About Me
I am a skilled baker and barista looking to branch out to other industries. With experience in customer service, social media, and event planning, I bring a wide variety of skills and creativity to every project. I currently work as a barista at Barnes & Noble, and I am also starting my final year of my bachelor's degree in liberal studies with a concentration in anthropology. I have a professional interest in food anthropology and library science and a personal interest in hiking, birding, and travel.
I started university back in 2013, but after jumping from major to major, I decided to take some time to think about where I wanted to go in life. I started at Panera Bread in 2018. There I learned an appreciation for food, especially baking. I decided I wanted to open my own bakery. To do that, I needed more experience.
My first official baking position was as a night baker for Panera. From there I moved to Sweet Reasons, a bakery that specialized in cupcakes. I learned to decorate cupcakes and cakes. After that, I decided to complete my associate's degree for general studies at Germanna Community College.
At this point, I felt that my bakery would thrive if I learned how to make good coffee. I was hired for my high school dream job working at Barnes & Noble, as a barista. I learned the basics of coffee and other drinks, as well as rediscovered my love of reading, which had waned over the years. I also gained experience in book selling, social media, and event planning. I even started a successful LGBTQ+ book club.
After working at the bookstore for years, I decided it was finally time that I did some world traveling. I applied for a work and travel visa to New Zealand and spent all of 2024 there. It was a fantastic experience and there are no words to describe how beautiful the country was. While there, I worked as a front of house staff at a cafe.
When I came home, I became a baker at Dog Krazy. I created fun treats for pets. There, I won a baking competition between the bakers for designing and selling the most cookies and cakes. Unfortunately, the bakery shut down and I transitioned to Kickshaw's Gluten-Free Bakery. I learned how to make baked goods free of the top nine allergens. Around the same time, I was rehired as a barista at the same Barnes & Noble.
After switching jobs so many times in one year, I wanted some stability and decided it was time to go back to school. I am now full time at Barnes & Noble and I am entering my senior year at the University of Southern Mississippi. I plan to graduate in the spring of 2027 with a degree in Liberal Studies and a concentration in Anthropology. I am looking to transition from the food industry into a career such as library science or food anthropology.