By Philip Berkwit, Koa Davidson, and Ryder Navarra
With graduation right around the corner, many seniors are thinking about the future. There is college, jobs, and maybe even moving out and living on their own. But with all of those big changes coming up, one question stands out: Do seniors actually know how to cook? For some, the answer is a confident yes. For others, not even close.
“I don’t know how to cook,” Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS) senior, Anthony Cavallo said. “I’d say a lack of necessity has stopped me from learning, and that I’m lazy. Every time I try to cook, I forget what I’m doing.” Cavallo’s not alone. Plenty of seniors still depend on their families for meals, or lean heavily on frozen food, fast food, and whatever’s in the pantry. Cooking just hasn’t been a priority, and for some, it’s kinda intimidating. But not everyone sees it that way.
“Some things are hard to cook, but most things you can just go as you cook,” said PVHS senior, Leah Benzer. “I think knowing how to cook can throw people into making different recipes.”
Even students who have some experience admit it takes practice. PVHS senior, Jad Baz recommends starting simple. “Pretty much just learn the basics first,” he said. “Put some ingredients in, probably get a cookbook. That’s what I did. Cooking can be hard sometimes.”
The idea of cooking seems to fall somewhere between survival skill and mystery for most high schoolers. Some have mastered a few staples, like pasta or eggs. Others have no idea where or how long anything takes. When schedules are packed with classes, work, and everything else, there’s not always time to experiment in the kitchen.
“Cooking is essential, so you don’t have to go out for meals and spend extra money.”
Andrew Campbell (12)
But learning the basics now could save a lot of stress later. Most seniors heading to college won’t have a full kitchen, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cook at all. Dorm-friendly appliances like mini rice cookers or hot plates can open a lot of options. And for students moving into apartments, meal prep is about to become part of daily life.
PVHS senior, Andrew Campbell puts it pretty simply. “Cooking is essential, so you don’t have to go out for meals and spend extra money,” they said. “And it tastes good if you know what you’re doing. I know the basics and I think I can cook a good meal. I’m no Gordon Ramsay though.”
It’s not just knowing how to cook but knowing what to cook as well. Many colleges offer meal plans to eating halls for students to dine at, however the nutritional value of these halls vary from college to college, but most students find the food offered there to be sub-par regardless of whether they’re healthy. Because of this many students choose to eat out or consume highly processed foods. This contributes to the infamous phenomena known as the freshman 15: the common occurrence of students gaining a substantial amount of weight during their first year at college. Knowing how to cook more nutritiously rich foods can aid in a student’s long-term health and quality as a student.
Whether they’re ready or not, most seniors will have to figure it out eventually. Cooking might seem small in the big picture of graduation and adult life, but it’s one of those things that ends up mattering more than expected. Knowing how to make a few healthy meals can save money, reduce stress, and maybe even impress a few roommates along the way.
Some students might find their love of cooking in college. Others might stick with microwave meals and late-night drive-thrus. Either way, senior year might just be the perfect time to learn.
Graphic by Ryder Navarra
