man who could get most likely any culinary job he applied for just due to his profile, told me that one of my self-invented tarts was something he would eat until he was sick. I hope to always be able to create new creative things like that that people enjoy.

For this class, in my senior year along with one other student we taught a full semester of marine science to both the freshman and sophomore classes. Our grade was based on how well we could work together and teach the curriculum that was provided so that all of our students exceeded in their finals. We completed this goal with 91% of our students passing with A's.

From my freshman to junior year of highschool once per week I would hold a tutoring session for my peers in their math courses.