As Vancouver Island University’s halls re-populate with students for fall semester, Ashlee Affi will be among newcomers taking next steps in their academic careers.
Affi, a first-year professional baking and pastry arts student, isn’t unfamiliar with VIU as she was part of the Nanaimo school district-university dual credit program as a Nanaimo District Secondary School student. She has aspired to be a baker for a while though.
“I’ve been baking since I was three in the kitchen,” said Affi. “I couldn’t really figure out anything else to do and I’m like, ‘Why not go after something that I have been doing for a long time?’”
Affi is hoping to learn techniques she will need to apply for employment and earn Red Seal program certification, which recognizes skill sets Canada-wide.
“We will be doing baking, so I start at [6 a.m.] for the first three weeks and then we bake in the cafeteria, all the treats and all that. Muffins, cookies and stuff,” Affi said about her expectations.
Ultimately, she wants to own and operate a bakery, hopefully in Nanaimo.
“I hope to travel around and get work experience that way and then come back and get involved with the city and get youth into baking and all that,” said Affi.