Why SUNY Oneonta?
I took a Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) class in high school and fell in love with it. My FACS teacher, Shawna Strenfel, told me all about Oneonta’s program because she went to school here and graduated in 2007! She really inspired me, and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I’m glad I did because I’ve had a great experience at SUNY Oneonta.
My Activities
I was just inducted into Phi Upsilon Omicron, a FACS honor society. I used to be in Food and Nutrition Association club, but what’s keeping me busy lately is my own side business, Semi-Sweet Bakery!
I started seriously baking about a year ago and, over the summer, sold a few things. My mom suggested that I post about my sweets in one of the SUNY Oneonta Parent Facebook groups, and I didn’t expect much out of it, but within five minutes I had a lot of people texting me to place orders, and now I’ve made about 60 sales! My favorite things to bake are cupcakes because I love decorating them, but I also do cookies and cakes for birthdays. And I deliver all my orders.
Best Experiences
The classes I have loved are the ones where I get to be in the kitchen, the more hands-on classes and hospitality classes. I enjoyed Intro to Foods, and I loved Demos, and I liked learning the child psychology and interior design content, too. I feel like I’m getting a lot of hands-on experience here, thanks to the kitchen-based classes. I’m also doing observation with a FACS teacher at the Oneonta Middle School right now, and next fall I’ll be doing student teaching. I think I will be more than prepared for that because of all the hands-on learning I’ve had.
About My Major
My favorite professors have been Family and Consumer Sciences lecturer Rose Avanzato and Nutrition & Dietetics lecturer Collen Engle.
Plans, Goals, Dreams
I want to be a FACS teacher in a high school near my hometown and possibly bake on the side, like I’m doing now. I’m especially excited to teach baking in my classes!
