THIRTY SEVEN

a year later

If you had asked me a year ago where I thought I'd be now, I'd have said curled up on the floor with Andrew having to play with a pile of toys. I might have even mentioned cleaning and cooking and doing other job that fell under my responsibilities as a baby sitter. Never in a million years did I imagine myself sitting on a stage with six other graduates, listening to my culinary mentor speak about how far we've come.

More than that, I never imagined I'd have both. And understanding what awaits me after this celebration is almost as exciting as what I'm accomplishing today.

Fortunately, I'm surrounded by friends who not only believed in my food, but also in me. Tanner and Ray have both been helpful in my development, and I would not be where I am today without them.

As I look out at the crowd that had gathered in our honor, I fidgeted nervously. Rachel smiles and waves at me, and I reciprocate with a small wave. M