Finding their passion in beauty and culinary arts

Your children telling you that they have found their passion in life is one of the most fulfilling parts of parenting, Houri G., mother of two Churchill alumni, said in a recent interview at an UES coffee shop. The road there, however, is far from universal. While her oldest son (a non-Churchill student) attended a traditional liberal arts college, her two Churchill sons have chosen other paths. Michael, 24, (Mika) works as an assistant manager and hair dresser and Alex, 21, is enrolled in the French Culinary Institute (FCI).

Independent and entrepreneurial, Mika left Churchill after 10^th grade and spent his junior year at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Instead of a conventional high school senior year, Mika then returned to New York City and enrolled in a combined GED/college associate program at Pace University. Having grown up watching his parents run the family business Vartali Hair Salon, Mika had always been interested in a career in hair and beauty. Upon obtaining his high school diploma, he enrolled in beauty school full time and graduated with a certificate in hair dressing and beauty.  After two years of working at two different hair salons to acquire business experience and to prove himself, Mika was allowed to join Vartali.

“He is a great hair dresser,” Houri says. Mika enjoys his work and his goal is to master the business well enough to succeed his father when he retires.

Alex, who graduated from Churchill in 2009, discovered his passion for cooking in 10^th grade while watching the Food Network on television. Working with the Churchill College Office, Alex selected colleges known for their culinary arts programs and was accepted at Johnson and Wales University (JWU)’s Providence, RI campus. Between his freshman and sophomore year at JWU, Alex worked as a cook at an Armenian youth summer program. After his sophomore year Alex swapped JWU for the prestigious French Culinary Institute (FCI), which offers a more specialized cooking program than the JWU program. JWU is more academically rigorous and less hands on than the FCI.

“The sparkle is back in his eyes,” Houri says and describes how happy Alex looks when he leaves for his classes. After graduation in June 2012, Alex plans to travel around the world for two years and work as a chef at cruise ships and hotels. 

In terms of SAT prep and hiring outside advisers to help guide and prepare your child for college, Houri advises to listen to your child and only invest in services for which your child feels a strong motivation. “Otherwise, your child will not put in the work required,” she says.

Alex participated in Churchill’s SAT club and did not prepare for the standardized tests besides these classes and other Churchill college prep resources. He knew what colleges he was interested in, and scored well enough on the SAT to get accepted by his choice of school. Despite not fulfilling his original plan, Alex values his two years of traditional college experience, which he will always carry with him to build on if he decides to change career in a distant future.