Samantha Greco:
Pastry Chef in the Making
NEIRAD enilno edition
While most juniors are looking forward to summer or to getting a good tan, junior Samantha Greco is trading in the sunglasses for textbooks.
It was just “by chance” that one day Greco was exploring a college web site and saw the opportunity for an early enrollment program. “I decided pretty much as soon as I found out I could apply early. It was just before the school year started and I was looking around on the Johnson and Wales website when I discovered the early enrollment program by chance.” Greco will be attending Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island this fall to pursue her cooking skills.
Greco has been interested in cooking nearly all her life. “I’ve always loved cooking. For as long as I can remember I’ve been helping my mom in the kitchen, reading cook books, and watching Food Network. It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed doing” Greco said.
Greco’s passion for cooking is evident. There was no question as to whether Greco would stay at DHS or go to college a year early. “I figured why bother sticking around for another year if I can get started on what I really want to be doing sooner,” said Greco.
There are a lot of benefits to going to college a year early. Not only do you have just three years of high school, but other benefits apply as well. “The application process was a lot simpler than regular college applications and I only have to pay half tuition for my first year” Greco said.
Although Greco will be in college next year, she will still be considered a student at DHS; however, she still has certain requirements that she has to fulfill which she will do by taking specific classes at Johnson and Whales. “In place of the classes I’d have to take if I stayed at DHS, I’ll be taking an American government class in place of law and government.” Greco will also come back next year to officially graduate with the rest of her class.
In addition to cooking, Greco also enjoys doing arts and crafts and playing video games in her free time.
In college Greco plans to explore her options and learn more about culinary art, baking, and pastry arts. “I'm not sure 100% what I plan to do in the future since it will depend on whether I choose to focus more on culinary art or baking and pastry arts. I'm not sure at the moment which I prefer, but I'm somewhat leaning towards, (baking and pastry arts),” Greco said; and she hopes to eventually own a bakery.
