Today was our graduation from intermediate cuisine and pastry. Since the Cointreau family owns Le Cordon Bleu (yes, THE Cointreau, famous for their liquor), graduation took place at Cercle De L’Union Interalliee – a very exclusive club in the heart of Paris. Upon arrival, it looked more like a movie set than the site for a graduation ceremony.

Only half of Group A arrived in their very finest – the others had left for vacation already. Intermediate graduation is combined with Superior graduation, so there were lots of students and their guests.

The ceremony is like most graduations you’ve been to. The academic office welcomes us and explains the school’s mission. Several chefs give quick speeches saying they are proud of our accomplishments. Then the intermediate students get up from their chairs and row by row, we file towards the stage to receive our intermediate diplomas.

As I was standing at the edge of the stage, watching as Sergio accepted his diploma, shook hands with the chefs and posed for photos, I was proud. It suddenly occurred to me how much we’ve all accomplished and how hard we’ve all worked to get to this point. I guess it was hard for me to see that though while I was pushing myself forward. For some reason, I wasn’t seeing everything that I did right but rather all the things that were wrong about my dishes when I presented them for grading.

Then I hear my name announced and I shift my balance to step on to the stage. But before my foot could even leave the floor, they announced something that made me stop in my tracks. Did I just hear that? Did they just say that I finished second in cuisine and first in pastry? I’m stunned. I can’t move. I can’t even breathe. Everyone is staring at me, so thank goodness my brain takes over and tells my feet to step up on the stage and walk across to shake hands with the chefs.

It’s like I’m moving as if in a dream. I can see people’s lips moving, but I don’t hear a sound. My head doesn’t seem connected to my body. My thoughts are racing. Did I really do so well? How did this happen? I smile a far away smile for the photographer as I stand between Chef Danniel and Chef Chalopan. My whole body is shaking.

Sergio greets me off the stage and gives me a huge hug. He has to tell me what just happened because it still hasn’t sunk in. We take out seats and Katherine who is sitting next to me has to hand me a few Kleenexes. A flood of emotion suddenly hits me full force and I’m powerless to stop it.

For those of you who know me well, being successful in school is very important to me. It’s not about competing against my classmates but doing the very best I can. I have been very proud of my work this term and knew that the chefs were pleased, but I never thought I’d do this well.

My favorite word in the English language is faith. To me, the word faith means to believe. If I encounter a challenging situation, as long as I remember to have faith that it’s all going to be okay, it will. I may not fully understand the reason a situation is the way it is, but I tell myself to have faith that the answer will appear.

It took a leap of faith to come to Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Today, my leap paid off. I know I made one of the best decisions possible to follow my dream.

Thank you for having faith in me. I am honored, and I share this honor with the chefs and those of you who supported me along the way.

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