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dinners in my parents' household. each Saturday morning, my mother asked for our input for Sunday dinner.
We then spent our weekend procuring fresh ingredients at the Farmer's Market, where the smell of fresh
produce permeated the air. After buying seasonal vegetables, we created delightful blends of international
meals, including Adana kebab (a Turkish regional specialty) and Russian zucchini pancakes. Although these
dishes took hours to prepare, once we sat down at the dinner table and began to discuss our day, the
memories of our hard work dissipated into animated chatter and laughter.
Aside from my appreciation for good food, I never gave the physical act of cooking much thought
until I moved to the United States at age 16 to spend a year with a host family. My initial adjustment to a
steady diet of "convenience foods" was agonizing. Instead of the tasty dinners I enjoyed at my parents'
home, we ate hamburgers, hot dogs and an occasional ready-mix chili. Even worse, my host family's spice
drawer was collecting dust and their kitchen cabinets were filled with canned goods, which were a major
taboo in my parents' home. Although I occasionally enjoyed fast food, I was not fond of eating it on a daily
basis. Fortunately, my host family's busy lifestyle gave me the chance to develop my culinary skills. With my
host mother's help, I took the initiative to create nice home-cooked meals. Ultimately, we both benefited from
this experience; while I learned how to prepare American specialties like apple pie and Thanksgiving turkey,
she learned how to make quick feta cheese pastries and a traditional shepherd's salad.
After graduating from high school, I attended the prestigious Columbia School of Hospitality
Management, where I combined my passion for cooking with my love for the hospitality industry. By
attending classes in Wine History and Desserts Merchandising, I further sharpened my culinary knowledge
and cooking skills. Thanks to my creative flair, I quickly developed a reputation for being a whiz in the
kitchen. While most of my peers skimmed the necessary textbook chapters, I meticulously read the material
and experimented with new recipes. In my spare time, I followed the trends of my favorite television chefs
and re-created their most enticing concoctions.
Years after completing my culinary education, cooking remains a major part of my life. Living in a
culinary mecca like New York, I am continually inspired to try new things. Whenever possible, I flaunt my
skills by entertaining my friends with themed dinner parties. Seeing their faces light up after taking their first
bite out of one of my dishes strengthens my belief that good times are always enhanced by good food.
Describe your most challenging professional relationship.
As the vice president of the Rhode Island chapter of Sigma Tau Omicron, I promoted the training, education
and public awareness of criminal justice professionals throughout the community. During my first year as an
officer, I took my direction from Rick Binkley, our chapter president, who had nearly thirty years of law
enforcement experience. During the first six months I knew Rick, he generously shared his time and
expertise to help me understand the group's objectives. I looked forward to learning much more from him as
a mentor and friend.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans. On a rainy night in March of 2003, Rick was killed in a violent car crash.
At age 54, he left his family, friends and peer shell shocked by his sudden passing. To my surprise, Rick's
death left me as the interim president of Sigma Tau Omicron for the remainder of 2003. Despite his
previous mentoring, I felt completely unprepared for the responsibility. So much of our group identity came
from Rick's personality and dedication. He inspired loyalty and passion beyond my wildest dreams. How
could I possibly fill his shoes? More importantly, would the other members even want me to?
Although the chapter members unanimously voted to retain me as interim president, they also revealed
several pressing challenges. Despite Rick's calm demeanor and optimistic outlook, our group was actually
in serious financial trouble. Before we could even hope to participate in a national conference, we needed to
raise funds. Our previous efforts, through traditional bake sales, car washes and pot luck dinners, had
barely covered our costs. With several charities expecting our support, including Toys for Tots, we needed
several novel fundraising techniques.
Thankfully, I have never underestimated the power of brainstorming. While still mourning Rick's loss, Sigma
Tau Omicron members from across New England phoned us with creative suggestions to get our chapter
back on track. They lent equipment for a carnival fundraiser and even offered to staff our booths. Everyone
was committed to helping Rick's friends promote his legacy. The subsequent lobster fest in Rick's honor
was well-attended and profitable. With the help of our brothers-in-arms, we achieved our aggressive
financial goals and Sigma Tau Omicron survived for another year. I always felt that in some small way, Rick
guided our group to our final destination.
Describe your most challenging professional relationship.
During my first year of study at the University of Connecticut, I was live-in caregiver for an 83-year-old lady
with Alzheimer's disease. Many times, she could not remember details from one hour to the next. Upon our
return from the library or grocery store, she would ask me to go back to get items she had forgotten on our
first trip. Understanding her condition, I always happily and patiently accommodated her requests. One
summer day, she fell on the beach during her morning walk and required medical treatment. I took care of
her at the hospital and brought her to each follow-up visit.
Although the lady's family expressed gratitude to me for making a "demanding" lady happy, I didn't consider
my efforts to be particularly extraordinary. I loved taking care of her and took great pride in bringing joy to
her final days. As a live-in caregiver, I gained first-hand experience working with a geriatric Alzheimer's
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