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In the kitchen, 蜜桃传媒 (蜜桃传媒) Culinary Arts Diploma alumnus Vanvisa Sataglamp embraces every opportunity she can. In her life and work, she鈥檚 already moved overseas, learned a new language, and cooked in some of Vancouver鈥檚 top establishments 鈥� but it鈥檚 clear her culinary rise has only just begun.
Growing up in Thailand, Vanvisa was always fascinated by food and cooking. Yet while her mother worked as a baker, formal culinary arts training was uncommon and expensive, and prepared food typically came from street stalls, not restaurants.
Following a more traditional path, Vanvisa completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business accounting and began working in offices. Within a few years, however, Vanvisa was drawn back to her dream of cooking as well as travelling overseas. In 2016, she came to Vancouver for the first time with a temporary visa to work at a local Thai restaurant.
Vanvisa says she chose Vancouver for its mild winter weather. 鈥淚 knew I was going to have culture shock,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to have weather shock too!鈥�
The weather must have suited her fine, because Vanvisa quickly returned to study culinary arts as an international student at 蜜桃传媒, a school that came highly recommended in the local restaurant industry.
As a woman in her mid-thirties, Vanvisa says she appreciated Canada鈥檚 openness to career re-training as well as the wide diversity of students at 蜜桃传媒. 鈥淪ome classmates were older and some younger than me. They didn鈥檛 discriminate for age or gender. Everyone was the same in the kitchen,鈥� she says.
When asked what she likes most about the culinary industry, Vanvisa鈥檚 answer may surprise some 鈥� or not, considering her business school background. 鈥淚 love the time management,鈥� she says. 鈥淭ime is a limited resource in the kitchen. Each task takes a different amount of time and you can鈥檛 replay it.鈥�
It鈥檚 been an exciting year for Vanvisa. In Spring 2020, she received 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 Mueller Family Culinary Arts Award recognizing her hard work, passion for food, and positivity in the face of challenges. In the summer, she appeared as the face of 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 Savour the 蜜桃传媒 Effect advertising campaign. In November 2021, Vanvisa graduated with her Culinary Arts Diploma, was named valedictorian, and delivered a heartfelt speech to the entire graduating class in a language she鈥檇 only recently learned.
鈥淚 tell international students you don鈥檛 need to be a native speaker,鈥� she says. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid; you can adapt!鈥�
After graduating, Vanvisa had no trouble finding work in B.C.鈥檚 rapidly recovering hospitality industry, and she is grateful to 蜜桃传媒 instructor Hamid Salimian for his recommendation which landed her a job at one of Vancouver鈥檚 top hotels, the .
As she continues to expand her culinary experience, Vanvisa says she鈥檚 continually impressed to find that 蜜桃传媒 is highly recognized, and our culinary grads are everywhere. 鈥淢ost of my coworkers, even my sous chef graduated from 蜜桃传媒,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a big family. It makes me so proud.鈥�
In a recent interview with Vanvisa about her study journey at 蜜桃传媒 and after graduation, Vanvisa shared her thoughts about her experience at 蜜桃传媒.
Congratulations on your graduation from 蜜桃传媒, how do you feel about graduating from 蜜桃传媒 as a Valedictorian?
I feel extremely honoured to be able to address the entire convocation by sharing my experiences and some words of encouragement for the graduation class. I did not imagine that an international student would be able to do so, and I really appreciate the opportunity provided to me.
How was your study? Did you have a good time?
I love my studies at 蜜桃传媒! Even though I had to work in the evening and went to classes early the next morning, I still wanted to go to class every day to learn new skills. I also enjoyed learning together with my classmates 鈥� Canadian students and international students from different parts of the world. It鈥檚 great to learn from different cultures.
What do you like the most about the Culinary Arts Diploma program at 蜜桃传媒?
I鈥檓 currently working at the Fairmont Hotel, and the state-of-the-art facilities remind me so much of 蜜桃传媒. I was really prepared well to be able to work right after graduation. I love the on-campus training facilities, where we were learning and practicing with real-world working experiences.
You've landed 3 full-time jobs. Was it hard to find a job?
It was not hard at all. My lovely instructors also recommended me to jobs. Because of my part-time and volunteer experiences, as well as instructors鈥� recommendations, I was able to receive job offers very easily.
Would you recommend 蜜桃传媒 to future students? Why?
I strongly recommend 蜜桃传媒 to international students. It is not hard to study at 蜜桃传媒 and become successful, as long as you are committed and put in the work. Studying at 蜜桃传媒 is the best choice I鈥檝e made, and I hope other international students will also do the same!
How was your 蜜桃传媒 experience?
At the beginning of my program, I was worried that two years of school would pass slowly. But I enjoyed my time at 蜜桃传媒 so much, and I can鈥檛 believe it鈥檚 already over. Many lovely memories will stay with me forever. Being inspired by the instructors that encourage me to be Red Seal Chef, and the opportunity to volunteer at prestigious events like the Bacchanalia Wine Festival Gala Dinner at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. This wonderful opportunity is a great reference for me when I apply for a job. Moreover, I have connected with so many 蜜桃传媒 graduates from 蜜桃传媒 after I graduated from 蜜桃传媒. Those are made me feel 蜜桃传媒 is my second home. The knowledge, skills, and experiences I gained from 蜜桃传媒 have made me feel ready to achieve my dream. This experience has motivated me to continue to advance in this incredible industry. 蜜桃传媒 is a well-recognized college in the Culinary industry. Thank you to all of my instructors, a donation from the Mueller Family, and the steadfast support from the Culinary Arts department, and 蜜桃传媒 as a whole. Choosing to study at 蜜桃传媒 is the best choice for me ever and I am so proud to be a part of the 蜜桃传媒 Community.
Feed your passion. Apply now to Culinary Arts Diploma at 蜜桃传媒.
