Psych 305
Professor Addesso
October 12, 2014
I chose to interview a neighbor that is also a good friend, Mr. Javier Gonzales. Javier is well known in our community for his compassionate heart and famous food. He works two separate jobs within the food industry. During the week, he works as the main cook for a hotel and on the weekends, he works as the head cook for a senior living community. Javier is 54 years old, he grew up in Juarez, Mexico and he is the sole provider for his household. His face lights up when I ask him what drew him to cooking in the first place. He responds, “I have a passion for food and making other’s happy. I feel I can do that through my love of food, by providing them with something good to eat.” …show more content…
I was intrigued that someone would choose a job based on determining other’s happiness.
Javier went on to tell me he was the youngest of seven siblings. He started working on a farm in Juarez when he was seven years old. “Seven!” I exclaimed. I was shocked to discover he started work so young. He explained he had to work to help provide for his family, that he grew up very poor. One of his fondest memories was helping his mother make tamale’s in the kitchen. “Every Christmas, my mother would spend extra money to make tamales. This was one of my favorite times of year. The family I have left, we still get together and make tamales every year for Christmas.” He stated with a smile.
When Javier was eighteen, he came to the United States in search of a better life and career to help his family back home.
He was able to get citizenship in the U.S. and he started culinary school when he was nineteen. He graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute two years later and worked in several well-known kitchens. As he got older, he realized he wanted to go back what drew him to cooking in the first place, making people happy. “In a restaurant setting, you rarely get to see the expression of people eating your food. People stop appreciating you and it becomes routine. This is why I chose to transition to the hotel and senior living. It is more …show more content…
personable.”
Javier is a respected and well-known individual throughout my community. He is always smiling at someone and is extremely compassionate, not to mention an amazingly talented man at his craft. I found through interviewing him, he has a very positive attitude and outlook toward life in general. I feel that he may be connected to food because of his childhood memories of cooking with his mother, he seems more passionate about food because of that connection. Javier has a strong work ethic, and is a very dedicated and loyal employee. He is passionate about his work and he is proud of what he does.
Throughout our interview, I had a better understanding of Javier’s past and present.
It was interesting to learn who this man was and how he became famous in a small town. He struggled growing up and didn’t have the luxuries I did. I was still raised to work hard, I just didn’t ever have a true understanding of what it was like to go without anything. I had help going to school the first time, Javier had to do all of that on his own. He supported his family, whereas my family supported me throughout school. I think there are many things I can learn from Javier and his experiences. One being we don’t all know where we have been, so it is important to keep an open mind so that we can learn from each other’s experiences. We are all so unique and our struggles and experiences define us, help mold us and determine how we will act as leaders. If we all took time to be more understanding and compassionate, and if we listened to the stories of how each of us reached our destination, think of the barriers we could overcome as a diverse
nation.
References
Manning, George, and Kent Curtis. The art of leadership. Boston, Mass.: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2003. Print.