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Maleah Parker

1,115

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

I want to be a private chef for athletes. I'm a sophomore but I've already called colleges and have one I want to go to. It's called ICE (Institute of Culinary Education). I know what courses I want to take already too! The only thing is that I wanna graduate early so I'm doing something over the next summer after this one to graduate in 2025 instead of 2026. And two, the location of ICE I wanna go to is in Manhattan NY. I live in Texas. Plus on top of this, earlier this year, in March, I was diagnosed with a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Stage 4. I was originally born with one, so I had to get surgery as a baby, but it reoccurred. So I had to get another surgery. But I'm ok now. And I'm not stirred away from my goal!

Education

Klein Oak High School

High School
2022 - 2026

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Trade School

  • Majors of interest:

    • Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other
    • Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General
    • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
  • Not planning to go to medical school

    • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Private chef for Athletes

    • Dream career goals:

      Sports

      Basketball

      Intramural
      2016 – 20215 years

      Research

      • Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General

        Not an organization, I've been taking notes and learning online.
        2023 – Present

      Public services

      • Volunteering

        FFA — Raising my pig. Selling it.
        2023 – 2024

      Future Interests

      Volunteering

      Philanthropy

      Entrepreneurship

      Martha Brooks Culinary Arts Scholarship
      My name is Maleah Oddessa Parker. I was diagnosed with a stage 4 hernia. My organs had moved into my chest and started pressing into my heart. And rotating. Suffocating me from the inside out. But this wasn't my first rodeo. I was born this way. Had surgery when I was a baby because of this. I was born with a hernia, a closed lung, and the other one partially closed. I survived, beating the odds against me since I had a 12 percent chance. They said I wouldn't be able to walk. Eat. Speak. At all on my own. But my parents got me through that and I was good by three. But here we go again. We got through it again. But it still wasn't fun. But after surgery, I was better. But not completely. I couldn't enjoy spicy foods, acidic foods, or eat as fast as I used to. My esophagus was weak. My acid reflux was terrible. Making it hard for me to consume the foods I loved and wanted to eat. I couldn't go to cookouts and even missed a BBQ fair while I was in the hospital for a week. But this just encouraged me. I wanted to be a help to people who need help with their eating. So I want to be a Private Chef for Athletes. I'm currently 16. But I wanna skip my senior year to go to ICE (Culinary Institute of America) in Manhattan New York. I was inspired by my Mom, who's a boxer (Her name's Melissa Oddessa Parker). She has meal plans. And learning what foods can do for someone's body is fascinating. Learning all the little details I can and absorbing them. I've seen what a good meal can do for people. And as I'm getting stronger myself, I want others to grow as well. Maybe the next big athlete will be from my hometown, Spring Texas. Or someone who's Puerto Rican, Hispanic, or African American. I just want to be a help and do something I love. Cook healthy food. Keep people happy. Food is the way to the soul. Just because lif handed me lemons doesn't mean I just make lemonade. I can make a lemon chicken. Or use lemon zest for a garnish. There's so many ways to use just one lemon. Each one an opportunity. And if I could get my hands on that basket, there's over a million things I could, and would do.