• ROADTRIPS
  • CAREER EXPLORATION
    • Syrena Johnson

    Syrena Johnson

    Chef

    Liberty's Kitchen

    New Orleans, LA US

    “Don't let life go by. Don't be shy, don't be timid. If you want it, get out there and get it.”

    Videos

    Videos

    By Roadtrip Nation

    Syrena Johnson

    Highlight
    Now Playing
    01:14
    Syrena Johnson HighlightInterview Highlight
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    03:49
    InterviewThe Interview
    Now Playing
    00:52
    Didn't Want To FailWeb Exclusive
    Now Playing
    00:31
    Leadership Through WorkWeb Exclusive
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    00:35
    Scared of FailingWeb Exclusive
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    00:54
    I Have To Do ThatWeb Exclusive
    Now Playing
    00:43
    It Paid OffWeb Exclusive
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    00:51
    Don't Think That It Can't HappenInterview Excerpt
    See More
    Milestones

    Milestones

    My road in life took a while to figure out.
    She was raised in uptown New Orleans, which she calls "one of the grimiest places."
    Growing up, she easily could've gone down a bad path, but she always chose to work and stay in school.
    Her first job was at McDonald's; she started at the bottom and worked her way up to fine dining.
    Looking back, she realizes she was always in the kitchen with her mother; that passion was always inside of her-she just had to identify it.
    Now she works at Liberty's Kitchen, a program for at-risk youth that teaches job skills through cooking.
    Her dream is to have her own restaurant where everyone who comes to eat can lick their plate clean and leave happy.
    For a long time, she thought her hard work would never pay off, but with a little bit of patience, she's been able to see her labor come to fruition.
    Says you have to get out there and get what you want: she's 23 years old and living all of her dreams because she went after them.
    Keep following my journey
    Education

    Education

    highschool
    High School
    undergrad
    Bachelor
    Culinary Arts/Chef Training
    French Culinary Institute
    Career

    Career

    Chef

    I am a lead line cook and I run the grill and prepare everything on that station.

    Career Roadmap

    Roadmap
    My work combines:
    My work combines:
    Entrepreneurship
    Entrepreneurship
    Food
    Food
    Learning / Being Challenged
    Learning / Being Challenged

    Skills & Qualities Beyond School

    Build leadership skills and learn how to talk to people. The better you communicate, the better things get done.

    Advice for Getting Started

    Here's the first step for everyone

    Just because you failed at things doesn't mean you're a failure it means you should just try another avenue...

    Recommended Education

    My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

    undergrad
    Bachelor
    Culinary Arts/Chef Training
    Hurdles

    Hurdles

    The Noise I Shed

    From Myself:

    "Hard work doesn't pay! I've been working hard, but it hasn't paid off yet."

    Don't doubt yourself or think that good things can't happen to you. Don't be timid, if you want something go out and get it.

    Challenges I Overcame

    Gangs / Violence
    Gangs / Violence

    I grew up in uptown New Orleans which is one of the grimiest areas, full of crime. I saw a lot of people around me going down bad paths, but I chose not to do those things. I wanted to finish school and make something of myself.