Athena, 15, has taken part in TSC programs through our upstate partner site Perfect Ten since early 2024. Last month, she inspired 175 guests at our annual Farm Event fundraiser with a speech about the impact of our programs.
Before I joined The Sylvia Center, I honestly didn’t think much about cooking. My step dad does most of the cooking at home: he’s pretty good and doesn’t need any help in the kitchen. Back then I thought healthy food was boring, and was basically just a bunch of salads and smoothies. But that changed the first day I walked into a Sylvia Center class. One day we made vegetable and bean chili—and I couldn’t believe how much I liked it.
The Beginning
I hadn’t really cooked before, but Chefs Sophie and Annette were kind and patient, and didn’t make me feel stupid for not knowing how to do things. They taught us the basics, how to season food, read a recipe, and they were really warm and welcoming. I also learned how to use a sharp knife properly: all our knives at home are terrible! After taking part in the program, I was really excited that my skills were good enough to cook for others. I ended up joining a group who made dinner for younger kids at the Hudson Youth Center last year, as well as working the teen station for the last two years at The Sylvia Center’s fundraiser at Katchkie Farm.
The Sylvia Center programs have really helped me come out of my shell, and I’m a lot more confident in my skills. I’ve learned to take charge in the cooking classes with Chef Molly, how to make healthy choices, and how to be confident in the kitchen and in myself.
I’ve also discovered that I really enjoy cooking, and lately I’ve cooked meals at home for my family that I learned from The Sylvia Center. I love the structure of following recipes, but I also enjoy the creativity of it—adding my own spices to make the food exactly how I like it. It’s even made me want to grow my own food and cook with vegetables I’ve grown and harvested myself one day.
The after school program I go to in Hudson, Perfect Ten, recently visited The Sylvia Center’s Learning Garden in Kinderhook. Our group harvested vegetables and made Vietnamese summer rolls together in the outdoor pavilion using those ingredients. Being at the farm makes everything I’ve learned in the kitchen feel even more real—and reminds me how far I’ve come.
The Future
In the future, I’m interested in teaching, and the skills I’ve learned at The Sylvia Center will help me a lot. I’m already talking to Chef Molly about becoming a Chef Assistant for The Sylvia Center once I’m 16. She told me they hire a lot of their program alumni, and I’m hoping to be one of them. The important part is that this program doesn’t just teach you how to cook. It teaches you how to think for yourself, create healthier versions of the meals you love, and how to make food that suits your tastes. I’d be really excited to share my knowledge with other students.
I know I’m just one person, but The Sylvia Center helps so many kids like me feel seen, capable, and confident. Kids love to cook and eat, and this program is really uplifting. It helps us cook in a healthy way, and is a great opportunity to practice skills we’ll use throughout our lives.
If you’d like to support students like Athena, make a donation here!
