Blog / The First Five: Gloria
Attending Shepherds College has forever changed my life.
Fifteen years ago, my aunt told my mom that Shepherds Ministries was starting a new school called Shepherds College® in the fall of 2008. I was about to graduate high school that year, so the timing was perfect. God provided the tuition money through my parents and a scholarship.
I wasn’t so sure about it at first, but I decided to try it. It was the best decision my parents and I made!
I learned and grew a lot during my three years at Shepherds College. I made a lot of friends too. Making friends was easy for me growing up, but making friends at Shepherds College was different in a better way; the students all understood each other well.
During my time at school, God wanted to teach me many things: His purpose for my life, how to follow the rules, and how to set boundaries within relationships. It was hard for me, but I became stronger and learned so much!
Before attending Shepherds College, I took Culinary Arts classes at a technical college in New Jersey. Even though I had that background, taking Culinary Arts at Shepherds College was eye-opening for me! I was blessed to have a wonderful instructor who taught the class everything we needed to know and more. Beyond learning about cooking, he taught us through his example what a life led by faith in Jesus looked like. He always had a life lesson planned within his cooking lessons. He was amazing!
Through Shepherds College, I discovered Country Rose Bakery and Café. The college contacted the owners, Rose and Rita, to see if they would partner with the culinary arts program to provide me with an Occupational Experience (OE). OEs happen for each student during the third and last year of Shepherds College. I was the first student to learn at Country Rose... and there was so much to learn! I soon was baking more than ever before, including cake decorating, one of my main interests.
Interning at Country Rose eventually led to a real job. Rose reached out to me with the opportunity to work there long-term.
I’ve been employed in my dream job for twelve years.
Published in Volume 6, Issue 3 of SOAR Magazine.