Taryn Makinen, Red Seal Baker
Although I am Red Seal trade certified Baker and Pastry Chef now, this hasn’t always been the case. I began my journey with a career in costume construction. I built costumes for big budget films, theatre companies, and ballet productions. Eventually I grew weary of the hustle of contract work and decided to pursue the pastry arts. During my training my goals changed a lot from teaching to food styling, to working for Michelin star restaurants; I didn’t even know if I wanted my trade certification. After training, I went on to land my dream job at Ganache Patisserie, it forever shaped how I approach baking and managing. The highlight of my entire career, including costuming, has been my volunteer work with food sustainability and security. I volunteer with a community kitchen teaching classes. It started out as a way to teach baking, but it slowly became so much more. I now organize weekly online classes so that their members can still connect, share, learn and access food during Covid-19. On the surface it looks like I have direction, and goals in mind but honestly that’s not the case. I have never had huge dreams or big career aspirations, as a young adult I wanted to be an artist, to work with my hands, to create; I loved history, clothing, painting and food but most of all I loved giving joy and love to people. There are so many things I wanted to do and even now, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I have always believed in the merit of doing a good job; I show up with a can-do spirit, do my upmost best, pouring passion and care into the task at hand. I have taken the opportunities that have come along, some good and some were learning experiences. Each day I show up, work hard and say yes to those things that spark my interest and challenge me. My only goal is to look back and say “wow what an adventure, what amazing stories and what great people I met.” Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t – Everybody’s Free (to wear Sunscreen) Baz Lurhmann
“My only goal is to look back and say, ‘Wow what an adventure, what amazing stories and what great people I met.’ ”
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