“I still won't forget that day. I was waiting in the office to attend a meeting. I got a phone call from my sister and she told me that I had been accepted into CIA. I was so happy and I knew that I was one step closer to my dream.”
Being one of his closest friends, I don’t think I could forget that day either. You could feel the happiness resonating from him. At the time, all of the people that were close to him all felt happiness.
But things weren’t always like rainbows and butterflies. Having moved here in 2007 at the age of 12, following his father who had come in 2004 to open up a clothing store, Kunal found himself thrown into a whole new world. At times, like any immigrant child, he had trouble trying to adapt to the environment. “The hardest thing that I had to face when I came here was trying to adapt to a different education system, the culture, people and especially learning to deal with racism, as well as bullying.” Anyone that knows Kunal would tell you about how hardworking, and kind hearted he is. Learning that he was once bullied is something that came as a bit of a shock to me. Upon meeting him, it’s hard not to notice just how likeable he is.
In 2009 he went to a small high school in Queens, The Queens School of Inquiry. This is where I met him. By this time, there was absolutely no doubt in his mind that he would do everything that he possibly could in order to become a chef. He made it impossible for anyone around him to ever doubt that he’d accomplish this.
Kunal now finds himself well on his way to becoming a chef. Having finished a year of culinary school, he now finds himself working at the Spice Market, an extravagant restaurant located on West 13th Street, as part of his third semester of freshman year. Looking back, he’s a bit amazed at where he is.
“Growing up, my parents were my biggest inspiration. Seeing them work hard to ensure that both my sister and I had everything that we wanted is something that I won’t ever forget”
He also told me that although becoming a chef wasn’t his father’s first choice for Kunal, he still fully supports him in everything that he does.
“Honestly I don’t think that moment has happened for me yet because I am still on the path of achieving my dreams, and struggling to get where I want to be.” Where exactly does he want to be? “I see myself as a restaurant owner/ chef and hopefully on a television show. Oh! And an awesome family to cap it of!”
I could’ve spent hours and hours listening to Kunal laud about his experience in college. Whether about the people, or waking up at 1 A.M for seven days straight, for a breakfast class, or just being able to cook in general. Unfortunately part of becoming a great chef as he told me was “ sacrificing family and friend time, and devoting yourself completely to the industry,” and his time with me was ending rapidly. He had to get to work.
Before he left though, he made me promise that I’d throw in this last statement by him. He dedicated it to all of the soon to be college students:
“To anyone who is planning on doing anything in life make sure you always keep on working hard. If you have a dream, pursue it. Lastly love what you do!”
With that, I had to wave bye to Kunal. He had to go chase his dream…and the 7 Train! Knowing him though, he’ll get both of them. And who knows maybe he’ll even fulfill his dad’s original desire and become the world’s first ever scientific chef!
Comments