Seriously Considering Pastry School---Thoughts?
Decorating By Susecita Updated 7 Apr 2006 , 4:23am by chocomama
I have three wonderful offers for three wonderful PHD programs. I woke up today sad at the prospect of starting school in something not related to cooking/cake decorating/pastry arts. Yet, I feel like I do not want to let down a whole world of people who expect me to become a professor (this includes me). I am so confused. All I really want to do is play with desserts and sweets all day long. Is this selling myself short? I know this is a lot to talk about but was hoping for feedback.
I am considering going to the French Pastry School in Chicago...thoughts?
-Sus
Sue remember you need to live with yourself and you want to be happy, It sounds like fun to me and I would love to do it. There have been many who go into all sorts of professions and then return to what they love. You have to do what your heart says. Good Luck decideing,
Wow Sus that is a tough one, but do whatever makes you happy, that is the main thing. I don't think you would be selling yourself short if doing what you love to do is pastries or cake decorating. I would certainly jump at the chance to go to pastry school, so whatever you decide best wishes
I would definitely go to pastry school and this is my reasoning: I started out thinking I was going to go into corporate law. 
A finance and law degree later, I was flying high in my career. I was also miserable. I wasn't really interested in my job and when you lack interest your motivation goes right out the window. I also hate the fact that I spent so much time and money on those degrees. (Though the knowledge is useful.. and education is never a waste!)
Fortunately I have a very supportive FH that let me quit my job and decide what it is that I really wanted to do. I floundered a bit with the possibilities since I love cake and puppies! 
So now I own two puppies that compete in agility and I make cakes! 
OMG Sassy! R u me? I love dogs and cakes! I want to own a million dogs if possible and bake all day 
p. Well I already have an MA so if I ever wanted to teach I could do that at a university level anyways. I just could not teach at Yale or Harvard yada yada. So I am thinking I have a high degree already. I have been lucky to get this far and maybe it is time to do something that calls me...rather than something that seems right. I dunno. It so confusing...u know how do u go to people and say "Oh I turned down the opp to get a Phd and decided to do something else." To me that something else is wonderful...but im not sure the world would really understand my decision....\\
-S
Heehee!
I can totally understand your concern. Many people only dream of achieving what you have accomplished. I always felt that with my ability and brains I should be doing something great to contribute to the world or else my skills would just be a waste. Then I realized I wasn't doing the world any favors by being miserable!
There are always going to be those people that think you are insane for giving up opportunities that they will never have. But! You can't let their opinions dictate your life. If you are happy and confident then you will show them you made the right choice for you!
The decision is ultimately yours but I would say go with what you know will make you happy.
I think you should do what's best and what makes you happy. I was just thinking the same thing this week. I have a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and I am currently a Financial Analyst but I want to go to Pastry school. I want to do something that I enjoy and don't mind staying up til 3am doing it. Although I feel like my money will be wasted if I don't use my degree to its fullest extent, I would rather become a pastry chef.
Follow your dreams! You may become a professional chef competeing in the Food Network Pastry Challenge! 
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%